Regular well-child visits are an important part of keeping your child healthy as they grow. Even when your child feels well, these appointments allow us to monitor their growth and development, answer your questions, and help prevent future health concerns.
What to Expect:
- Perform a complete physical exam
- Monitor growth and developmental milestones
- Provide recommended vaccinations
- Complete vision, hearing, or other age-appropriate screenings
- Discuss nutrition, sleep, safety, and healthy habits
- Address behavior, learning, emotional well-being, and other developmental concerns
- Refer your child to a specialist if needed
Seeing the same pediatrician whenever possible helps us get to know your child, understand their medical history, and provide personalized care at every stage of childhood.
Well visits are different from sick visits. When your child is ill, the visit focuses on treating that specific concern. Well-child visits provide dedicated time for preventive care, developmental screenings, and conversations about your child’s overall health.
Schedule of Well-Child Care Visits
Below is a general chart of the well-child schedule and what to expect at each visit. Your child’s schedule may be a little different. Your pediatrician will advise you of when to schedule your next appointment and what to expect at that appointment.
SOCPA follows the AAP’s recommended immunization schedule. You can also view the AAP periodicity schedule here.
| AGE | RECOMMENDED OFFICE VISITS |
| Birth | Newborn blood screen |
| Hepatitis B (Hep B) | |
| Vitamin K injection | |
| Erythromycin eye ointment | |
| RSV protection during RSV season, if available at the hospital | |
| 3–5 Days | Well-child visit |
| 2 Weeks | Well-child visit |
| 2 Months | Well-child visit |
| Hep B | |
| DTaP (diphtheria, tetanus, acellular pertussis) | |
| Hib (Haemophilus influenza type b) | |
| PCV (Pneumococcal disease) | |
| Rotavirus (given by mouth) | |
| IPV (polio) | |
| 4 Months | Well-child visit |
| DTaP | |
| Hib | |
| PCV | |
| Rotavirus (given by mouth) | |
| IPV | |
| 6 Months | Well-child visit |
| Hep B | |
| DTaP | |
| PCV | |
| Hib | |
| Rotavirus (given by mouth) | |
| IPV | |
| Seasonal influenza vaccine | |
| 9 Months | Well-child visit |
| 12 Months | Well-child visit |
| MMR (measles, mumps, rubella); not before first birthday | |
| Hepatitis A (Hep A); not before first birthday | |
| Varicella (chickenpox); not before first birthday | |
| Digital vision screen | |
| Hemoglobin | |
| Lead | |
| 15 Months | Well-child visit |
| DTaP | |
| Hib | |
| PCV | |
| IPV | |
| 18 Months | Well-child visit |
| Hep A | |
| 2 Years | Well-child visit |
| Digital vision screen | |
| 3 Years | Well-child visit |
| Digital vision screen | |
| 4 Years | Well-child visit |
| Vision screen | |
| Hearing screen | |
| DTaP | |
| IPV | |
| Varicella | |
| MMR | |
| 5–10 Years | Well-child visit yearly |
| 11 Years | Well-child visit |
| TDaP booster (tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis) | |
| MCV ACWY (meningococcal disease) | |
| HPV (human papillomavirus) — 2 doses; 3 doses if series started after age 15 | |
| 12 Years | Well-child visit |
| 13 Years | Well-child visit |
| 14 Years | Well-child visit |
| 15 Years | Well-child visit |
| 16 Years | Well-child visit |
| MCV ACWY (meningococcal disease) booster | |
| MCV B (meningococcal B) | |
| 17 Years | Well-child visit |
| MCV B booster | |
| 18 Years | Well-child visit |
