Well-Child Visits and Preventative Care
Taking your children to the pediatrician when they are sick or injured is generally just common sense, but keeping up with routine well-child care is just as important for their overall health. Maintaining a consistent schedule of appointments ensures that children are followed closely by a medical professional who understands developmental milestones and keeps them up-to-date on their vaccines. It also provides an opportunity for you to discuss any concerns you may have about your child’s mental and physical health. Preventative health care can help you make sure that a minor issue today doesn’t turn into a major challenge tomorrow. In this guide, you will find resources to help you prepare for appointments with your child’s healthcare team and recommendations for seeking care as your child grows and develops.
Well Child Visits
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends frequent visits for infants and annual appointments for children over three. They provide a full schedule of recommended appointments, vaccinations, and screenings for children of all ages in this document. Not sure what questions to ask your pediatrician during your child’s visits? For a list of age-related topics that you may want to consider addressing, check out this guide that is broken down by age from kidshealth.org.
Vaccinations
It’s essential to stay up-to-date on vaccinations to help protect children of all ages against preventable illnesses and diseases. Getting your child vaccinated can help build their immune system and prepare them for important milestones like attending in-person school. For interactive immunization schedules, check out these resources from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC):
Shots can be scary for children and their caregivers. To learn how you can make your child’s next doctor's visit more manageable, check out this collection of resources with helpful tips in written and video form to help make receiving vaccinations less stressful.
Developmental Milestones in Early Childhood (Ages 0-5)
The CDC’s Act Early resources can help you monitor your child’s developmental milestones and track their progress as you watch them grow and learn new things. The Act Early resource library includes multilingual tracking tools, resource materials, and free books (available in English and Spanish) for the developing children in your life. As you track your child’s developmental progress you can note concerns and prepare to address them with your child’s pediatrician.
Download the Milestone Tracker App, or a printable Milestone Checklist from the CDC’s website.
Looking for Signs of Autism and Other Developmental Challenges in Young Children
Each year in the United States, 1 in 54 children is diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). To learn about identifying the signs associated with ASD, check out First Signs, an organization dedicated to early diagnosis.
If your child has been diagnosed with a developmental disorder or delay, check out this resource by healthychildren.org.
Dental Wellness, Timelines, and Milestones
Regular dental exams for children are a vital part of preventive health care. Dental exams and cleanings help to protect your child’s oral health and establish healthy habits. The dentist will have a chance to detect issues early, when they are most treatable, and provide kid-friendly tips for taking care of teeth and gums. Several factors may determine how often your child needs to have dental exams including age, health, diet and tooth decay risk.
Not sure what to expect from your child’s tooth development? Check out this detailed infographic for a timeline of growth from baby teeth to permanent teeth.
This publication from Texas A&M Health offers recommendations for helping to keep your child’s smile healthy and happy, at any age.
Vision Screenings and Eye Health
Beginning at birth, your child’s eyesight and visual development will go through many changes. With the help of your child’s doctor, you can monitor these vision milestones as they grow. Even though children develop at different paces, there are ways to make sure your child’s ocular health is on the right track. If you or your pediatrician think that your child may have a vision problem, consider making an appointment with a local ophthalmologist for a more in-depth screening. An eye doctor can also recommend the next steps to follow when dealing with issues in vision development.
Visit this guide from Johns Hopkins Medical for information about eye and vision development in children, and tips on being proactive about your child's eye health.
American Academy of Ophthalmology Eye Screening for Children has a preventative care timeline available for your reference.
The InfantSEE program can help you find early eye care regardless of income or insurance.
Concerned About Your Child’s Development?
If you read through this guide and find yourself feeling like something may not be right with your child’s development, schedule an appointment with your child’s doctor. As a parent, you know your child best. If they are not meeting milestones, or if you think there could be a problem with the way they are growing, it’s important to speak up and share your concerns. Don’t wait. Acting early can make a real difference. For information regarding developmental screening, obtaining a referral, and requesting an evaluation, visit this resource by the CDC’s Act Early preventative care initiative.