Telehealth for infants and toddlers

Types of telehealth services

Finding time to get an infant or toddler to an appointment can be challenging. Parents and caregivers may have to rearrange work, coordinate transportation, and disrupt the child’s routine. There are many ways telehealth can be used to provide health care services to infants and toddlers. These services include some well-child visits, urgent care, primary care, nutrition counseling, physical and occupational therapy, subspecialty care, and follow-up care.

• Well-child visits. These appointments can provide information on a child’s health, growth, and physical and cognitive development. The following well-child services can be provided using telehealth:
  • Cognitive and physical development. Providers may be able to perform routine developmental screenings and assessments of milestones. This helps detect early signs of behavioral or developmental delays.
  • Physical growth. The provider can use a growth chart to track the child's height and weight. When clinically appropriate, caregivers can check their child’s growth using a measuring tool. Remote patient monitoring with connected scales can help track weight.
  • Emotional well-being. A nurturing environment is important for infant and toddler development. Providers can use telehealth to assess the relationship between the caregiver and the child and identify useful skills or education.
  • Environment. Telehealth offers a firsthand view of the place where the child resides to identify safety risks, access to food, and other factors that impact health.
  • Caregiver support. Telehealth allows caregivers to engage in a conversation with a health care provider, where they can get their questions answered and prepare for visits.
• Urgent care. Many health care systems offer urgent care services for patients of all ages. Commonly known as direct-to-consumer care, urgent care allows caregivers to access timely medical advice and treatment. Some of the most common reasons for seeking urgent care for infants and toddlers are fever, rash, constipation or diarrhea, nausea and vomiting, refusal to eat, and minor injuries such as cuts and scrapes.
• Primary care. Telehealth can support primary care services for infants and toddlers such as medication management, tracking symptoms, tracking vital signs, and triaging patients to determine if an in-person visit is needed.
• Nutrition. Proper nutrition is essential for healthy development. The first few years are a time of tremendous growth and change - both physically and cognitively. Telehealth may be a good option for connecting families with pediatricians, lactation consultants, and dietitians or nutritionists. Providers can give advice on breastfeeding, formula choices, introduction of new foods, and feeding challenges. As children get older, providers can discuss identifying food allergies and encouraging strategies for healthy eating habits.
• Physical and occupational therapy. Telehealth can be used to provide services for children with developmental delays or special health care needs like autism spectrum disorder. Young children may be more comfortable in a home environment and caregivers appreciate the convenience, especially when frequent appointments are needed.
• Specialty care. Children with more complex health needs often require care by a pediatric subspecialist. Primary care doctors can use telehealth to consult with pediatric subspecialists to determine if the child needs a referral.
• Follow-up care. Telehealth can support follow-up care for infants and toddlers who were discharged from a hospital or recently seen in the emergency room. After surgical procedures or hospitalizations, telehealth can be used for follow-up checks, ensuring the child's recovery is on track.

Tip: In a hybrid care model, telehealth can be a complement to in-person pediatric care. Some visits can happen virtually, such as discussing feeding, sleep, behavior, and development, or answering caregiver questions, while other visits that require hands-on care are completed in the office, including physical examinations, hearing and vision screenings, and accurate measurements for length, weight, and head circumference. Work with the caregiver to determine which parts of the child's care can be delivered through telehealth.