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.
References
Citations
- 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.
Credits
| By | Healthwise Staff |
|---|
| Primary Medical Reviewer | Susan C. Kim, MD - Pediatrics |
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| Specialist Medical Reviewer | John Pope, MD - Pediatrics |
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| Last Revised | January 22, 2013 |
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Last Revised: January 22, 2013
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.