Well-child visits are a time when parents can check up on their child’s health and make sure they’re growing and developing normally. Well-child visits usually start a few days after children are born and continue until they turn 18.
Your child will need wellness checkups at ages 2 weeks, 2 months, 4 months, 6 months, 9 months, 12 months, 15 months, 18 months, 2 years, 2 1/2 years, 3 years, and then annual visits after that. During these checkups, your health care provider will assess your child’s physical and emotional development, give guidance and immunizations (shots), and complete any needed tests. This is also a great time to talk with your health care provider about concerns or questions you have about your child’s development (physical, mental or social).
What to Expect at a Well Child Check Up
Each visit includes a complete physical exam, during which the healthcare provider checks your child’s weight, height, and other vital information. They’ll also examine your child’s growth and development to identify potential problems. Immunizations, screenings, and other preventive care may also be included depending on your child’s age.
How Often Should a Child Have a Well Check?
Well-child check schedules are very consistent for every child. Your child will need wellness checkups at ages 2 weeks, 2 months, 4 months, 6 months, 9 months, 12 months, 15 months, 18 months, 2 years, 2 1/2 years, 3 years, and annual visits after that.
Your pediatrician or healthcare provider will track your baby’s head growth and ask about eating habits, sleeping habits, urination, bowel movements, and behavior. You’ll have the opportunity to seek guidance on when and how to start your baby on solid foods. Most visits during this time include some sort of vaccination.
During the toddler years, your healthcare provider will pay special attention to growth and developmental stages to watch for any unusual developments.
At this age, the pediatrician or doctor may begin regularly checking your child’s blood pressure and talking to your child to develop a growing relationship and to listen for speech patterns.
As your child grows older, expect to add a variety of new screenings to the routine, including:
- Spinal health
- Social interaction
- Home safety
- Changes in birthmarks
As your child reaches adolescence, healthcare providers may address a variety of topics such as:
- Physical activity
- Social interaction
- Smoking, alcohol, and drugs
- Safe sex
KAN BE HEALTHY
What is KAN Be Healthy?
In Kansas, KAN Be Healthy (KBH) is a Medicaid program for children, teenagers, and young adults that ensures everyone has access to well-child checkups. Everyone who is 20 years of age or younger can take part in the KBH program. There are four KAN Be Healthy Screens:
- KAN Be Healthy Medical – Your Body
- KAN Be Healthy Vision – Your Eyes
- KAN Be Healthy Dental – Your Teeth
- KAN Be Healthy Hearing – Your Ears
KAN Be Screenings
KAN Be Healthy medical screens include vision, hearing, and dental assessment. The KBH screen follows the Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic, and Treatment guidelines and is considered an important tool in preventive health care and developmental screening. KAN Be Healthy helps your child get well faster, by getting the care and medicines they need:
- Prescription and some over-the-counter medicines (with a prescription)
- Dietitian services
- Rides to the doctor/clinic
- Extra medical supplies and equipment with a doctors prescription (such as tube feeding supplies)
- Help for children who are homebound due to long-term physical problems
- Counseling and Behavioral Health Services
- Eye exams as needed
- Eyeglasses and repairs (some limitations apply)
- Hearing screens and hearing aids (some limitations apply)
- Routine teeth cleaning, including x-rays
- Fluoride treatment (some limitations apply)
- Sealants, fillings, and teeth pulled
Why are Annual Well-Child and Kan Be Healthy Visits Important?
An annual well-child or Kan Be Healthy visit plays a crucial role in preventing illness, promoting your child’s well-being, and keeping you informed about your child’s development. Please note that the sports physical that many adolescents receive to play sports in no way replaces the annual physical they should be having with their healthcare provider. Contact a Wichita pediatric care provider to learn more.
Well-Child Check Up Vaccines and Immunizations
Vaccinations are an important part of your child’s well-child visit. Some parents worry that these shots can lead to certain health problems.
Researchers at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have done a number of studies on vaccine use and autism, and they have disproved that there’s a link between the two. Vaccines aren’t only safe, but they also play an important role in keeping all children healthy.
Vaccine and Immunizations List
Finding a Pediatrician or Doctor
There are two kinds of doctors who treat children:
- A pediatrician takes care of children from when they’re born up until they become teenagers. Most pediatricians see children up to age 18; however, in some cases, they may continue to see patients until age 21. Some pediatricians have experience with specific diseases, such as pediatric cancer.
- A family physician is a doctor who takes care of patients of all ages. Family physicians are trained to take care of children, but they also have training in other areas, such as women’s health or general internal medicine.
The type of doctor you choose depends on what you’re looking for. If you want a doctor who can care for your child through adulthood, you may choose a family physician. Or you may decide you’d rather have a doctor who specializes just in children.
Start looking for your child’s doctor early, at least 3 months before your baby is due. Start by checking which doctors and healthcare providers are covered under your insurance policy.
You can also ask for recommendations from friends, co-workers, and other healthcare providers. The American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Board of Family Medicine maintain lists of board-certified doctors and healthcare providers in your area.
Scheduling a Prenatal Appointment
Next, schedule a prenatal appointment (an appointment before your child is born). A prenatal appointment is a great time for you to interview your selected physician. During your office visit, consider the following:
- What’s the doctor’s personality like?
- Is the office staff pleasant?
- When is the office open and how busy is it?
- If your child has an emergency or you need to contact the office after hours, who would take care of that?
Schedule an Appointment at HealthCore Clinic
HealthCore Clinic provides a wide range of pediatric care for children of all ages. Our integrated approach to care looks at the overall health of your child — including medical, dental, behavioral, and more. Our team-based approach to family-centered pediatric care is designed with you and your child in mind. We use responsive preventative services, including research-based initiatives, that give your child access to premier medical services.