The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends well-child visits at birth, 3-5 days old, and at 1, 2, 4, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 24, and 30 months — then once a year from age 3 through 21. These checkups track growth and development, keep vaccines on schedule, and catch small concerns early, even when your child feels perfectly healthy.
Well-child visits are the backbone of preventive pediatric care. They happen when your child is healthy — which is exactly the point: it's the best time to measure growth, check development, and stay ahead of problems before they start.
Why well-visits matter (even when your child feels fine)
A sick visit answers a question you already have. A well-visit answers the questions you don't yet know to ask. These checkups let your pediatrician plot growth over time, screen development and behavior, review nutrition and safety, and build a relationship with your family — so that when something does come up, we already know your child.
Consistent well-visits are also how vaccines stay on schedule and how subtle issues — a vision problem, a growth change, an early developmental concern — get spotted while they're easiest to address.
The AAP well-visit schedule, birth to 21
Infancy (birth-12 months)
A first visit at 3-5 days old, then checkups at 1, 2, 4, 6, and 9 months. These focus on feeding, growth, milestones, and the primary vaccine series.
Toddler & early childhood (1-4 years)
Visits at 12, 15, 18, 24, and 30 months, then annually at ages 3 and 4 — tracking speech, movement, behavior, and routines.
School age & teens (5-21 years)
An annual wellness exam covering fitness, school, mental health, puberty guidance, and sports-physical clearance.
What happens at a well-child visit
Every visit is tailored to your child's age, but most include:
- Growth & vitals — height, weight, BMI, and head circumference plotted on standard curves.
- A head-to-toe exam — heart, lungs, eyes, ears, abdomen, reflexes, and more.
- Developmental & behavioral screening — age-appropriate milestones, plus mental-health screening for older kids.
- Vaccines & screenings — recommended immunizations and vision, hearing, or lab checks when appropriate.
- Guidance & a plan — time for your questions on sleep, nutrition, and safety, and clear next steps.
How well-visits differ from sick visits
A well-visit is preventive and scheduled ahead; a sick visit responds to an active problem like a fever, rash, or infection. Both matter — and as a member, your child has easy access to both, including same-day sick appointments. Think of well-visits as the map and sick visits as the detours.
If your child is due for a checkup and also feeling under the weather, call us — sometimes we combine visits, and sometimes it's better to treat the illness first and do the wellness exam once they've recovered.
Making the most of every visit
A little prep goes a long way. Jot down changes in sleep, eating, or behavior since the last visit; bring any school or sports-physical forms; and, for new patients, bring prior immunization records. Prepare older children by explaining it's a friendly check to see how they're growing.
