Well-Child Exams

A huge part of keeping our children healthy and happy is practicing good preventative health care. Health care costs are lower and hospital visits are less frequent in children that have regular checkups with a pediatrician. We all know that we should take our children to the doctor when they are sick or have a problem, but what about when our children are well?

Well-child visits give the pediatrician a chance to make sure your child is healthy and is growing and developing normally and to do regular screenings and preventative care like immunizations. It is also an opportunity for you to ask questions that you may not have time to talk about during a sick visit. A lot of first time parents may not realize that a pediatrician is equipped to handle any question related to your child's care, even if it is not a "medical" question. So be afraid to ask about potty training, nutrition, safety, or anything else you are concerned about.

The American Association of Pediatrics recommends the following schedule for well-child visits:

3 to 5 days
1 month
2 months
4 months
6 months
9 months
12 months
15 months
18 months
24 months
30 months
3 years
And once every year thereafter