Well-Child Health Requirements

Well-Child Health Screening and Evaluation Requirements

Well-child visits are routine doctor visits for comprehensive preventive health services that occur frequently when a baby is young, then annually until a child reaches age 21. Services include physical exam and measurements, vision and hearing screening, oral health risk assessments, and vaccinations. Recommended vaccinations are essential, help make sure children stay healthy, and are required for school attendance.

All 1st-grade students must have a health evaluation by their physician or other healthcare provider within 18 months of entering first grade. The health exam can be completed as early as six months before entering kindergarten. The form must be filled out by a health examiner and submitted to the school.

The schedule of well-child visits recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) is more frequent during early childhood, then annually from age 3-21 years old

In the first year during infancy there are six visits recommended. As a child ages, visits become less frequent. As a one-year old there are three visits. A two-year old has two visits.

After three until a child is 18, annual visits are recommended for each year, including for school requirements:

• 4-year old visit is important for required vaccines and exam before kindergarten
• 11-year old visit is important for Tdap vaccine required before 7th grade.

Benefits of primary care provider well-child visits

Prevention. Your child gets scheduled immunizations to prevent illness. You also can ask your child’s doctor about nutrition and safety in the home and at school.

Tracking growth & development. See how much your child has grown in the time since your last visit and talk with your child’s doctor about your child’s development. You can discuss your child’s milestones, social behavior, and learning.

Raising any concerns. Make a list of topics you want to talk about with your child’s doctor, such as development, behavior, sleep, eating or getting along with peers and other family members.

Team approach. Regular visits create strong, trustworthy relationships between the doctor, the parent, and the child/teen.