one year well baby visit

Family Life

AAP Schedule of Well-Child Care Visits

Parents know who they should go to when their child is sick. But pediatrician visits are just as important for healthy children.

The Bright Futures /American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) developed a set of comprehensive health guidelines for well-child care, known as the " periodicity schedule ." It is a schedule of screenings and assessments recommended at each well-child visit from infancy through adolescence.

Schedule of well-child visits

• The first week visit (3 to 5 days old)
• 1 month old
• 2 months old
• 4 months old
• 6 months old
• 9 months old
• 12 months old
• 15 months old
• 18 months old
• 2 years old (24 months)
• 2 ½ years old (30 months)
• 3 years old
• 4 years old
• 5 years old
• 6 years old
• 7 years old
• 8 years old
• 9 years old
• 10 years old
• 11 years old
• 12 years old
• 13 years old
• 14 years old
• 15 years old
• 16 years old
• 17 years old
• 18 years old
• 19 years old
• 20 years old
• 21 years old

The benefits of well-child visits

Prevention . Your child gets scheduled immunizations to prevent illness. You also can ask your pediatrician about nutrition and safety in the home and at school.

Tracking growth & development . See how much your child has grown in the time since your last visit, and talk with your doctor about your child's development. You can discuss your child's milestones, social behaviors and learning.

Raising any concerns . Make a list of topics you want to talk about with your child's pediatrician such as development, behavior, sleep, eating or getting along with other family members. Bring your top three to five questions or concerns with you to talk with your pediatrician at the start of the visit.

Team approach . Regular visits create strong, trustworthy relationships among pediatrician, parent and child. The AAP recommends well-child visits as a way for pediatricians and parents to serve the needs of children. This team approach helps develop optimal physical, mental and social health of a child.

More information

Back to School, Back to Doctor

Recommended Immunization Schedules

Milestones Matter: 10 to Watch for by Age 5

Your Child's Checkups

• Bright Futures/AAP Recommendations for Preventive Pediatric Health Care (periodicity schedule)

Your Guide to Well-Baby Visits

Medical review policy, latest update:, what are well-baby visits and why are they so important, when will my child's well-baby visits happen, read this next, what you can expect at well-baby visits, tips on making the most of well-baby visits, time it right, make a checklist, write down your questions, have some answers, too, dress baby for success.

What to Expect the First Year , 3rd edition, Heidi Murkoff. WhatToExpect.com,  Your Baby's Vaccine Schedule: What Shots Should Your Child Get When? , January 2021. American Academy of Pediatrics, AAP Schedule of Well-Child Care Visits , September 2021. American Academy of Pediatrics, Checkup Checklist: 1 Month Old , September 2021. KidsHealth From Nemours,  Your Child's Checkup: 1 Month , April 2021.

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• HealthyChildren.org
• Well-Child Visit Handouts

Parent and patient handouts from the Bright Futures Tool and Resource Kit , 2nd Edition, address key information for health supervision care from infancy through adolescence. Bright Futures is a national health care promotion and disease prevention initiative that uses a developmentally based approach to address children’s health care needs in the context of family and community.

See Handouts by Language for well-child visit handouts up to 2 years of age translated into Arabic, Bengali, Chinese, French, Haitian Creole, Hmong, Korean, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Somali, and Vietnamese.

NEW! September 2022: Bright Futures: Health Equity Resources for Health Care Professionals This compendium of resources was created for pediatric health care professionals to address the impact of racism, bias, and discrimination on the health and well-being of their patients and families.

Handouts are accessible with a subscription. For more information about a subscription, please e-mail [email protected] )

Parent Handouts

Bright Futures Parent Handout: First Week Visit (3 to 5 Days) English PDF    |    Spanish PDF

Bright Futures Parent Handout: 1 Month Visit English PDF    |    Spanish PDF

Bright Futures Parent Handout: 2 Month Visit English PDF    |    Spanish PDF

Bright Futures Parent Handout: 4 Month Visit English PDF    |    Spanish PDF

Bright Futures Parent Handout: 6 Month Visit English PDF    |    Spanish PDF

Bright Futures Parent Handout: 9 Month Visit English PDF    |    Spanish PDF

Bright Futures Parent Handout: 12 Month Visit English PDF    |    Spanish PDF

Bright Futures Parent Handout: 15 Month Visit English PDF    |    Spanish PDF

Bright Futures Parent Handout: 18 Month Visit English PDF    |    Spanish PDF

Bright Futures Parent Handout: 2 Year Visit English PDF    |    Spanish PDF

Bright Futures Parent Handout: 2½ Year Visit English PDF    |    Spanish PDF

Bright Futures Parent Handout: 3 Year Visit English PDF    |    Spanish PDF

Bright Futures Parent Handout: 4 Year Visit English PDF    |    Spanish PDF

Bright Futures Parent Handout: 5 and 6 Year Visits English PDF    |    Spanish PDF

Bright Futures Parent Handout: 7 and 8 Year Visits English PDF    |    Spanish PDF

Bright Futures Parent Handout: 9 and 10 Year Visits English PDF    |    Spanish PDF

Bright Futures Parent Handout: 11-14 Year Visits English PDF    |    Spanish PDF

Bright Futures Parent Handout: 15-17 Year Visits English PDF    |    Spanish PDF

Patient Handouts

Bright Futures Patient Handout: 7 and 8 Year Visits English PDF    |    Spanish PDF

Bright Futures Patient Handout: 9 and 10 Year Visits English PDF    |    Spanish PDF

Bright Futures Patient Handout: 11-14 Year Visits   English PDF    |    Spanish PDF

Bright Futures Patient Handout: 15-17 Year Visits English PDF    |    Spanish PDF

Bright Futures Patient Handout: 18-21 Year Visits English PDF    |    Spanish PDF

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KENNETH W. LIN, MD, MPH, Georgetown University School of Medicine, Washington, District of Columbia

