In addition to taking your child to the physician when your child is
ill, or needs an examination to participate in a particular activity,
routine well-care visits are recommended.
Well-care, well-baby, or well-child visits are routine visits to the child's physician for the following reasons:
- physical examinations
- immunization updates
- tracking growth and development
- finding any problems before they become serious
- information on health and safety issues
- information on nutrition and physical fitness
- information on how to manage emergencies and illnesses
Your child's physician can also provide guidance on other issues, such as the following:
- behavioral problems
- learning problems
- emotional problems
- family problems
- socialization problems
- puberty and concerns about teenage years
When should well-care visits be scheduled?
Your child's physician will give you a schedule of ages when a
well-care visit is suggested. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)
recommends this schedule for routine well-care visits at the following
ages:
- before newborn is discharged from the hospital, or at 48 to 72 hours of age
- 2 to 4 weeks
- 2 months
- 4 months
- 6 months
- 9 months
- 12 months
- 15 months
- 18 months
- 24 months
- 2 years
- 3 years
- 4 years
- 5 years
- 6 years
- 8 years
- 10 years
- annually, between ages of 11 and 21 years