Well-Child Visits

Topic Overview

It's important for your child to have regularly scheduled checkups, often called well-child visits, beginning shortly after birth and lasting through the teen years.

These appointments allow your doctor to keep a close eye on your child's general health and development. Finding possible problems early gives your child the best chance for proper and successful treatment. Also, any concerns you have about your child can be discussed during these visits.

During these visits, the doctor examines your child and asks you questions about your child's development and behavior. Immunizations also are either given or scheduled at this time.

Your child’s doctor will recommend a schedule for well-child visits. One example is for visits at ages:¹

• 3 to 5 days old.
• By 1 month.
• 2 months.
• 4 months.
• 6 months.
• 9 months.
• 1 year.
• 15 months.
• 18 months.
• 2 years.
• 30 months.
• 3 years.

After age 3, well-child visits are usually scheduled yearly through the teen years.

Related Information

• Growth and Development, Ages 11 to 14 Years
• Growth and Development, Ages 12 to 24 Months
• Growth and Development, Ages 15 to 18 Years
• Growth and Development, Ages 2 to 5 Years
• Growth and Development, Ages 6 to 10 Years
• Growth and Development, Newborn

References

Citations

1. American Academy of Pediatrics (2008). Recommendations for preventive pediatric health care. In Bright Futures: Guidelines for Health Supervision of Infants, Children, and Adolescents, 3rd ed., p. 591. Elk Grove Village, IL: American Academy of Pediatrics. Also available online: http://brightfutures.aap.org/pdfs/Guidelines_PDF/20-Appendices_PeriodicitySchedule.pdf.

Other Works Consulted

• American Academy of Pediatrics (2010). Diagnosis and prevention of iron deficiency and iron-deficiency anemia in infants and young children (0–3 years of age). Pediatrics, 126(5): 1040–1050. Available online: http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/cgi/content/full/126/5/1040.

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