Anticipatory Guidance By Age/Developmental Stage

Anticipatory guidance is a proactive developmentally based counseling technique that focuses on the needs of a child at each stage of life. By providing practical and contemporary health information to parents before significant physical, emotional and psychological milestones, parents will anticipate impending changes, maximize their child's developmental potential and identify their child's special needs. As primary care takers of children, PNPs and pediatric dentists can mutually reinforce this guidance.

(Adapted from Bright Futures: Guidelines for Health Supervision of Infants, Children, and Adolescents-Third Edition; AAP, 2008)

Bright Futures is the consensus document of 26 pediatric health professional associations, developed by the federal government and managed by the American Academy of Pediatrics, to align recommendations for well child care in the US.

Bright Futures Oral Health is the consensus document of multiple dental groups. It’s age-specific anticipatory guidance recommendations have now been incorporated into the larger Bright Futures document. Today, Bright Futures establishes the standard of care for health and oral health supervision of all children.