The Importance of Regular Well Visits

You want to safeguard your child’s health, but you can't do it alone. You need some help. Regular well visits to your pediatrician can protect your child’s health by providing preventive services such as physical examinations and immunizations, and identifying potential medical issues early, so they can be treated.

Prevention is the key to staying healthy, especially for children. Regular well-child visits should happen early, with the first one typically occurring within 2 to 5 days of birth. After the first visit, well-child visits should be scheduled at 2 weeks, followed by visits at 1,2,4,6,9,15, 18, and 24 months, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics.

During a regular well visit, your pediatrician will:

• Measure your child’s height, weight, and other essential information, to provide a baseline for future visits
• Order any imaging studies, if necessary, to evaluate musculoskeletal and growth issues
• Order any laboratory testing, if necessary, to evaluate your child’s overall health
• Discuss any concerns and answer any questions you have about your child’s eating, sleeping, or behavioral issues

During a well visit, your pediatrician may also evaluate your child for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder or ADHD, autism, learning delays, and other developmental conditions. Early detection and treatment are critical to the healthy development of your child.

Regular well visits are also one of the best ways to make sure your child is current on immunizations. Immunizations are also required for your child to attend daycare or school.

To view or print information about the current immunization schedule from the Centers for Disease Control, please click here.