Well Child Visits Specialist

Well-child visits offer a chance for parents and children to prevent health problems or deal with them at an early stage. Fiona Carroll, MD, of Child & Adolescent Health Center in Lathrup Village, Michigan, provides exceptional care to children of all ages, from birth to 19. To ensure your child benefits from a well-child visit, call Child & Adolescent Health Center today or book an appointment online.

What are well-child visits?

Well-child visits are consultations with your child’s pediatrician to make sure they’re healthy and have no physical or mental health problems.

Children grow and change rapidly from birth until they become adults. They can encounter many challenges on the way, but regular well-child visits can ensure they develop as they should.

Well-child visits can also detect signs of ill health early on when they’re easier to treat and before they cause additional distress.

What happens at a well-child visit?

A well-child visit is similar to a school or sports physical in that your child’s pediatrician records their height, weight, and body mass index (BMI), assesses their vital signs, and performs a physical exam.

A well-child visit might also include:

• Immunizations
• Developmental screening
• Weight management
• Behavioral health assessment
• Nutritional evaluation and advice
• Mental health appraisal

Children and teens often have difficulties with mental, emotional, and behavioral health issues such as anxiety and depression, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Identifying and treating these issues early on is far more effective.

If your child has any recurring or ongoing symptoms that you’re worried about, like constipation, abdominal pain, or headaches, you can discuss these with your pediatrician at a well-child visit.

How often should children have a well-child visit?

Child & Adolescent Health Center follows the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommendations on well-child visit frequency. The AAP advises the following schedule:

Babies should see their pediatrician for a newborn care exam about a week after the birth. They should then have well-child visits at:

• One month
• Two months
• Four months
• Six months
• Nine months
• 12 months
• 15 months
• 18 months
• 2 years
• 2.5 years
• 3 years

After age 3, well-child visits typically take place once a year unless your child has long-term health problems and requires more frequent checkups.

You can go to Child & Adolescent Health Center for sick visits or any other health requirements in between well-child visits. Your child’s pediatrician is always available to answer questions, provide reassurance when you have concerns, and offer valuable information and resources.

To learn more about the benefits of attending well-child visits at Child & Adolescent Health Center, call the office or book an appointment online today.