Well-Child Visits in Woburn and North Andover, MA

Pediatric Check-Ups

Regular pediatric well-child visits are intended specifically for children from birth through their teen years. This is a period of rapid growth and change and is the best time to address conditions that can affect their long-term overall health and development. Besides providing routine health care, well-child visits are important because they are effective in helping to prevent and detect illnesses and problems before symptoms occur.

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), an ongoing relationship between a family and their pediatrician is a key requirement of quality health care for children. This relationship helps to build a level of trust that is important to achieving effective communication during the well-child visit. Additionally, the AAP believes that simply taking a child to the doctor when he or she is not feeling well is not sufficient in helping to ensure continued healthy development. Well-child visits permit parents to prepare topics for discussion in concert with their child’s examination.

Well-Child visit examination schedule

• Newborn Visit – generally 2 days after hospital discharge
• 2 months
• 4 months
• 6 months
• 9 months
• 12 months
• 15 months
• 18 months
• 2 years
• 2½ years (30 months) – some insurance carriers may not cover this 30 month visit, so be sure to check with your specific insurance plan prior to scheduling
• Annually for ages 3-21 years

Well-child visits focus on helping to maintain your child’s health by monitoring a number of important areas to help assure their health and identify conditions which may not openly manifest themselves. Important aspects of these visits include:

• An evaluation of your child’s growth and development
• A discussion of safety, nutrition, fitness, behavior, school, peer interaction, day to day family life, etc.
• Addressing attention or learning challenges
• A complete physical examination
• Recording your child’s height, weight, and other important information while assessing body mass index for identifying & preventing obesity
• Developmental screenings, if appropriate
• Diseases currently “going around” that may affect your child
• Age-appropriate screening tests (including hearing, vision, hemoglobin, etc.)
• Age appropriate immunizations
• An opportunity to ask questions

Well-Child Physical Exam Resources

Click the link on your child’s age group to view complete age-appropriate recommendations and resources on development, safety, nutrition, relationships, & more!

CDC Vaccine Information Statements & Schedule