My son is absolutely healthy, but the pediatrician recommends a preventive massage course. My friends say it's a waste of money if there are no posture problems. Should I trust the doctor or is this just a way to make money?
If your child is genuinely healthy and there are no complaints about posture or development, preventive massage is more of a safety net than a necessity. I wouldn't rush into a course just based on your pediatrician's word - it's better to find out specifically what they find concerning (even if it's just in the early stages), or ask for a second opinion from a neurologist or orthopedist if you want to be extra cautious.
At two years old, kids are growing and developing actively, and sometimes doctors recommend massage to prevent flat feet or mild muscle tone imbalances - it's not always useless, but it's not critical either if everything's fine. The money you save can go toward things that definitely help: active play, activities that build coordination, good sleep and nutrition.
The question is kind of up in the air - it sounds like you're already choosing between a doctor and friends, but nobody's explaining why massage specifically. My friend took her son for a preventive massage course at two and a half because their pediatrician said the same thing, and it turned out the kid just had mild flat feet, which only a specialist could spot. The massage did help, but the main thing is they actually caught the problem at all. Maybe it's worth asking your pediatrician to be more specific - does he see something that a regular eye wouldn't notice, or is this really just "just in case"? If the doctor doesn't give you a straight answer, then yeah, you can skip the massage.
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