Am Fam Physician. 2015;91(6):362-364

More than two-thirds of practicing family physicians report that they provide care for children, 1 and well-child visits provide the best opportunities to deliver evidence-based preventive services. These services include administering immunizations, assessing growth and development, and counseling children and parents about behavioral issues, nutrition, exercise, and prevention of unintentional injury. 2

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recently updated its recommendations on preventive health care for children, 3 which define a set of services that, under the Affordable Care Act, must be covered by Medicaid and private insurers at no out-of-pocket cost. 4 The current AAP Bright Futures guideline (available at http://www.aap.org/en-us/professional-resources/practice-support/Periodicity/Periodicity%20Schedule_FINAL.pdf ) includes three screening tests that were not recommended for all children in previous versions: autism screening at 18 and 24 months of age, cholesterol screening between nine and 11 years of age, and annual screening for high blood pressure beginning at three years of age.

It should be noted that none of these screening tests are included in the American Academy of Family Physicians' (AAFP's) list of recommended preventive services for children ( Table 1 ) . 5 The AAFP's clinical preventive services recommendations are generally consistent with those of the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF). The USPSTF methods for developing recommendations include performing a systematic evidence review of the benefits and harms of a preventive service, and recommending that the service be provided to the general population only after consistent data from high-quality randomized controlled trials or other prospective studies establish that the benefits exceed the harms. 6 This rigorous approach to the development of clinical practice guidelines has been endorsed by the Institute of Medicine. 7 In contrast, few AAP policy statements on well-child care are supported by direct evidence of net health benefit. 8 , 9

The rationale for the AAP's recommendation to routinely screen toddlers for autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) with ASD-specific screening tools is to advance the time of diagnosis and deliver early interventions. 10 Although a systematic review of 40 studies found that a policy of universal screening for ASD increased rates of diagnosis and referral, the effects of such policies on time of diagnosis or enrollment in services are unclear. 11 The entire body of evidence that intensive behavioral interventions improve language skills and cognitive or functional outcomes in children with ASD consists of a single randomized controlled trial and several prospective cohort studies of varying quality. 12 , 13

The AAP recommends measurement of blood pressure and cholesterol levels in children to identify modifiable risk factors for cardiovascular disease and to provide early interventions to reduce future risk. However, no studies have evaluated whether treating primary hypertension in persons younger than 18 years reduces adverse cardiovascular outcomes in adulthood. 14 , 15 Similarly, evidence is lacking that lowering cholesterol levels with lifestyle changes or medications improves cardiovascular outcomes, and long-term statin use is associated with rare but serious harms. 16 , 17

Time is a precious clinical resource. Clinicians who spend time delivering unproven or ineffective interventions at health maintenance visits risk “crowding out” effective services. For example, a national survey of family and internal medicine physicians regarding adult well-male examination practices found that physicians spent an average of five minutes discussing prostate-specific antigen screening (a service that the AAFP and the USPSTF recommend against because the harms outweigh the benefits 18 ), but one minute or less each on nutrition and smoking cessation counseling. 19 Similarly, family physicians have limited time at well-child visits and therefore should prioritize preventive services that have strong evidence of net benefit.

editor's note: Dr. Lin is associate deputy editor of AFP Online and chair of the Subcommittee on Clinical Practice Guidelines of the AAFP's Commission on the Health of the Public and Science. Because of Dr. Lin's dual roles, two other medical editors independently reviewed this editorial for publication.

Bazemore AW, Makaroff LA, Puffer JC, et al. Declining numbers of family physicians are caring for children. J Am Board Fam Med. 2012;25(2):139-140.

Riley M, Locke AB, Skye EP. Health maintenance in school-aged children: part II. Counseling recommendations. Am Fam Physician. 2011;83(6):689-694.

Simon GR, Baker C, Barden GA, et al. 2014 recommendations for pediatric preventive health care. Pediatrics. 2014;133(3):568-570.

American Academy of Pediatrics. Bright Futures. http://brightfutures.aap.org . Accessed August 20, 2014.

American Academy of Family Physicians. Summary of recommendations for clinical preventive services. July 2014. https://www.aafp.org/dam/AAFP/documents/patient_care/clinical_recommendations/cps-recommendations.pdf . Accessed August 20, 2014.

Melnyk BM, Grossman DC, Chou R, et al. USPSTF perspective on evidence-based preventive recommendations for children. Pediatrics. 2012;130(2):e399-e407.

Graham R, Mancher M, Wolman DM, et al., eds. Clinical Practice Guidelines We Can Trust . Washington, DC: The National Academies Press; 2011.

Moyer VA, Butler M. Gaps in the evidence for well-child care: a challenge to our profession. Pediatrics. 2004;114(6):1511-1521.

Belamarich PF, Gandica R, Stein RE, Racine AD. Drowning in a sea of advice: pediatricians and American Academy of Pediatrics policy statements. Pediatrics. 2006;118(4):e964-e978.

Johnson CP, Myers SM American Academy of Pediatrics Council on Children with Disabilities. Identification and evaluation of children with autism spectrum disorders. Pediatrics. 2007;120(5):1183-1215.

Daniels AM, Halladay AK, Shih A, et al. Approaches to enhancing the early detection of autism spectrum disorders. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2014;53(2):141-152.

Warren Z, McPheeters ML, Sathe N, et al. A systematic review of early intensive intervention for autism spectrum disorders. Pediatrics. 2011;127(5):e1303-e1311.

Reichow B, Barton EE, Boyd BA, Hume K. Early intensive behavioral intervention (EBI) for young children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2012;10:CD009260.

Chiolero A, Bovet P, Paradis G. Screening for elevated blood pressure in children and adolescents: a critical appraisal. JAMA Pediatr. 2013;167(3):266-273.

