What to Expect: Well-Child Visit and Schedule

Do you really need to vaccinate your kids and get regular well-checks?

The answer, says pediatrician Wadie Shabab, MD, is a resounding, “Yes!”

Vaccines are very safe and have saved children from getting many diseases, from polio to chickenpox. And being on a well-child visit schedule helps make sure your child is meeting important developmental milestones, as well as managing and preventing new mental health and physical findings.

Dr. Shabab explains when your child needs which shot and a trip to the doctor’s office.

Why well-visits are important

It’s essential that you stick to a well-child check schedule. Making sure your child is up-to-date on recommended vaccines is vital for children’s wellness.

Children who aren’t vaccinated are more likely to contract diseases like whooping cough and measles. These diseases are highly contagious and can become serious health issues.

Additionally, well-checks are necessary to track and document your child’s growth and developmental and behavioral milestones. During a well-check visit, parents and caregivers can discuss any concerns they have when it comes to vaccinations and their child’s overall health.

“Children grow and develop fast — and the rate of this growth is the fastest in the first three years of life,” notes Dr. Shabab. “Your healthcare provider will monitor your child’s weight, height, BMI, vital signs, hearing, vision, developmental/behavioral milestones, lead, TB and other screening tests at the appropriate age and interval during their well-child visits.”

This information, along with discussing your child’s diet, sleeping, academic achievement, screen time and safety, will help your provider in partnering with you in maintaining and helping your child reach their health and developmental goals.

What happens during a pediatric physical exam?

During a well-child visit, your child’s pediatrician will perform a thorough physical exam. This typically includes:

• Measuring and weighing your child.
• Checking their heart rate and oxygen levels.
• Taking their blood pressure.
• Listening to their lungs.
• Pressing on their stomach to feel the organs.
• Moving their arms and legs.
• Examining their eyes, ears and throat.

Physical exams during well-child checks are important for several reasons, and just to name a few:

• Growth monitoring: Tracking height, weight and head circumference helps assess if your child is growing appropriately. Healthcare providers can identify potential health issues early.
• Developmental milestones: Physicians evaluate developmental milestones to ensure children are meeting age-appropriate physical, cognitive and social benchmarks.
• Preventive care: Well-child visits provide an opportunity for vaccinations and screenings, which help prevent serious diseases and promote overall health.
• Early detection: Physical exams can uncover health issues that may not be immediately obvious, such as vision or hearing problems, heart murmurs or other conditions.
• Health education: These visits allow healthcare providers to educate parents on nutrition, physical activity, safety and other aspects of healthy living.

What is the well-child check schedule?

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends the following:

• Newborn: Checkup within five days of returning home from the hospital. HBV, if not given in the hospital. RSV, follow the pediatrician’s guidance.
• 2-4 weeks: Well-child check. HBV if not yet given.
• 2 months: Well-child check. DTaP, Hib, IPV, PCV, HBV and rotavirus vaccines.
• 4 months: Well-child check. DTaP, Hib, IPV, PCV and rotavirus boosters.
• 6 months: Well-child check. DTaP, HBV, Hib, IPV, PCV and rotavirus boosters.
• 9 months: Well-child check. Developmental screening.
• 12 months: Well-child check. Anemia test and lead level check; TB screening; MMR and HAV vaccines; PCV booster.
• 15 months: Well-child check. Varicella; DTaP and Hib boosters.
• 18 months: Well-child check. Developmental and autism screenings; HAV booster.
• 24 months: Well-child check. Lead level check and autism screenings.
• 30 months: Well-child check. Developmental and autism screenings.
• 3 years: Annual well-child check. Vision/hearing screenings.
• 4-6 years: Annual well-child check. Vision/hearing screenings; DTaP, IPV, MMR and varicella boosters.
• 7-10 years: Annual well-child check. Vision/hearing and TB screenings; any immunizations previously missed.
• 11-12 years: Annual well-child check. Depression and TB screenings; DTaP, HPV and MCV4 vaccines.
• 13-15 years: Annual well-child check. Depression, vision/hearing and TB screenings; any immunizations missed (like MCV4, DTaP or HPV).
• 16-18 years: Annual well-child check. Depression, vision/hearing and TB screenings; MCV4 booster at age 16 and start Men B vaccination.
• Yearly (beginning at six months): Influenza/flu vaccine (a one-time booster shot is needed a month after your child’s first flu vaccination if they’re younger than 9 years old); COVID-19 vaccine. (COVID-19 vaccines are recommended for children and adolescents 6 months of age and older, as long as they don’t have any contraindications for these vaccines.)

Key

– DTaP: Diphtheria, tetanus, acellular pertussis vaccine
– HAV: Hepatitis A vaccine
– HBV: Hepatitis B vaccine
– Hib: Haemophilus influenzae type B, or flu
– HPV: Human papillomavirus vaccine
– IPV: Inactivated polio vaccine
– MCV4: Meningococcal conjugate serotype A, C, W and Y vaccine for meningitis
– Men B: Meningococcal Serotype B vaccine for meningitis
– MMR: Measles/mumps/rubella vaccine
– PCV: Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine for meningitis
– RSV: Respiratory syncytial virus antibody immunization
– Rotavirus: Vaccine against potentially life-threatening diarrhea
– TB: Tuberculosis screening
– Varicella: Chickenpox vaccine

Bottom line?

It’s vital that as a parent you stay on top of your child’s check-ups and immunizations.

Childhood immunizations help protect your child from getting a number of illnesses. These vaccines, mostly given as shots at well-visits, are very safe and can help prevent easily spread diseases that can cause serious health problems.

And having a pediatrician track your child’s developmental and growth milestones can help you manage your child’s overall health and wellness.

“Regular checkups foster a relationship between the child, parents and healthcare providers, promoting open communication about health concerns,” emphasizes Dr. Shabab. “Overall, well-child checks are crucial for monitoring a child’s health and development, ensuring they have the best start in life.”