Regular well-child visits can help protect your child from serious illnesses, diseases, and injuries by identifying potential problems early.

The first well-child visit happens when your baby is 2 to 5 days old. Subsequent well-child visits happen at 1,2,4,6,9,15, and 18 months, and then again at 2 years old.

Regular well-child visits allow your pediatrician to monitor and record your child’s breathing, height and weight, heart sounds and pulse, and musculoskeletal structure, tracking growth and development.

Regular well-child visits are also an opportunity for your pediatrician to assess and monitor your child’s behavioral health, identifying and managing conditions including ADD and ADHD, learning disabilities, and anxiety and depression.

One of the most important functions of a well-child visit is to provide immunizations to prevent contagious, infectious illnesses and diseases, which are also required for your child to attend daycare and school.