Well Child Exam Q&A
- What is a well-child exam?
Well-child exams usually start a few days after your child is born and continue until they're 18. These visits help ensure your child is healthy and developing normally.
Well-child exams allow you and your provider to stay up-to-date on their immunization schedule to prevent illnesses like measles, whooping cough, and other serious diseases or infections in the future. It also ensures the safety of other children.
During an exam, you can expect your provider to perform a physical exam, administer immunizations, and create a safe space for you to ask questions.
- What happens during a well-child exam?
During a well-child visit, you can expect your provider to:
Perform a physical exam
Review an interval growth chart
Ask about your child's behavior and development
Discuss how to prevent illness
Provide dental health tips
Talk about nutrition, sleep exercise, and safety issues
Educate you on how to handle emergencies or sudden illness
Administer immunizations or vaccinations
Provide advice on learning, development, and potty trainingYour child should receive a one-time vision screening between the ages of 3-5 years old. Your provider may test your child for an iron deficiency or lead poisoning. If they suspect they may have diabetes, they may encourage a urine glucose test.
During these visits, Fairway Children's Medical Group encourages you to openly ask any questions about your child's development or share any concerns about their mental or physical health.
- When does my child need a well-child exam?
It's important to stay on schedule with well-child visits to ensure your child's health. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) offers a periodicity schedule that recommends well-child visits and their specific assessments and screenings at ages:
- One week (3-5 days old)
- 1 month
- 2 months
- 4 months
- 6 months
- 9 months
- 12 months
- 15 months
- 18 months
- 2 years (24 months)
- 2 ½ years (30 months)
- 3 years old
After age 3, your child should continue to have a well-child exam annually. At each of these well-child visits, you can expect your provider to administer certain immunizations or just perform a thorough checkup.
To book a comprehensive and compassionate well-child exam, call Fairway Children's Medical Group today or reach out online.