Thompson M, Dana T, Bougatsos C, Blazina I, Norris SL. Screening for hypertension in children and adolescents to prevent cardiovascular disease. Pediatrics. 2013;131(3):490-525.

Grossman DC, Moyer VA, Melnyk BM, Chou R, DeWitt TG U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. The anatomy of a U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommendation: lipid screening for children and adolescents. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2011;165(3):205-210.

Psaty BM, Rivara FP. Universal screening and drug treatment of dyslipidemia in children and adolescents. JAMA. 2012;307(3):257-258.

Moyer VA U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. Screening for prostate cancer: U.S. Preventive Service Task Force recommendation statement. Ann Intern Med. 2012;157(2):120-134.

Pollack KI, Krause KM, Yarnall KS, Gradison M, Michener JL, Østbye T. Estimated time spent on preventive services by primary care physicians. BMC Health Serv Res. 2008;8:245.

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Child well visits, birth to 15 months

• Child well visit checklist
• Quiz: Child well-being and immunizations

Checking in: Questions to ask at your child's well visits

Welcoming a new child is exciting. But caring for a baby can also leave you with a lot of unanswered questions. Your baby’s care provider can help. From giving immunizations to offering you feeding tips, care providers help your baby grow up healthy. That includes making sure you have the answers and support you need.

A note about immunizations at child well visits

Your child’s care provider will give your baby immunizations during most visits. Immunizations work better and reduce the risk of infection by working with the body's natural defenses to help safely develop immunity to disease. Keeping your baby on schedule is also key, so don’t forget to schedule visits on time.

Learn what to ask at your child's well visits

Preparation is key for a stress-free appointment. Your baby should go to at least 8 child well visits before they are 15 months old. Knowing what will happen at each of these appointments can help you get ready. Knowing what to pack for your visit and questions you might ask when you get there can make your life easier. Watch the videos and view the questions below to get ready for each early child well visit.

Child Well Visits: Newborn

Video transcript.

Screen 1: What to expect at your baby’s appointment – Newborn

Screen 2:  Your newborn will need a checkup before going home.

Screen 3:  What to expect before you leave the hospital:

• Physical checkup (measurements, vitals).
• Screenings: Critical congenital heart defect, vision, hearing, newborn bilirubin, blood (check for disorders).
• Developmental and behavioral assessment.
• Immunizations:  HepB.

Screen 4:  Before you leave:

• Make sure your contact information is current.
• Schedule your next appointment.

Screen 5:  In light of COVID-19, remember to practice social distancing at your well-child visits. Wash your hands often and wear a mask. Contact your care provider with questions about your visit.

Screen 6:  UnitedHealthcare Logo

Your newborn will need a checkup before going home from the hospital. Watch the video to learn what screenings and immunizations you can expect at your child’s first appointment.

3 to 5-day visit

Child well visits: 3 to 5-day visit.

Screen 1: What to expect at your baby’s appointment – 3-5 Days

Screen 2:  Early well-child visits and immunizations set your baby up for a healthy future.

Screen 3:  What to expect at your child’s appointment:

• Physical checkup: Measurements, vitals.
• Umbilical cord examination.
• Screenings: Vision, hearing, blood (check for disorders).
• Review screenings done at birth.

Screen 4:  You’ll also talk about if baby can:

• Suck to eat
• Grasp your finger
• React when startled

Screen 5:  Before you leave:

Screen 6:  In light of COVID-19, remember to practice social distancing at your well-child visits. Wash your hands often and wear a mask. Contact your care provider with questions about your visit.

UnitedHealthcare Logo

Watch the video to get an idea of what to expect at your appointment

In addition, here are some questions you may want to ask:

• How can I keep my baby comfortable and safe from seasonal weather?
• What can I do to make breastfeeding more comfortable for me and baby?
• When will my baby gain more weight?
• Should I always put my baby to sleep on their back?
• How do I care for my baby’s umbilical cord?
• How often should my baby get a bath?
• How do I calm and soothe my baby?

1-month visit

Child well visits: 1 month appointment.

Screen 1: What to expect at your baby’s appointment – 1 Month

• Immunizations: HepB.
• Postpartum depression screening (for mothers).
• Raise hands
• Focus on your face

Screen 7:  UnitedHealthcare Logo

• When will my baby sleep through the night?
• What should I do for the peeling skin on my baby’s head?
• How do I care for my infant's skin?
• What is a normal number of wet or soiled diapers I should change every day?
• Are there programs to help me buy formula or breast pumps?

2-month visit

Child well visits: 2 month appointment.

Screen 1: What to expect at your baby’s appointment – 2 Months

• Physical checkup: (measurements, vitals).
• Screenings: Vision, hearing.
• Immunizations: DTaP, Hib, IPV, RV, HepB, PCV13.
• Developmental assessment.
• Turn and lift head
• Kick while laying on back
• Notice hands
• Follow objects with eyes
• How often should my baby be eating?
• Should I be using formula in addition to breastfeeding?
• How can I keep my baby comfortable after immunizations?
• How can I find childcare I can trust?
• When should I stop swaddling my baby?
• I’ve been feeling sad and anxious since delivering my baby. What should I do?
• What is “tummy time”?

4-month visit

Child well visits: 4 month appointment.

Screen 1: What to expect at your baby’s appointment – 4 Months

• Roll onto tummy
• Reach for objects
• Watch an object move
• Laugh and giggle

Screen 7: UnitedHealthcare Logo

• Is Tylenol safe to give my baby for a fever?
• How can I help my baby have healthy teeth?
• How can I soothe my baby during teething?
• How can we begin to create a sleeping routine?
• How long should my baby spend doing “tummy time” each day?
• How long should my baby nap each day?

6-month visit

Child well visits: 6 month appointment.

