Children need to see the doctor even when they are not sick. These healthy trips to the doctor are called well-child visits. Well-child visits are important for many reasons.
At these well-child visits, the doctor will check your child's height, weight, growth, vision and hearing. The doctor will also check your baby's head, mouth, heart and lungs, penis or vagina, abdomen, hips and legs. This is done to make sure that everything is normal for the child's age.
You will get advice about feeding your child and nutrition. These visits are when your child will get shots to prevent certain diseases and blood tests to find out if your baby has any condition that needs more attention.
These visits give you a chance to ask questions and get to know your child's doctor. It is important that you trust the doctor and feel comfortable taking your child to see that doctor.
Your child's doctor will tell you how often you should bring your child for well visits. The normal amount of appointments is six well-child visits between birth and nine months old, and another five visits before your child turns 30 months old. Children should see the doctor for well visits every year once they turn 3-years-old.
If your child is sick, you should not wait for a well-child visit. Call your child's primary care provider (PCP) and ask if you should bring your child in for a sick visit or if you should go to the emergency department.
Source: American Academy of Pediatrics
