Should I be worried if my child is not 10 years old?

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Last updated: April 10, 2025View editorial policy

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From the Guidelines

You should not be worried if your child is not 10 years old yet, as children develop at different rates and reach age milestones naturally over time. If you're concerned about a health measurement or test result that's "not 10," I would need more specific information about what measurement you're referring to (such as a blood test value, growth percentile, or other health indicator). According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, as stated in the 2013 policy statement 1, children should receive periodic developmental screening by using a standardized test. The recommended screening visits are at 9-, 18-, and 30-month visits, where the following motor skills should be observed:

  • At the 9-month visit: The infant should roll to both sides, sit well without support, and demonstrate motor symmetry.
  • At the 18-month visit: The toddler should sit, stand, and walk independently, and grasp and manipulate small objects.
  • At the 30-month visit: Most motor delays will have already been identified during previous visits, but more subtle gross motor, fine motor, speech, and oral motor impairments may emerge at this visit. Without knowing the specific context, I would recommend consulting with your pediatrician who can evaluate the situation with complete information about your child's health history and current status, as suggested by the AAP policy statement 1. They can provide personalized guidance based on age-appropriate developmental milestones or interpret any medical test results accurately.

From the Research

Vaccine Reactions in Children

  • Vaccine-related allergic reactions are rare in children, ranging between 0.65-1.45 cases per million vaccine doses 2.
  • Most allergic reactions are self-limited local reactions, although in some cases severe anaphylaxis with multisystem involvement can be observed 2.
  • Fever is a frequent systemic adverse event following immunization, especially in infants and young children 3.

Management of Vaccine Reactions

  • Diagnosis of allergic reactions is largely based on a detailed history and clinical manifestation, and in vivo and in vitro tests may be helpful 2.
  • Finding the culprit allergen is necessary to prevent future exposure to the allergen and to use alternative vaccines if possible 2.
  • A practical guide for the safe management of allergic children undergoing immunization procedures is available, which includes evaluation and management of children who have previously experienced a suspected allergic reaction to a specific vaccine 4.

Influencing Children's Reports

  • Postevent suggestions can influence children's reports about a visit to their pediatrician, including their reports of pain and crying 5.
  • Children given pain-denying feedback reported that they cried less and that the shot hurt less than did children given neutral feedback 5.
  • Misleading information about the actions of the pediatrician and the assistant can lead to false allegations about their actions 5.

References

Guideline

Guideline Directed Topic Overview

Dr.Oracle Medical Advisory Board & Editors, 2025

Research

Allergic reactions during childhood vaccination and management.

The Turkish journal of pediatrics, 2021

Research

Fever following immunization.

Expert review of vaccines, 2005

Research

A practical guide to address reactions to vaccines in children.

Pediatric allergy and immunology : official publication of the European Society of Pediatric Allergy and Immunology, 2023

Professional Medical Disclaimer

This information is intended for healthcare professionals. Any medical decision-making should rely on clinical judgment and independently verified information. The content provided herein does not replace professional discretion and should be considered supplementary to established clinical guidelines. Healthcare providers should verify all information against primary literature and current practice standards before application in patient care. Dr.Oracle assumes no liability for clinical decisions based on this content.

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