Screen 1: What to expect at your baby’s appointment – 6 Months

• Screenings: Vision, hearing, oral health.
• Immunizations: DTaP, Hib, IPV, RV, HepB, PCV13, IIV.
• Roll in both directions
• Play with toes
• Hold a bottle
• Sit with good head control
• When and how should I introduce foods other than breastmilk or formula?
• How can I wean my baby off night feedings?
• How long should my baby use a pacifier?
• Can my baby sleep with a favorite blanket or toy?
• When can my baby start drinking from a sippy cup?

9-month visit

Child well visits: 9 month appointment.

Screen 1: What to expect at your baby’s appointment – 9 Months

• Screenings: Vision, hearing, anemia, lead, oral health.
• Immunizations: IIV.
• Sit unassisted
• Crawl and pull up to stand
• Work to get toys that are out of reach
• I think my baby is behind in development (e.g., crawling). What can I do to help?
• What do I need to babyproof in my home once my baby can crawl?
• Should I be brushing my baby’s new teeth?
• How long should my baby be sleeping at night?
• How long should I let my baby cry at night?

12-month visit

Child well visits: 12 month appointment.

Screen 1: What to expect at your baby’s appointment – 12 Months

• Screenings: Vision, hearing, lead, oral health.
• Immunizations: MMR, HepA, Varicella, PCV13, IIV.
• Walk while holding onto something
• Use gestures to get things
• Eat solid foods with fingers
• Say more than one word
• Respond to name
• What should I do when baby pulls my hair or bites?
• Are my baby’s sleep patterns normal?
• How can I treat diaper rash?
• What can I do about sore arms and back from holding my baby?
• Should my baby nap at the same time each day?
• How do I keep my child safe as they learn to walk and explore?

15-month visit

Child well visits: 15 month appointment.

Screen 1: What to expect at your baby’s appointment – 15 Months

• Immunizations: DTaP, Hib, IIV.
• Walk and run
• Squat and stand back up
• Throw or kick a ball
• Point for things 
• When should my baby switch from a crib to a bed?
• How much juice or milk should my baby be drinking?
• Should my baby have screen time?
• When should my baby go to the dentist?
• When should I switch to a front-facing car seat?

Wellness visits are also important for your child after 15 months

As your child grows, it’s important to continue to have regular checkups with your health care provider. You can view checklists for preventive care visits at every age, from 1 month to adulthood.

Looking for resources to help support you and your child?

• Most health insurance plans cover early child well visits or provide assistance. Call the number on your insurance card for more details.
• If you are a UnitedHealthcare Community Plan member, you may have access to our Healthy First Steps program , which can help you find a care provider, schedule well-child visits, connect with educational and community resources and more. To get started, call 1-800-599-5985 , TTY 711, Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. 1
• If you need help getting to an appointment, or getting formula or healthy food, call the number on your insurance card.
• If you are having a hard time getting food or are experiencing unemployment, your care provider may be able to connect you with resources that can help.

Related content

• Preventive care

More like this:

• What’s preventive care and what’s covered?
• Children's health

Doctor Visits

Make the Most of Your Child’s Visit to the Doctor (Ages 1 to 4 Years)

Take Action

Young children need to go to the doctor or nurse for a “well-child visit” 7 times between ages 1 and 4.

A well-child visit is when you take your child to the doctor to make sure they’re healthy and developing normally. This is different from other visits for sickness or injury.

At a well-child visit, the doctor or nurse can help catch any problems early, when they may be easier to treat. You’ll also have a chance to ask questions about things like your child’s behavior, eating habits, and sleeping habits.

Learn what to expect so you can make the most of each visit.

Well-Child Visits

How often do i need to take my child for well-child visits.

Young children grow quickly, so they need to visit the doctor or nurse regularly to make sure they’re healthy and developing normally.

Children ages 1 to 4 need to see the doctor or nurse when they’re:

• 12 months old
• 15 months old (1 year and 3 months)
• 18 months old (1 year and 6 months)
• 24 months old (2 years)
• 30 months old (2 years and 6 months)
• 3 years old
• 4 years old

If you’re worried about your child’s health, don’t wait until the next scheduled visit — call the doctor or nurse right away.

Child Development

How do i know if my child is growing and developing on schedule.

Your child’s doctor or nurse can help you understand how your child is developing and learning to do new things — like walk and talk. These are sometimes called  “developmental milestones.”

Every child grows and develops differently. For example, some children will take longer to start talking than others. Learn more about child development .

At each visit, the doctor or nurse will ask you how you’re doing as a parent and what new things your child is learning to do.

Ages 12 to 18 Months

By age 12 months, most kids:.

• Stand by holding on to something
• Walk with help, like by holding on to the furniture
• Call a parent "mama," "dada," or some other special name
• Look for a toy they've seen you hide

Check out this complete list of milestones for kids age 12 months .

By age 15 months, most kids:

• Follow simple directions, like "Pick up the toy"
• Show you a toy they like
• Try to use things they see you use, like a cup or a book
• Take a few steps on their own

Check out this complete list of milestones for kids age 15 months.

By age 18 months, most kids:

• Make scribbles with crayons
• Look at a few pages in a book with you
• Try to say 3 or more words besides “mama” or “dada”
• Point to show someone what they want
• Walk on their own
• Try to use a spoon

Check out this complete list of milestones for kids age 18 months . 

Ages 24 to 30 Months

By age 24 months (2 years), most kids:.

• Notice when others are hurt or upset
• Point to at least 2 body parts, like their nose, when asked
• Try to use knobs or buttons on a toy
• Kick a ball

Check out this complete list of milestones for kids age 24 months . 

By age 30 months, most kids:

• Name items in a picture book, like a cat or dog
• Play simple games with other kids, like tag
• Jump off the ground with both feet
• Take some clothes off by themselves, like loose pants or an open jacket

Check out this complete list of milestones for kids age 30 months .

Ages 3 to 4 Years

By age 3 years, most kids:.

