How Often Should Your Child Have Well Visits

A well-visit, also known as a check-up or preventative healthcare appointment, is a part of maintaining your child's overall health and development. These visits aren't only for when your child is sick but are proactive, aimed at preventing illnesses and ensuring your child is growing and developing as expected.

Well-visits at Decatur Pediatric Group in Smyrna, Clarkston, or Lithonia, GA, start in infancy and continue throughout childhood. They monitor your child's growth, immunizations, and developmental milestones. During these appointments, you can discuss concerns, ask questions, and receive guidance on nutrition, safety, and age-appropriate behaviors.

It's important to remember that well-visits are not just for infants and toddlers; they extend into adolescence. They help ensure your child receives timely vaccines and screenings, safeguarding their long-term health.

How Often Should Your Child Have Well Visits?

During infancy, your baby should visit the pediatrician several times within the first year. Typically, you'll have appointments at two weeks, two months, four months, six months, nine months, and 12 months. These visits help ensure your baby is thriving, reaching developmental milestones, and receiving necessary vaccinations.

As your child grows, well-visits become less frequent but equally important. Between ages one and four, aim for yearly check-ups to monitor growth, assess motor skills, and discuss nutrition and behavior. After that, visits can occur every two to three years up to age 21.

Your Child’s Appointment: What To Expect

During a well-visit, you can expect a series of assessments tailored to your child's age and needs. For babies - the appointment often begins with height, weight, and head circumference measurements, while older children may also have their blood pressure checked. These measurements help track your child's physical growth.

Next, our healthcare provider will discuss your child's developmental milestones, behavior, and concerns you might have. Immunizations and vaccinations are a critical component of well-visits, and the doctor will ensure your child is up-to-date on these shots, helping protect against serious diseases.

Our provider will also conduct a physical examination, which may include examining the heart, lungs, abdomen, and other body systems. They'll assess vision and hearing, plus provide nutritional tips, safety, and age-appropriate topics such as potty training or puberty.

Please explore our website to learn about the conditions we treat and the services provided. If you have questions or concerns regarding well-visits in Smyrna, Clarkston, or Lithonia, GA, and want to schedule an appointment with one of our board-certified doctors at Decatur Pediatric Group, call (404) 296-7133.