What is a well-child visit?
A well-child visit is your chance to check in on your little one’s health and development. Your provider at Cool Springs Internal Medicine & Pediatrics, PLLC, offers comprehensive consultations and exams to ensure your child is reaching critical developmental milestones and is fit and healthy. It’s also an excellent opportunity to talk to your physician about your child’s:
- Diet and nutrition
- Sleep needs
- Developmental milestones
- Behavioral development
- Medication
- Vaccinations
Your doctor can also provide advice on child-proofing your home and playground safety.
What are the benefits of a well-child visit?
As a parent, you know your child best, but your physician is trained to spot health and development issues in their earliest stages. For example, many health conditions don’t cause noticeable symptoms in their early stages. However, routine health screenings at your well-child visit can help your doctor diagnose and treat a health condition before it causes symptoms.
Additionally, while all children develop at their own pace, they should meet certain developmental milestones within specific age brackets.
Your doctor assesses your child’s physical, mental, and behavioral development during well-child visits and can either give you peace of mind that your child is on track or help you get the support you and your child need.
What happens during a well-child visit?
Every well-child visit begins with a member of the clinical team weighing and measuring your child. Then you and your child meet with your physician and review and update your child’s medical history.
During the physical exam, your doctor checks your child’s heart, lungs, ears, mouth, and vision. They talk to your child to assess their speech, social, and motor skills. If necessary, the doctor provides immunizations.
How often should my child have a well-child visit?
Your child needs more well-child visits during their infancy and toddler years. The recommended schedule for well-child visits is to have appointments at:
- 1 month
- 2 months
- 4 months
- 6 months
- 9 months
- 12 months
- 15 months
- 18 months
- 2 years
- 2-and-a-half years
- 3 years
- Annually until they’re 18
If your child is due for a well-child visit and you’re looking for compassionate, experienced pediatricians, call Cool Springs Internal Medicine & Pediatrics, PLLC, or make an appointment online today.
