Well-child visits are a time when parents can check up on their child's health and make sure their child is growing and developing normally. Well-child visits usually start a few days after children are born and continue until your child turns 18.
During a well-child visit, your doctor will:
- perform a physical exam
- give the child any necessary shots (immunizations or vaccinations)
- track how your child is growing and developing (physically and behaviorally)
- talk about illness prevention, diet and physical fitness, and health and safety issues
Schedule
The below chart lists the recommended well-child visits, according to the CDC and American Academy of Pediatrics, as well as vaccines, and tests at each visit. In addition to these vaccinations we recommend all children aged 6 months and older receive a flu vaccine every fall.
| AGE | RECOMMENDED VACCINES, CLINICAL TESTS, AND OFFICE VISITS |
Birth |
Newborn blood screen Hepatitis B (Hep B) |
3-5 days |
Newborn visit |
7-14 days |
Well-child visit PKU (genetic screening) |
2 months |
Well-child visit DTaP (diphtheria, tetanus, acellular pertussis) Hep B Hib (Haemophilus influenzae type b) PCV (pneumococcal disease) Rotavirus (given by mouth) IPV (polio) |
4 months |
Well-child visit DTaP Hib PCV Rotavirus (given by mouth) IPV |
6 months |
Well-child visit DTaP Hep B PCV Hib if needed IPV |
9 months |
Well-child visit Any catch up vaccines Hemoglobin (iron testing) |
12 months |
Well-child visit Hepatitis A (Hep A); not before first birthday Hib PCV Lead Test |
15 months
|
Well-child visit MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) Varicella (chickenpox) |
18 months |
Well Child Visit DTaP Hep A Any catch up vaccines |
2 years |
Well-child visit Lead test |
3 years |
Well-child visit Catch up on any missed vaccines |
4 years |
Well-child visit Vision screen/Hearing screen DTaP IPV Varicella MMR |
5 years |
Well-child visit Any catch up vaccines for Kindergarten |
6, 7, 8, 9 and 10 years |
Well-child visit |
11 years |
Well-child visit Tdap booster (tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis) MCV (meningococcal disease) HPV (human papillomavirus) in two doses (wait at least 6 months between first and second dose) |
12, 13, 14 and 15 years |
Well-child visit |
16 years |
Well-child visit MCV booster |
17 years |
Well-child visit |
18 years |
Well-child visit |
