Why kids of all ages need a yearly well-child visit
3-minute read
Children often need to go to the
pediatrician when sick, but regular visits with a pediatric
provider are essential to their overall good health — even when
there's no runny nose to be heard.
These types of routine visits
are called well-child visits, and your child will benefit from having them as
they grow up.
The first three years
When your child is an infant or
a toddler, they'll need frequent well-child visits to the pediatrician. Some of
these visits will ensure your child remains on schedule with needed vaccines,
while others help track if your child is growing at a healthy pace. Their
medication history, if relevant, will also be managed during these visits. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends
well-child visits for kids at:
- 3 to 5 days old
- 1 month old
- 2 months old
- 4 months old
- 6 months old
- 9 months old
- 12 months old (1 year)
- 15 months old
- 18 months old
- 24 months old (2 years)
- 30 months old (2.5 years)
During these
visits, your provider will track the development of your child, along with
looking for vision or hearing problems and other developmental issues.
Age 3 and beyond
Starting at 3 years (36 months),
your child can transition to annual well-child visits. Many kids get these before going back to school every fall to keep
updated with yearly flu shots. Other things your pediatrician will monitor
during these visits may include:
- Blood sugar level
- Dental health
- Iron levels
- Hearing
- Height
- Vision
- Weight
These annual visits are an
excellent time to ask your pediatrician about any development concerns you
have. Also consider discussing your child's diet, especially if they are a
picky eater.
Older kids
School-age children are more
active and self-sufficient, but they still have developmental milestones to hit
before puberty. Many of these involve your child's social and emotional
learning skills. Your pediatrician can tell you if your kid's behavior is
age-appropriate, along with continuing to keep up with needed screenings and vaccines.
The preteen years
As your child enters puberty,
starting at about age 11, your provider may
check for signs of scoliosis (a curvature of the spine that can become
prominent in puberty). As your child's body shows signs of puberty, your
provider may ask questions to evaluate whether everything is going the way it
should. Your child may also have questions about menstruation, growth spurts,
body hair, and other changes they may be experiencing.
The preteen years are when
children should get vaccinated for HPV and meningitis. The HPV vaccine protects
against genital warts and several types of cancer, including cervical cancer,
oral cancer, and penile cancer. The vaccine is most effective if it's received
before children are sexually active.
Teens also need well-child visits
Although getting your teen to go
to the pediatrician might be a challenge, it's crucial they regularly visit
their provider for well-child visits. Their provider still needs to track
growth and developmental changes on an annual basis, but mental health concerns are also an important
part of these check-ups. Talk to your child's pediatrician if your teen shows
signs of:
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Eating disorders
- Substance abuse
These visits are also a great
time to make sure your teen knows about birth control, sexually transmitted
infections, and the risks of alcohol, drug, and tobacco use. You may want to
leave your teen alone with the pediatrician to ensure they have
the privacy to ask questions about health or relationship issues that may be
bothering them.
Don't forget lead screening
Lead poisoning can significantly impact brain development in young children. If you live in a house or housing development built before 1978, live with someone who works with lead, or recently immigrated from another country, your child is at risk for lead exposure and might need to be tested. Your pediatrician can tell you if testing is needed for your child. This test involves a simple blood draw.
If your child is enrolled in Medicaid, lead testing is required at 12 months and again at 24 months. If you have no record of testing, your child should be tested at least once between ages 2 and 6.
Reid Health pediatric providers
take a team approach to caring for kids at every age and stage. Schedule
a well-child appointment today.