• Calm down within 10 minutes after you leave them, like at a child care drop-off
• Draw a circle after you show them how
• Ask “who,” “what,” “where,” or “why” questions, like “Where is Daddy?”

Check out this complete list of milestones for kids age 3 years . 

By age 4 years, most kids:

• Avoid danger — for example, they don’t jump from tall heights at the playground
• Pretend to be something else during play, like a teacher, superhero, or dog
• Draw a person with 3 or more body parts
• Catch a large ball most of the time

Check out this complete list of milestones for kids age 4 years . 

Take these steps to help you and your child get the most out of well-child visits.

Gather important information.

Bring any medical records you have to the appointment, including a record of vaccines (shots) your child has received.

Make a list of any important changes in your child’s life since the last doctor’s visit, like a:

• New brother or sister
• Serious illness or death in the family
• Separation or divorce
• Change in child care

Use this tool to  keep track of your child’s family health history .

Ask other caregivers about your child.

Before you visit the doctor, talk with others who care for your child, like a grandparent, daycare provider, or babysitter. They may be able to help you think of questions to ask the doctor or nurse.

What about cost?

Under the Affordable Care Act, insurance plans must cover well-child visits. Depending on your insurance plan, you may be able to get well-child visits at no cost to you. Check with your insurance company to find out more.

Your child may also qualify for free or low-cost health insurance through Medicaid or the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). Learn about coverage options for your family.

If you don’t have insurance, you may still be able to get free or low-cost well-child visits. Find a health center near you and ask about well-child visits.

To learn more, check out these resources:

• Free preventive care for children covered by the Affordable Care Act
• How the Affordable Care Act protects you and your family
• Understanding your health insurance and how to use it [PDF - 698 KB]

Ask Questions

Make a list of questions you want to ask the doctor..

Before the well-child visit, write down 3 to 5 questions you have. This visit is a great time to ask the doctor or nurse any questions about:

• A health condition your child has (like asthma or an allergy)
• Changes in sleeping or eating habits
• How to help kids in the family get along

Here are some questions you may want to ask:

• Is my child up to date on vaccines?
• How can I make sure my child is getting enough physical activity?
• Is my child at a healthy weight?
• How can I help my child try different foods?
• What are appropriate ways to discipline my child?
• How much screen time is okay for young children?

Take a notepad, smartphone, or tablet and write down the answers so you remember them later.

Ask what to do if your child gets sick. 

Make sure you know how to get in touch with a doctor or nurse when the office is closed. Ask how to get hold of the doctor on call — or if there's a nurse information service you can call at night or during the weekend. 

What to Expect

Know what to expect..

During each well-child visit, the doctor or nurse will ask you questions about your child, do a physical exam, and update your child's medical history. You'll also be able to ask your questions and discuss any problems you may be having.

The doctor or nurse will ask questions about your child.

The doctor or nurse may ask about:

• Behavior — Does your child have trouble following directions?
• Health — Does your child often complain of stomachaches or other kinds of pain?
• Activities — What types of pretend play does your child like?
• Eating habits — What does your child eat on a normal day?
• Family — Have there been any changes in your family since your last visit?

They may also ask questions about safety, like:

• Does your child always ride in a car seat in the back seat of the car? 
• Does anyone in your home have a gun? If so, is it unloaded and locked in a place where your child can’t get it?
• Is there a swimming pool or other water around your home?
• What steps have you taken to childproof your home? Do you have gates on stairs and latches on cabinets?

Your answers to questions like these will help the doctor or nurse make sure your child is healthy, safe, and developing normally.

Physical Exam

The doctor or nurse will also check your child’s body..

To check your child’s body, the doctor or nurse will:

• Measure your child’s height and weight
• Check your child’s blood pressure
• Check your child’s vision
• Check your child’s body parts (this is called a physical exam)
• Give your child shots they need

Learn more about your child’s health care:

• Find out how to get your child’s shots on schedule
• Learn how to take care of your child’s vision

Content last updated February 2, 2024

Reviewer Information

This information on well-child visits was adapted from materials from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Institutes of Health.

Reviewed by: Sara Kinsman, M.D., Ph.D. Director, Division of Child, Adolescent, and Family Health Maternal and Child Health Bureau Health Resources and Services Administration

Bethany Miller, M.S.W. Chief, Adolescent Health Branch Maternal and Child Health Bureau Health Resources and Services Administration

Diane Pilkey, R.N., M.P.H. Nursing Consultant, Division of Child, Adolescent, and Family Health Maternal and Child Health Bureau Health Resources and Services Administration

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8 Questions to Ask at a Well-Child Visit With Your Pediatrician

A well-child visit is an important part of keeping your child healthy. From babyhood through the teen years, these routine checkups are a great time to talk to your doctor about your child’s growth, development and behavior.

Lauren Nguyen, MD, MPH , a pediatrician with Children’s Medical Group in Torrance, California, part of the  Children’s Hospital Los Angeles Care Network , shares eight key questions to ask your pediatrician during your appointment.

1. Are my child’s growth and weight healthy?

At each visit, your doctor will do basic measurements of your child, including height and weight (and head circumference for babies and toddlers).

“Children are in a rapid phase of growth, so we want to make sure they’re following their own growth curve,” Dr. Nguyen says. “If there are any dramatic changes or concerns about that growth, the pediatrician will address them.”

Growth and weight are important beyond the baby years. For older children and teens, gaining too much weight is a common issue. Other children may experience early puberty. Talk to your doctor about any concerns you have about your child’s growth.

2. Is my child on schedule for his/her vaccinations?

At the end of the visit, your child will receive any needed vaccinations. These shots are critical for protecting your child from a host of serious diseases, including whooping cough, polio, measles and more.

Your doctor should explain which vaccines your child is receiving and what they protect against. Ask which shots are coming up for the next visit as well.

