Well-Care Visits

What is a well-care visit?

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

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Online Resources of Pediatrics