Preventive care - birth to age 18

What is preventive care?

Preventive care is the care your child gets when the doctor assesses your child's development and provides health education counseling, screening tests and immunizations. It is different than when you take your child to the doctor for a specific concern like a sprained ankle. Preventive care is aimed at keeping your child healthy or identifying problems while they are easiest to treat.How often does my child need to see a doctor for preventive care?

How often does my child need to see a doctor for preventive care?

Many factors need to be considered when deciding when to bring a child in for a preventive care visit. Recommended visits will vary with the age of your child. Most preventive care visits are scheduled when immunizations are recommended. Each visit includes a height and weight check and developmental assessment.

When to schedule a visit

Birth to 23 months

Visits usually are scheduled within the first 2 weeks, at 2 months, 4 months, 6-9 months, 10 months and 15 months. Visits also include head circumference measurements, vision and hearing checks and one hemoglobin or
hematocrit test within this time period.

Immunizations

• Diphtheria-pertussis-tetanus (DPaT): 2, 4, 6, 12-15 months
• Poliovirus vaccine: 2, 4, 6 months
• Measles-mumps-rubella vaccine (MMR): 12–15 months
• H. influenza type B (Hib): 2, 4, 6, 12–15 months
• Hepatitis B vaccine: 1-2 Months, 4 months, 6–18 months
• Varicella zoster virus vaccine (chicken pox): 12–18 months
• Pneumococcal (PCV 7): 2, 4, 6, 12-15 months

2 to 6 years

Visits usually are scheduled at 2 years, between 3 and 4 years and at 5 years. Visits will include vision, hearing and blood pressure checks.

Immunizations

• Diphtheria-pertussis-tetanus (DPT): 4-6 years
• Poliovirus vaccine: 4-6 years
• Measles-mumps rubella booster (MMR): 4-6 years
  

7 to 11 years

Visits usually are scheduled once between 7 and 9 years.  Each visit includes a height and weight check, developmental assessment and blood pressure check.

12 to 18 years

Visits usually are at 12 years, then twice between the ages of 13 and 18. Visits will include a height and weight check, developmental assessment,  blood pressure checks, counseling about tobacco/alcohol/drug use and sexual activity and pap tests for females at age 18 (or with onset of sexual intercourse).

Immunizations:

• Tetanus-diphtheria (Td) booster: At 12 years (before entering 7th grade)
• Hepatitis B vaccine: (series of three if not previously done): At 12 years before entering 7th grade
• Varicella (chicken pox): If  not done previously
• Measles-mumps-rubella vaccine (MMR): Prior to entering 7th grade if not not previously

Lifestyle habits

Make sure your children receive all the recommended immunizations and that your home is a safe, smoke-free environment. Children also need to use car seats and seat belts, wear bike helmets, eat a variety of nutritious foods and be physically active.