“It’s extremely important for your child to not only get these vaccinations, but to also get them on schedule ,” Dr. Nguyen says. “It can sometimes take weeks or multiple doses of a vaccine before a child is fully protected. The schedule is carefully designed to make sure your child is protected at the right time.”

Children will receive most vaccinations before the age of 6 or after 10 years old. But don’t skip a well-child visit during this gap just because no shots are needed. These are key growing years, plus your child should receive the flu shot every year, so it’s important to still have regular checkups with your pediatrician.

3. What should my child eat (and not eat)?

Nutrition is a big part of a child’s growth and development. Talk to the doctor about your child’s diet. For babies and toddlers, you might have questions around breastfeeding, when to introduce solid foods and what to do if your child is a picky eater.

Ask your doctor which foods your child should eat—and which they should not. Dr. Nguyen tells her patients to avoid juices and sodas, for example. “You want to establish healthy behaviors at a young age,” she says. “It’s so much harder to change these habits later on.”

Be sure to also tell your doctor about any vitamins or supplements your child is taking. “Gummy vitamins have become very popular for young children, but they’re one of the biggest causes of childhood cavities,” Dr. Nguyen explains. “A multivitamin is fine, but it should be a chewable tablet.”

4. Which milestones should my child reach next?

Your doctor will want to know if your child is achieving the typical milestones for his or her age group. In the early years, these include smiling, walking, throwing, grabbing and talking. In addition, ask which milestones your child should reach by the next appointment.

“For example, at the 15-month checkup I’ll say, ‘By 18 months, I’d like your baby to be able to say 10 words, to be able to almost run, to scribble and color and use utensils,’” Dr. Nguyen explains. “That lets parents know what to look for in their baby’s development.”

5. How can I keep my child safe?

For babies and toddlers, safety questions can cover car seats, child-proofing your home, sun exposure and more. For older children, questions might include: When can my child graduate from a booster seat? How much screen time is appropriate?

For adolescents and teens, safety conversations often center around social media use, drugs and alcohol, and sex. Your pediatrician may want to talk one-on-one with your teen about these issues. Talk to your doctor about what you are comfortable with.

6. What about my child’s mental health?

Mental health is important at every age, but this is a particular focus for adolescents. Is your child depressed or anxious? Struggling in school? Having trouble making friends?

“There is a significant increase of depression and anxiety right now among children and adolescents,” Dr. Nguyen says. “The earlier you can identify a mental health issue, the earlier you can treat it. Don’t be afraid to bring up these issues.”

7. Is it normal that my child … ?

This can be anything you’re concerned about—from a recurring rash or a strange bump to weight gain, picky eating or trouble making friends.

Tip: Write down your questions before the appointment. Put the most important ones at the top of the list. If a question comes up after your appointment, call and ask.

“Parents know their child best,” Dr. Nguyen says. “If you feel something is off, definitely ask your pediatrician. There might be an issue we need to address. Fortunately, most of the time your doctor can reassure you that your child is fine.”

8. When is my next appointment?

Before you head home, don’t forget to book your next well-child visit.

“Many parents don’t schedule that next visit, and then it’s easy to start falling behind,” Dr. Nguyen says. “You can always change the date later if you need to. Making the appointment while you’re still at the office is the best way to ensure you’ll stay on track.”

Related content

BUSTED! Debunking the Most Common Parenting Myths

Questions to Ask When Choosing a Pediatrician

When Can My Baby Have Solid Food?

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Home / Parenting, Kids & Teens / Quick guide to your infant’s first pediatrician visits

Quick guide to your infant’s first pediatrician visits

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Frequent checkups with a health care provider are an important part of your baby’s first few years. These checkups — often called well-child visits — are a way for you and your child’s health care provider to keep tabs on your child’s health and development, as well as spot any potential problems. Well-child visits also give you a chance to discuss any questions or concerns you might have and get advice from a trusted source on how to provide the best possible care for your child.

The benefit of seeing your child’s provider regularly is that each visit adds critical information to your child’s health history. Over time, you and the provider will get a good idea of your child’s overall health and development.

In general, the provider will be more attentive to your child’s pattern of growth over time, rather than to specific one-time measurements. Typically what you’ll see is a smooth curve that arcs upward as the years go by. Regularly reviewing your child’s growth chart can also alert you and the provider to unexpected delays in growth or changes in weight that may suggest the need for additional monitoring.

Each health care provider does things a bit differently, but here’s what will generally be on the agenda during your first well-child exams.

Body measurements

Checkups usually begin with measurements. During first-year visits, a nurse or your baby’s health care provider will measure and record your baby’s length, head circumference and weight.

Your child’s measurements will be plotted on his or her growth chart. This will help you and the provider see how your child’s size compares with that of other children the same age. Try not to fixate on the percentages too much, though. All kids grow and develop at different rates. In addition, babies who take breast milk gain weight at a different rate than do babies who are formula-fed.

Keep in mind that a child who’s in the 95th percentile for height and weight isn’t necessarily healthier than a child who’s in the fifth percentile. What’s most important is steady growth from one visit to the next. If you have questions or concerns about your child’s growth rate, discuss them with your child’s provider.

Physical exam

Your child’s health care provider will give your child a thorough physical exam and check his or her reflexes and muscle tone. Be sure to mention any concerns you have or specific areas you want the doctor to check out.

