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Well Child Visit Q & A

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What is a well-child visit?

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A well-child checkup is an age-specific examination of your child by your trusted pediatrician, Dr. Fayad. Well-child visits begin soon after birth and support your child’s health until they reach young adulthood.

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The purpose of a well-child visit is to:

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• Assess your child’s overall health

• Record their growth and development

• Talk about infant feeding and child nutrition

• Address any of your concerns

• Identify any signs or risk factors of disease

• Prevent disease and injury

• Administer immunizations

• Encourage healthy behaviors

• Identify the need for referrals to specialists

 

An essential aspect of a well-child visit is building trust between your child and Dr. Fayad while they’re healthy and free of illness. Well-child visits are preventive and allow the doctor to assess their health when they’re at their best.

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How often does my child need a well-child visit?

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Well-child visits for newborns begin within 3-5 days after birth and continue every 1-3 months for the first year of your baby’s life.

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Well-child visits usually coincide with the childhood immunization schedule recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). After your child’s first birthday, a well-child exam takes place at:

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• 15 months

• 18 months

• Two years

• 30 months

• Three years

 

Starting at age four, well-child visits take place about once a year. As your child ages, their well-child visits are tailored to fit their specific developmental needs.

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What happens during a well-child visit?

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During your child’s visit, Dr. Fayad and the team at Pediatrics R US:

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• Measure height and weight

• Record blood pressure, pulse, and respiratory rate

• Listen to the heart, lungs, and abdomen

• Look inside the ears, nose, and mouth

• Assess vision and hearing

• Test reflexes and motor skills

• Take a sample of blood or urine, if needed

• Administer vaccines

 

During a well-child visit, you have an opportunity to ask questions or discuss your concerns with Dr. Fayad. If he sees anything that needs further investigation, he may recommend diagnostic testing, make specialist referrals, or perform developmental assessments for conditions such as ADHD.

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To schedule a well-child visit for your child, call the office or schedule an appointment with Pediatrics R US.

 

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