As your child starts to grow and develop their body is constantly changing. It’s important for your child to have regular checkups with their Pediatrician or Family Practice Doctor to make sure that they are growing and developing properly.

During the visit the doctor can check for:

• Appropriate growth
• Developmental milestones
• Overall health and wellness
• Immunizations
• Other important information
• Hearing tests
• Vision tests

Regular checkups with your child’s Pediatrician/Family Practice provider allows you as the parent to discuss with the doctor information about normal development, behavioral problems, nutrition, sleep habits, and any illnesses that may be going around. If needed, there are many resources available to you and your children which you can learn about from your doctor. During these early visits your child will also be given series of immunizations recommended by the American Academy of Pediatricians. Please don’t miss these appointments, but if you do, reschedule them so your child stays on schedule.

Proof of immunizations will be required by your public school when your child starts kindergarten and again in Jr. High, so keep this in mind when your child is coming up on these ages (5 and 12 years old).
 
Recommended ages for checkups/well-child visits:

• 3 to 5 days or up to 14 days after birth
• 2 months
• 4 months
• 6 months
• 9 months
• 1 year
• 15 months
• 18 months
• Once a year until age 18

It is easy to stop taking your kids to the doctor simply because they are older and “fine.” It is important for them to be seen yearly to address issues and stay on top of current recommendations for immunization and other health issues.