Here are the basics of what providers commonly check for during an exam:

• Head — In the beginning, your child’s health care provider will likely check the soft spots (fontanels) on your baby’s head. These gaps between the skull bones give your baby’s brain plenty of room to grow in the coming months. They’re safe to touch and typically disappear within two years, when the skull bones fuse together. The health care provider may also check baby’s head for flat spots. A baby’s skull is soft and made up of several movable plates. If his or her head is left in the same position for long periods of time, the skull plates might move in a way that creates a flat spot.
• Ears — Using an instrument called an otoscope, the health care provider can see in your child’s ears to check for fluid or infection in the ears. The provider may observe your child’s response to various sounds, including your voice. Be sure to tell the provider if you have any concerns about your son’s or daughter’s ability to hear or if there’s a history of childhood deafness in your family. Unless there’s cause for concern, a formal hearing evaluation isn’t usually needed at a well-child exam.
• Eyes — Your child’s health care provider may use a flashlight to catch your child’s attention and then track his or her eye movements. The provider may also check for blocked tear ducts and eye discharge and look inside your child’s eyes with a lighted instrument called an ophthalmoscope. Be sure to tell the provider if you’ve noticed that your child is having any unusual eye movements, especially if they continue beyond the first few months of life.
• Mouth — A look inside your baby’s mouth may reveal signs of oral thrush, a common, and easily treated, yeast infection. The health care provider might also check your baby’s mouth for signs of tongue-tie (ankyloglossia), a condition that affects the tongue’s range of motion and can interfere with a baby’s oral development as well as his or her ability to breast-feed.
• Skin — Various skin conditions may be identified during the exam, including birthmarks, rashes, and jaundice, a yellowish discoloration of the skin and eyes. Mild jaundice that develops soon after birth often disappears on its own within a week or two. Cases that are more severe may need treatment.
• Heart and lungs — Using a stethoscope, your child’s health care provider can listen to your child’s heart and lungs to check for abnormal heart sounds or rhythms or breathing difficulties.
• Abdomen, hips and legs — By gently pressing a child’s abdomen, a health care provider can detect tenderness, enlarged organs, or an umbilical hernia, which occurs when a bit of intestine or fatty tissue near the navel breaks through the muscular wall of the abdomen. Most umbilical hernias heal by the toddler years without intervention. The provider may also move your child’s legs to check for dislocation or other problems with the hip joints, such as dysplasia of the hip joint.
• Genitalia — Your child’s care provider will likely inspect your son’s or daughter’s genitalia for tenderness, lumps or other signs of infection. The provider may also check for an inguinal hernia, which results from a weakness in the abdominal wall.

For girls, the doctor may ask about vaginal discharge. For boys, the provider will make sure a circumcised penis is healing well during early visits. The provider may also check to see that both testes have descended into the scrotum and that there’s no fluid-filled sac around the testes, a condition called hydrocele.

Your child’s provider will likely ask you about your child’s eating habits. If you’re breastfeeding, the provider may want to know how often you’re feeding your baby during the day and night and whether you’re having any problems. If you’re pumping, the provider may offer suggestions for managing pumping frequency and storing breast milk. If you’re formula-feeding, the provider will likely want to know how often you feed and how many ounces of formula your baby takes at each feeding. In addition, the provider may discuss with you your baby’s need for vitamin D and iron supplements.

Bowel and bladder function

In the first few visits, your child’s health care provider will likely also ask how many wet diapers and bowel movements your baby produces a day. This information offers clues as to whether your baby is getting enough to eat.

Sleeping status

Your child’s health care provider may ask you questions about your child’s sleep habits, such as your regular bedtime routine and how many hours your child is sleeping during the day and night. Don’t hesitate to discuss any concerns you may have about your child’s sleep, such as getting your baby to sleep through the night. Your child’s provider may also help you figure out how to find rest for yourself, especially in the early baby months.

Development

Your child’s development is important, too. The health care provider will monitor your child’s development in the following five main areas.

• Gross motor skills — These skills, such as sitting, walking and climbing, involve the movement of large muscles. Your child’s health care provider may ask you how well your baby can control his or her head. Is your baby attempting to roll over? Is your baby trying to sit on his or her own? Is your child starting to walk or throw a ball? Can your toddler walk up and down steps?
• Fine motor skills — These skills involve the use of small muscles in the hand. Does your baby reach for objects and bring them to his or her mouth? Is your baby using individual fingers to pick up small objects?
• Personal and social skills — These skills enable a child to interact and respond to his or her surroundings. Your child’s health care provider may ask if your baby is smiling. Does your baby relate to you with joy and enthusiasm? Does he or she play peekaboo?
• Language skills — These skills include hearing, understanding and use of language. The health care provider may ask if your baby turns his or her head toward voices or other sounds. Does your baby laugh? Is he or she responding to his or her name?
• Cognitive skills — These skills allow a child to think, reason, solve problems and understand his or her surroundings. Your child’s provider might ask if your baby can bang together two cubes or search for a toy after seeing you hide it.

Vaccinations

Your baby will need a number of scheduled vaccinations during his or her first years. The health care provider or a nurse will explain to you how to hold your baby as he or she is given each shot. Be prepared for possible tears. Keep in mind, however, that the pain caused by a shot is typically short-lived but the benefits are long lasting.

Your child’s provider may talk to you about safety issues, such as the importance of placing your baby to sleep on his or her back and using a rear-facing infant car seat as long as possible.

Questions and concerns

During your son’s or daughter’s checkups, it’s likely that you’ll have questions, too. Ask away! Nothing is too trivial when it comes to caring for your baby. Write down questions as they arise between appointments so that you’ll be less likely to forget them when you’re at your child’s checkup.

Also, don’t forget your own health. If you’re feeling depressed, stressed-out, run-down or overwhelmed, describe what’s happening. Your child’s provider is there to help you, too.

Before you leave the health care provider’s office, make sure you know when to schedule your child’s next appointment. If possible, set the next appointment before you leave the provider’s office. If you don’t already know, ask how to reach your child’s provider in between appointments. You might also ask if the provider has a 24-hour nurse information service. Knowing that help is available when you need it can offer peace of mind.

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Vaccines at 12 to 23 Months

Vaccinations are safe and effective for children to receive at the recommended ages.

CDC recommends COVID-19 vaccination for everyone aged 6 months and older. If your child has not gotten vaccinated yet, talk to his or her doctor about getting it as soon as possible.

