Well-Child Visit Schedule: How Often Should My Child See a Pediatrician?

Why Regular Well-Child Visits Matter

Well-child visits — also called checkups, health supervision visits, or "well visits" — are scheduled appointments with your pediatrician when your child is healthy, not sick. The purpose is preventive: monitoring growth, development, and health; administering recommended vaccines; screening for conditions early when they're most treatable; and giving parents a chance to ask questions and get guidance.

These visits are the backbone of pediatric care. Many health problems in children — developmental delays, vision issues, elevated blood pressure, obesity, anemia, lead exposure, and behavioral concerns — are caught during routine well visits before parents notice any symptoms.

The schedule below follows guidelines from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) Bright Futures program, which is the standard of care in the United States.

The Full Well-Child Visit Schedule

Newborn Period

• 3–5 days after birth — The first newborn visit, usually within the first week home. We check weight (newborns often lose 7–10% of birth weight in the first few days), jaundice levels, feeding, and newborn screen results. This visit is especially important for breastfeeding families.
• 1 month — Weight gain check, feeding assessment, parent questions about sleep and behavior.

Early Infancy (2–6 Months)

• 2 months — First major vaccine visit. Vaccines given: DTaP, PCV15, Hib, IPV (polio), Rotavirus, Hepatitis B (2nd dose)
• 4 months — Development check, second round of vaccines
• 6 months — Vaccines: DTaP, PCV15, Hib, IPV, Rotavirus, Influenza (if flu season). First discussion of solid food introduction.

Late Infancy and Toddler Years (9–36 Months)

• 9 months — Development screening, lead screening, anemia check. No vaccines at this visit for most children (a "break" visit parents often appreciate).
• 12 months — Major vaccine visit: MMR, Varicella, Hib (final dose), Hepatitis A (1st dose), PCV15 (final dose), Hepatitis B (3rd dose if not yet given). Lead screening. First birthday checkup!
• 15 months — DTaP (4th dose), Hepatitis A (2nd dose). Autism screening (M-CHAT-R).
• 18 months — Development and autism screening. Developmental milestone check is comprehensive at this visit.
• 24 months (2 years) — Lead screening, autism screening, speech and development check. Transition discussion from bottle/sippy cup.
• 30 months (2.5 years) — Developmental screening (SWYC or equivalent). Often the visit where speech concerns are identified.

Preschool (3–5 Years)

• 3 years — Blood pressure, vision screening begins. Development discussion. Dental health emphasis.
• 4 years — Big vaccine visit: DTaP (5th dose), IPV (4th dose), MMR (2nd dose), Varicella (2nd dose). Vision and hearing screening. School readiness discussion. This is often the last visit before kindergarten.
• 5 years — Annual visit begins. Vision and hearing screening. Kindergarten readiness.

School Age (6–10 Years)

Annual checkups continue every year. Each visit includes height, weight, blood pressure, vision and hearing screening, development and behavioral questions, and age-appropriate anticipatory guidance (screen time, safety, social media awareness as children get older). Flu vaccine annually.

Adolescence (11–21 Years)

• 11–12 years — Major vaccine visit: Tdap booster, HPV vaccine series (2 doses 6–12 months apart if started before age 15), Meningococcal vaccine (MenACWY). Confidential portion of visit begins. Depression screening (PHQ-2/PHQ-9).
• 13–17 years — Annual visits continue. HPV series completion (if not done). Cholesterol screen (9–11 years), STI screening as appropriate for age/risk. Screen for substance use, depression, eating disorders.
• 16 years — Meningococcal booster (MenACWY). Driving safety discussion.
• 18–21 years — Transition to adult care planning. MenB vaccine series.

Do Well-Child Visits Have to Be on a Strict Schedule?

The schedule above represents the ideal — but life happens, and a visit a few weeks late is better than skipping it entirely. The most important visits to keep on schedule are the early vaccine visits (2 months, 4 months, 6 months) to ensure babies are protected from serious diseases during the period when they're most vulnerable. Vaccine delays for infants increase their risk during the gap.

For older children, annual visits ensure continuity of care, tracking of growth trends, and a regular relationship with your pediatrician so your child knows where to turn when health questions arise.

Are Well-Child Visits Covered by Insurance?

Under the Affordable Care Act, preventive care visits — including well-child visits and recommended vaccines — must be covered at no cost (no copay, no deductible) by most insurance plans. This applies as long as you see an in-network provider. If you're unsure about your coverage, contact your insurance company or our office at (609) 808-3123.

Frequently Asked Questions

How often should my child see a pediatrician for a checkup?

The AAP recommends well-child visits at 3–5 days, 1 month, 2, 4, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 24, and 30 months, then at 3, 4, and 5 years, and annually from age 5 through 18. The frequent visits in the first two years monitor rapid development, catch problems early, and complete the vaccine schedule.

What happens at a 4-year-old checkup?

The 4-year well-child visit includes a major vaccine appointment (DTaP, IPV, MMR, Varicella boosters), vision and hearing screening, school readiness discussion, developmental assessment, physical exam, and blood pressure check. It's typically the last visit before kindergarten and an important time to ask about starting school.

Are well-child visits covered by insurance?

Under the Affordable Care Act, well-child visits and recommended vaccines are required to be covered at no cost — no copay, no deductible — by most insurance plans when you see an in-network provider. This applies from birth through age 18. Contact your insurance company or our office to confirm your specific plan's coverage.

What vaccines does my child get at the 12-month visit?

At the 12-month well visit, children typically receive MMR (measles, mumps, rubella), Varicella (chickenpox), Hepatitis A (first dose), and final doses of Hib and PCV15. If Hepatitis B is not yet completed, that may also be given. A brief period of fussiness or low-grade fever afterward is completely normal.

Can I schedule a well-child visit if my child is also sick?

It depends on how sick your child is. A mild cold often doesn't require rescheduling, especially if vaccines are due — ask when you call. If your child has a fever or significant illness, it's usually better to reschedule the well visit and do a sick visit instead. Vaccines are best tolerated when a child is healthy.

We serve families throughout Robbinsville, Hamilton, East Windsor, West Windsor, Bordentown, and the Princeton area.