Whether your child is just born or already itching to move out, routine well-child visits are necessary for disease prevention, health management, and developmental education. Our healthcare team will take measurements, update immunizations, and conduct a head-to-toe examination to keep your child’s health in tip-top shape. Best of all, these visits provide a crucial opportunity for you to discuss growth, diet and nutrition, sleep, safety, and appropriate milestones for your child, as well as any other questions you have. They are critical to building a long-term relationship with your doctor, who will get to know you and your child’s needs and be better able to serve you. These physical examinations and tests will ensure healthy development of your loved one. A typical schedule involves visits at:

• 2-5 days or first week
• Months 1, 2, 4, 6, and 9
• 1 year
• Months 15 and 18
• 2 years
• 2-21 years (annually)

The well-child visit allows for comprehensive assessment of a child and the opportunity for further evaluation if abnormalities are detected. A complete history during the well-child visit includes information about birth history; prior screenings; diet; sleep; dental care; and medical, surgical, family, and social histories. Some answers to common concerns brought up at well-child visits: Car seats should remain rear facing until two years of age or until the height or weight limit for the seat is reached. Fluoride use, limiting or avoiding juice, and weaning to a cup by 12 months of age may improve dental health. A one-time vision screening between three and five years of age is recommended by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force to detect amblyopia. The American Academy of Pediatrics guideline based on expert opinion recommends that screen time be avoided, with the exception of video chatting, in children younger than 18 months and limited to one hour per day for children two to five years of age. Cessation of breastfeeding before six months and transition to solid foods before six months are associated with childhood obesity. Juice and sugar-sweetened beverages should be avoided before one year of age and provided only in limited quantities for children older than one year.