Well-Care Visits
What is a well-care visit?
It's important to take your child to the healthcare provider when your child is ill.
Or when your child needs an exam to take part in a sport. But routine well-care visits
are also advised.
Well-care, well-baby, or well-child visits are routine visits to your child's healthcare
provider for the following:
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Physical exam
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Mental health screening
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Immunization updates
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Tracking growth and development
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Finding any problems before they become serious
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Providing information on health and safety issues
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Providing information on nutrition and physical fitness
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Providing information on how to manage emergencies and illnesses
Your child's healthcare provider can also provide guidance on other issues, such as:
When should well-care visits be scheduled?
Your child's healthcare provider will give you a schedule of ages when a well-care
visit is suggested. The American Academy of Pediatrics advises well-care visits at
the following ages:
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Before a newborn is discharged from the hospital, or at 48 to 72 hours of age
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3 to 5 days
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2 to 4 weeks
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2 months
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4 months
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6 months
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9 months
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12 months
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15 months
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18 months
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24 months
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30 months
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Each year, from 3 to 21 years