Health Library

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