In pediatric healthcare, a well-child exam—or well visit—serves the same purpose as what has generally been known as a check-up. Your child will receive a full-body examination. It’s often scheduled annually. Parents arrange a well-child exam with their family pediatrician or physician to periodically check in on their child’s health and address any concerns.
For children aged 3 and under, these visits usually happen more frequently, ranging from the first few weeks during infancy to every 2 to 6 months up until their third birthday. Well-child exams are essential for infants, toddlers, school-age children, and teenagers alike.
Naturally, parents often wonder about what to expect during a well-child exam: how to prepare for it, what items to bring, and what to anticipate during the visit to the doctor’s office.
How to Prepare for a Well-Child Exam
Prior to your kid’s well-child exam, it’s a good idea to put together a list of questions or concerns you might have regarding your child’s health and development. Even if you don’t have specific concerns, it’s still good to think of some general questions that might help you gain more insight into supporting your child’s overall health. Sharing your concerns can help your kid’s healthcare team better understand how to offer support for both you and your child.
It’s possible that you might be requested to complete a form known as the “Staying Healthy Assessment,” which is meant to give your child’s healthcare team insight into your child’s home life. This form is usually completed once every two years from ages 1 to 5, and your child’s medical provider will go over it with you annually.
Finally, before the well-child exam, be sure that your kid’s healthcare team has the most recent info about your pharmacy and insurance, any medications your kid might be prescribed, and the most recent copies of bloodwork and other medical records.
What to Bring to a Well-Child Exam
It’s absolutely necessary that you bring along the following items:
- Your insurance card and identification
- Any necessary school or camp forms
- Records of medical visits from other providers or institutions if you couldn’t submit them electronically
It’s important to realize that your doctor might not be able to complete school or camp forms during your appointment. If they have time, they can fill out the forms, but it’s likely that the information from the well-child exam will be processed afterward and sent over to you at a later date.
What to Expect at a Well-Child Exam
During a well-child exam, your doctor will give your child a thorough examination that’s tailored to their age and stage of development. The visit begins with a review of your child’s height, weight, and BMI (body mass index), followed by checking their blood pressure, heart rate, and breathing.
After this, the doctor will give your child a head-to-toe physical examination and administer any vaccinations they need. Then, your doctor will go over your questions and concerns and offer advice about your child’s growth and development.
For infants, the doctor will closely observe developmental milestones, measure weight, length, and head circumference, and examine areas such as the ears, eyes, mouth, skin, abdomen, and genitals for any abnormalities. Toddlers will also undergo a vision and hearing check, and the doctor will ask you about mental, emotional, and social development.
During school-age exams, the doctor will also ask about behavioral changes, physical activity levels, and sleeping habits, as well as motor, language, and problem-solving skills. For teenagers, the doctor—ideally someone your teenager feels comfortable with—will look for signs of substance use, anxiety, or depression. They will go over sexual health, including birth control options, the risks of sexually transmitted infections (STIs), and similar topics.
Getting Ready for Your Child’s Well-Child Exam
By understanding what to expect and preparing accordingly, you set your child—and yourself—up for a more thorough and thoughtful well-child exam experience. If you’d like to know anything else about well-child exams and how to best prepare for them, don’t hesitate to contact us today and book a consultation with one of our board-certified pediatricians.