Well checks

The visits where nothing is wrong

It is important that your child be evaluated by a qualified health care provider on a regular basis. Here is the schedule we follow, and what happens at each stage.

A wooden height ruler on a sunlit wall beside a pair of children’s shoes

Why they matter

Growth is easiest to read over time

Arizona Pediatrics is focused on preventative medicine — providing appropriate anticipatory guidance to parents and families to raise healthy children. A well visit is how we do that: we track growth and development across years rather than moments, screen at the ages where screening actually catches things, and keep immunizations current.

It is also the calmest appointment you will get with a pediatrician all year. Bring your list of questions — that is what the time is for.

Book a well visit

The schedule

Well-child visits, birth to 18

After age five, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends a well-child check every year. Immunizations are given at the visits where they are due.

Birth In the hospital nursery

1–2 days after discharge First visit in our office

1 week Feeding and weight check

2 weeks Weight and feeding review

1 month Growth and development

2 months Well visit

4 months Well visit

6 months Well visit

9 months Developmental check

12 months Well visit

15 months Well visit

18 months Well visit

2 years Well visit

3 years Well visit

4 – 5 years Pre-school visit; vision and hearing screening begins

Every year after 5 Annual well-child check, as the AAP recommends

Your child’s own schedule may differ — prematurity, a move, or a gap in records all change the picture. Call the office and we will work it out with you.

Immunizations

Given here, on the current national schedule

Vaccines are given in the office during the well visits where they are due, following the current recommendations of the American Academy of Pediatrics and the CDC. Ask the front desk for a copy of your child’s immunization record whenever you need one.

We participate in the Vaccines for Children program, and the eligibility screening record is part of the new-patient packet.

If your child has fallen behind, say so when you book. Catch-up schedules are routine and we will work it out with you.

Vaccine Information Statements. We keep the CDC’s information sheet for every vaccine we give — in English and in Spanish — so you can read about a vaccine before your visit rather than in the exam room. Ask the front desk, or we will hand you one at the appointment.

Get the forms

Screening

What gets checked, and when

Vision and hearing screening from age four
Blood pressure and urinalysis from age four
TB skin testing for children considered at high risk of exposure
Cholesterol and diabetes screening based on family history and risk factors

Screening is guided by your child’s history and what we find on examination, so not every child gets every test at every visit.