Well-Child Visits: What to Expect at Every Age

If you’re expecting, it’s not too soon to consider your child’s medical care after they’re born. Well-child visits to the pediatrician are very important to ensure that your child stays healthy and that any issues are caught early. But what happens at these well-child visits? It’s important to know what to expect at every age so that you can be prepared and ensure that your child is getting everything they need.

Newborn Well-Child Visit

Your newborn’s first visit will be in the hospital shortly after birth. The pediatrician will measure your baby’s weight, length, and head circumference, and do a physical exam. This exam will involve checking their eyes, listening to their heart, and checking their back, hips, and feet. They may take a small amount of blood to screen for certain diseases. Your child will also receive their first vaccines at this visit, including the Hepatitis B vaccine and possibly the Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) antibody.

The pediatrician will also offer advice about feeding and what to expect in terms of urination and bowel movements.

3-5 Day Well-Child Visit

At around three to five days after birth, you’ll have another visit with the pediatrician. They will again take measurements, do a physical exam, and perform a hearing test. This is also your opportunity to ask questions and express any concerns that you may have.

1 Month Well-Child Visit

At one month, measurements will be taken and an exam will be done. Your baby also may get more vaccinations, although this may instead happen at the 2-month visit. Vaccines given at this time include:

• DTaP vaccine, 1^st dose of 5, which protects against diphtheria, tetanus, and whooping cough (pertussis)
• Hib vaccine, 1^st dose of 4, protects against Hib disease which can cause lifelong disability or death
• Hepatitis B vaccine, 2^nd dose
• IPV, 1^st dose of 4, protects against polio
• PCV, 1^st dose of 4, protects against pneumococcal disease
• Rotavirus vaccine, 1^st dose of 3

2 Month Well-Child Visit

At two months, the pediatrician will ask you questions about your baby’s behavior to make sure that they are developing normally. They will also do an exam and assess the sounds your baby is making, how their arms and legs are moving, and how they react to certain stimuli. They will again take measurements and see where your child falls on the growth chart. If vaccines weren’t given at the one month visit, they will be given now.

4 Month Well-Child Visit

At four months, your child’s development will be thoroughly assessed, both physically and behaviorally. They should be doing things like responding to your voice, turning their head, smiling, and holding their head up when held. As usual, the doctor will take measurements to compare to the growth chart and do a physical exam. The next vaccines will also be given which include:

• DtaP, 2^nd dose of 5
• Hib, 2^nd dose of 4
• IPV, 2^nd dose of 4
• PCV, 2^nd dose of 4
• Rotavirus, 2^nd dose of 3

6 Month Well-Child Visit

At this point, well-child visits are pretty routine, with measurements and a basic exam. As always, you can address any concerns that you have and ask questions. Vaccines given at 6 months include:

• COVID-19
• DTaP, 3^rd dose of 5
• Hib, 3^rd dose of 4
• Hepatitis B, 3^rd dose of 3
• IPV, 3^rd dose of 4
• PCV, 3^rd dose of 4
• Rotavirus, 3^rd dose of 3

9 Month Well-Child Visit

This will be a routine appointment with no vaccines except the flu vaccine.

12 Month Well-Child Visit

At 12 months, the pediatrician will discuss your baby’s development and how it compares to other babies at this age. Vaccines given include:

• Chickenpox, 1^st dose of 2
• DTaP, 4th dose of 5
• Hepatitis A, 1st dose of 2
• Hib, 4^th dose of 4
• MMR vaccine, 1^st dose of 2, protects against measles, mumps, and rubella
• PCV, 4^th dose of 4

2 and 3 Year Well-Child Visits

These checkups will be standard, but the pediatrician will begin to discuss your child’s mobility, speech, and cognitive development to make sure they are meeting all their milestones.

4 to 6 Year Well-Child Visits

These appointments will be standard, but sometime during this period, they will get more vaccines that include:

• Chickenpox, 2^nd dose of 2
• DTaP, 5^th dose of 5
• IPV, 4^th dose of 4
• MMR, 2^nd dose of 2

7 to 10 Year Well-Child Visits

These visits will include the standard exam and measurements and may also include examination for signs of puberty. Blood pressure may also be checked at these visits. No vaccines are recommended except the flu vaccine.

11 and 12 Year Well-Child Visits

At these ages, your child will again be examined for signs of puberty. A few vaccines will also be given which include:

• HPV vaccine, 2 doses 6 to 12 months apart, protects against human papillomavirus, which can lead to cancers later in life
• MenACWY vaccine, 1^st dose of 2, protects against four types of the bacteria that cause meningococcal disease, which can be deadly.
• Tdap booster, protects against diphtheria, tetanus, and whooping cough

13 to 18 Year Well-Child Visits

During these years, the pediatrician will start to measure your child’s body mass index to make sure they are at a healthy weight. Also, in addition to examining your child’s physical health, they will also discuss their mental health and look for signs of depression or anxiety. Their last vaccines will be given sometime during this period, which include:

• MenACWY vaccine, 2^nd dose of 2
• MenB vaccine, protects against one type of the bacteria that cause meningococcal disease

In Closing

It’s important for new parents to be prepared for well-child visits, and to understand their purpose. Be sure to keep your child on schedule for these visits, particularly when vaccines are involved.

If you’re expecting and do not have a pediatrician yet, the outstanding pediatricians at Health Service Alliance are here for you. We are dedicated to providing compassionate, personalized, and accessible care regardless of your ability to pay. Reach out today to learn more.