Vaccines your baby should get

As your child enters their toddler stage, they will start becoming aware of themselves and their surroundings. As a parent, make sure you are aware of their next vaccines.

Between 12 and 23 months of age, your baby should receive vaccines to protect them from the following diseases:

1 st dose of 2

Chickenpox is a very contagious disease known for its itchy, blister-like rash and a fever. Chickenpox is a mild disease for many, but can be serious, even life-threatening, especially in babies, teenagers, pregnant women, and people with weakened immune systems.

See Related: Chickenpox vaccination

4 th dose of 5

A DTaP vaccine is the best protection from three serious diseases: diphtheria, tetanus, and whooping cough (pertussis). All three of these diseases can be deadly for people of any age, and whooping cough is especially dangerous for babies.

See Related:   DTaP vaccination

3 rd dose of 3 or 4 th dose of 4

Hib disease is a serious illness caused by the bacteria Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib). Babies and children younger than 5 years old are most at risk for Hib disease. It can cause lifelong disability and be deadly. Doctors recommend that your child get three or four doses of the Hib vaccine (depending on the brand).

See Related: Hib vaccination

1 st Dose of 2

Hepatitis A can be a serious, even fatal liver disease caused by the hepatitis A virus. Children with the virus often don’t have symptoms, but they often pass the disease to others, including their unvaccinated parents or caregivers.

See Related: HepA vaccination

3 rd dose of 3 between 6 months and 18 months

Hepatitis B is an infectious and potentially serious disease that can cause liver damage and liver cancer. If babies are infected at birth, hepatitis B can be a lifelong, chronic infection.  There is no cure for hepatitis B, but the hepatitis B vaccine is the best way to prevent it.

See Related:  Hepatitis B vaccination

Flu is a respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses. Flu spreads easily and can cause serious illness, especially in children younger than 5 years and children of any age with certain chronic conditions including asthma. Everyone 6 months of age and older should get a flu vaccine every year ideally by the end of October.

See Related:  Flu vaccination

The MMR vaccine helps prevent three diseases: measles, mumps, and rubella (German measles). These diseases are contagious and can be serious.

See Related: MMR vaccination

4 th dose of 4

Pneumococcal disease can cause potentially serious and even deadly infections. The pneumococcal conjugate vaccine  protects against the bacteria that cause pneumococcal disease.

See Related:  Pneumococcal vaccination

3 rd dose of 4 between 6 months and 18 months

Polio is a disabling and life-threatening disease caused by poliovirus, which can infect the spinal cord and cause paralysis. It most often sickens children younger than 5 years old. Polio was eliminated in the United States with vaccination, and continued use of polio vaccine has kept this country polio-free.

See Related: Polio vaccination

Additional protection your baby may need during RSV season

Children 12 to 19 months old who are at increased risk of severe RSV may be recommended to get an RSV immunization to protect them against severe RSV disease as they enter their second RSV season.

Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV)

RSV is a common cause of severe respiratory illness in infants and young children. Those infected with RSV can have difficulty breathing and eating and sometimes may need respiratory support or hydration in the hospital. An RSV immunization uses monoclonal antibodies  to protect infants and young children from severe RSV disease. This immunization gives your baby’s body extra help to fight an RSV infection.

Children 8 through 19 months old who are at increased risk of severe RSV disease and entering their second RSV season (typically fall through spring) should get a one-dose of an RSV immunization to protect them against RSV. This dose should be given shortly before or during the RSV season.

Children 8 through 19 months who are at greatest risk for severe RSV illness include:

• Children who were born prematurely and have chronic lung disease
• Children with severe immunocompromise
• Children with cystic fibrosis who have severe disease
• American Indian and Alaska Native children

Care for your child after vaccinations

Call 911 if you think your child might be having a severe allergic reaction after leaving the vaccination site.

Give your child extra care and attention

Pay extra attention to your child for a few days. If you see something that concerns you, call your child’s doctor.

• Read the Vaccine Information Sheet(s) your child’s doctor gave you to learn about side effects your child may experience.
• Offer breastmilk or formula more often. It is normal for some babies to eat less during the 24 hours after getting vaccines.

Treat mild reactions

Sometimes children have mild reactions from vaccines, such as pain at the injection site or a rash. These reactions, also called side effects, are normal and will soon go away.

• Use a cool, damp cloth to help reduce redness, soreness, and/or swelling at the injection site.
• Reduce fever with a cool sponge bath.
• Ask your child’s doctor if you can give your child a non-aspirin pain reliever.

See which vaccines your child needs to stay on-track with routine vaccinations.

Birth to 6 years

7 to 18 years

Take a short quiz to get a list of vaccines your child may need based on their age, health conditions, and other factors.

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Baby girl found in London related to two other abandoned siblings, police say

A baby girl found earlier this year in a shopping bag in east London is the third child to have been abandoned by the same parents in similar circumstances over the last seven years, British police said Tuesday.

The baby girl, named Elsa, was discovered by a person walking their dog one night in January near a busy junction in the Newham district, police said.

Subsequent DNA tests revealed that Elsa was the full sibling of two other babies who had also been abandoned in the same area.

Harry, the first baby, was found in a park in Newham in September 2017, and in January 2019 another baby, named Roman, was discovered by dog walkers at a children’s play area.

Details of the case were made public on Tuesday after a judge at a family court in east London said the story was of public interest and gave the BBC and PA Media permission to report the sibling link of the three abandoned children.

The BBC said the older children had since been adopted while Elsa, who was estimated to have been born only an hour before being abandoned, was in foster care. The court was told she was doing well, according to the BBC.

“We understand the significant public interest that will come following the lifting of restrictions that allow this information to be reported,” Detective Inspector Jamie Humm said in a statement. “It is significant news and our work has focused on trying to locate the mother and provide support to her.”

The BBC said the family court was told the children will all know they are siblings and there were plans for them to have some form of contact as they grew up.

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