Why is coming for checkups important?
Some people feel that if their child is not due for vaccines, there is no reason to come to the doctor’s office for a well checkup. However, your child’s checkup is important for so many reasons including early detection of possible problems, prevention of disease, developmental assessments and personalized guidance tailored to your child. Insurance providers recommend and typically fully cover an annual wellness exam because prevention is the best medicine.
During the early months of your child’s life, checkups are frequent and this is because babies are growing and developing at a rapid pace and are at higher risk of potential problems. These early months of your baby’s development are an important time to monitor your baby’s growth, weight gain, head size and developmental milestones. There are also vaccines due at most check ups to protect your baby from vaccine preventable diseases. The multiple visits required for your baby’s checkups in the first 2 years of life provides an opportunity for you to get to know your child’s health care provider and for you to work as a team to help your child flourish.
Checkup highlights per age:
- Newborn: This visit is important to establish care with your baby’s health care provider. We check the baby’s weight, evaluate their overall health and may check for jaundice. Most importantly, your baby’s primary care provider is a great support to you as a parent of a newborn.
- 2-week checkup
- Your baby’s weight will need to be checked and overall health. Newborn screening which includes a heel stick blood test to screen for congenital disorders is very important and can catch disorders early thereby preventing life threatening disease if left untreated.
- 1-month checkup:
- Your baby’s growth and weight will be measured and development will be assessed. Our priority in this visit is your baby’s health and to attend to your concerns. Caring for a 4-week-old infant can be challenging, and we are here to help.
- 2-4-6 month checkups:
- Your baby’s growth and development will be assessed. We will evaluate your baby’s growth and development and review what to expect in the coming months.At 2 , 4 and 6 months of age most infants are due for vaccines.
- 9 months of age checkup:
- 9 months of age is an important developmental age and is often a fun checkup for your baby. If your baby is up to date with vaccines, no vaccines are typically due at this visit. It is an important to come even though vaccines may not be due because at this time your health care provider will be assessing your baby’s overall health and ensure your baby is meeting developmental milestones and growing appropriately.
- 12 month checkup:
- Happy birthday! The twelve month checkup is very important. Your baby’s growth and development will be assessed as your baby is continuing to grow and develop at a rapid pace. We will also check for lead in the blood and check for anemia. We will discuss upcoming developmental changes and provide guidance with what to expect and offer support. For most babies, vaccines will be due at the 12 month visit.
- 15 months checkup
- Congratulations- you now have a toddler! At this checkup, your baby’s growth and development will be assessed. At this age, most babies are now walking and starting to talk. We will discuss upcoming developmental changes and provide guidance with what to expect with your growing toddler. At 15 months of age most babies are due for vaccines.
- 18 months checkup:
- This visit focuses on overall health, growth, and developmental progress. An important developmental survey done at this age is the first M-CHAT screening which helps assess for signs of possible autism. We will discuss upcoming developmental changes and provide guidance with what to expect with your growing toddler. At 18 months of age most babies are due for vaccines.
- 24 months checkup
- Happy birthday—your child is now two years old! At this checkup we will assess growth, development and health. An important developmental survey done at this age is the second M-CHAT screening which helps assess for signs of possible autism. We will also check lead level and check again for anemia. We will discuss upcoming developmental changes and provide guidance with what to expect with your growing toddler. At 24 months of age if you have followed the recommended vaccine schedule, no childhood vaccines may be due.
- Age 30 months checkup:
- This is your toddler’s last check up before starting annual checkup visits. This is an important evaluation of health, growth and development. If your child needs additional support, this visit is great time to discuss concerns such as tantrums, potty training, or speech delays.
- Age 3-5 yrs
- Your preschooler is learning every day and developing new skills. This checkup is an important evaluation of health, growth and development. If your child needs additional support, this visit is great time to discuss concerns such as behavioral difficulties or speech delays. At age 4 yrs vaccines are due for most children entering preschool or kindergarten.
- Elementary age (5yrs -10 yrs)
- Annual checkups for your school age child are an important time to evaluate your child’s growth and development and to provide your child with an educational opportunity regarding their health. Your child’s checkup will include evaluation of growth, development, blood pressure and nutritional intake.
- Middle school age (11-13 yrs)
- Once your child reaches early adolescence there are additional concerns for children and their parents. Your health care provider can help your pre-teen as they experience changes in their growing bodies and navigate the ever-growing challenges in the social climate. Most 11 yr olds are due for vaccines prior to entering middle school.
- High school age (14 -18 yrs)
- The annual check up for your teen is a very important time to meet with their health care provider. Along with checking your teen’s growth, weight and blood pressure, we also are touching base regarding their mental health. Your teen’s health care provider is an important resource to help you and your teen navigate the transition from being a child to becoming a young adult. Most 16 yr olds and 17-18 yr olds are due for vaccines.
Your Milestone Roadmap
Here is a quick look at what we focus on during these key visits:
The First Year
- Newborn & 2-Week Visits: We establish care, check for jaundice, and perform the “heel prick” newborn screening to catch congenital disorders early. We are here to support you through those first exhausting weeks!
- 1, 2, 4, & 6 Months: We focus on growth and attending to your concerns as a parent. These are also the primary visits for early vaccines.
- 9 Months: This is an enjoyable milestone visit. Even though vaccines usually aren’t due, it’s a critical time for us to assess how your baby is meeting developmental milestones.
- 12 Months (The First Birthday!): Along with growth checks, we perform important screenings for lead levels and anemia.
Toddlers & Preschoolers (15 Months – 5 Years)
- 15 & 18 Months: Now that you have a toddler, we focus on walking and talking. At 18 months, we perform the first “M-Chat” survey to look for early signs of autism.
- 24 & 30 Months: We check lead and anemia levels again at age two. The 30-month visit is the perfect time to chat about those “big” toddler topics:
- 3 to 5 Years: We transition to annual visits, focusing on school readiness, behavior, and the vaccines required for kindergarten.
The School Years & Beyond
- Elementary (Ages 5–10): We evaluate nutritional intake and blood pressure while giving your child the chance to learn about their own health.
- Middle & High School (Ages 11–18): These years bring big changes. We help navigate the transition to adolescence, discuss the social challenges of middle school, and—most importantly—touch base regarding mental health.
A Resource for Your Family
Whether your child is a tiny newborn or a teenager preparing for adulthood, these visits are about more than just a physical exam—they are an opportunity for you to get to know your healthcare provider. We are here to provide guidance tailored specifically to your child.
Did you know? Many 11, 16, and 18-year-olds are due for important vaccines to stay protected through their teenage years. Check your records or give us a call to see if your student is up to date!
Written by Nurse Practitioner Rebecca Divack.
