Child health and well visits
From the moment they’re born, children depend on us to help nurture their growth and development. Parents, extended family, health care providers and others may all play a role in supporting a child's physical, mental and social well-being. Regular wellness checks, screenings and tests help support your child's health. These checkups help track your child's development so you can understand how to help them as they grow. Read on for key information and resources to help you navigate your child’s health from birth to age 10.
Understanding child development
Young children grow and develop quickly. (Ask any parent.) Before you know it, you’ll be putting 10 candles on the cake and asking yourself where the time went. Regular well-child visits help you keep up with that fast growth to make sure it’s healthy and on track. Some topics you’ll cover include vaccines (immunizations) and important screenings for each stage in child development, and when to schedule regular preventive care visits throughout childhood. Read on to learn more about these well-child visits and what to know to help keep on top of your child’s health care needs.
What to know about child well visits from birth to age 10
The American Academy of Pediatrics provides lots of details about what you can expect during each appointment. Read on for a general idea of what your provider will offer during your well-child visits, and what kinds of things you’ll talk about.
Well-child visits and development 0 to 24 months
Well-child visits those first 2 years of life happen somewhat often. This is to make sure your little one is healthy and hitting developmental milestones, like crawling, walking and talking. Plus, these visits are time for you to discuss questions or concerns with your child’s provider.1
Birth to 6 months | 9 to 15 months | 18 to 24 months | |
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Screenings |
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Physical exam | Plus developmental observation | Plus developmental observation | |
Vaccines | |||
Height, weight and Body Mass Index (BMI) | |||
Developmental milestones |
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Safety and health topics
Throughout visits from birth to 24 months, your provider will discuss topics like:
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Sleep habits
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Healthy hygiene
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Proper car seat
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When to start solid foods
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Proper nutrition
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Supplements
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Child care if needed
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Caregiver support
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Infant CPR
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Dental check
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Child-proof environment
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Sun protection
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Water safety
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Potty training
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Screen time
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Toddler bed transition
Well-child visits and development 2 to 4 years
The early toddler years are here! Well-child visits 2 to 4 years s tart to follow an annual schedule, like the yearly wellness checks you may be used to yourself. Read on for what to expect during each visit.2
2 and 2 1/2 years | 3 years | 4 years | |
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Screenings |
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Physical exam | Plus, language and social assessment | Plus, language and social assessment | Plus, gross motor skill and speech observation |
Vaccines | |||
Height, weight and BMI | |||
Developmental milestones |
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Safety and health topics
Throughout visits from 2 to 4 years, your provider will discuss topics like:
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Sleep habits
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Healthy hygiene
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Proper nutrition
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Supplements
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Food security
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Safe environment
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Proper car seat
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Potty training
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Screen time
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Toddler bed
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School readiness
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Injury prevention
Well-child visits and development 5 to 10 years
These adventurous, creative and independent youngsters still need regular wellness checks with their doctor. Their social and emotional development is in full motion, so these visits may likely cover your children’s whole well-being beyond their physical health. Read on for what to expect during each visit.3
5 years | 6 years | 7 years | |
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Screenings |
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Physical exam | |||
Vaccines | |||
Height, weight and BMI | |||
Developmental milestones |
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Safety and health topics
Throughout visits from 5 to 7 years, your provider will discuss topics like:
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Food security
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Safe environment
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Healthy routines
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Water safety
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Street safety
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School
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Physical activity
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Eating habits
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Booster car seat
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Personal privacy
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Chores
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Safe media use
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Puberty
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Oral hygiene
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Activities and interests
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Drug and alcohol awareness
8 years | 9 years | 10 years | |
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Screenings |
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Physical exam | |||
Vaccines | |||
Height, weight and BMI | |||
Developmental milestones |
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Safety and health topics
Throughout visits from 8 to 10 years, your provider will discuss topics like:
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Food security
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Safe environment
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Healthy routines
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Water safety
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Street safety
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School
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Physical activity
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Eating habits
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Booster car seat
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Personal privacy
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Chores
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Safe media use
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Puberty
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Oral hygiene
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Activities and interests
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Drug and alcohol awareness
Well visits for preteens and teens
As your child moves into their preteen and teenage years, staying on top of their health can help ease some of the transitions and big changes happening during this time. Regular wellness checks can reassure your child that everything happening to them physically, mentally and emotionally is normal (and healthy!).
Resources to support your child
Most health insurance plans are required to cover preventive care, which includes child well visits. As long as your child sees a network provider and the visit only covers preventive care, these visits won’t cost you anything out of pocket.
Most health plans cover early child well visits or provide assistance. Call the number on your insurance card for more information.
If you’re a UnitedHealthcare Community Plan member, you may have access to our Healthy First Steps program, which can help you find a care provider, schedule well-child visits, connect with educational and community resources, and more. To get started, call 1-800-599-5985, TTY 711, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.4
If you need help getting to an appointment, or getting formula or healthy food, call the number on your insurance card.
If you’re having a hard time getting food or experiencing unemployment, your care provider may be able to connect you with resources that can help.
Need to find a provider?
If you’re a UnitedHealthcare member, view our network of pediatricians, family doctors and behavioral health providers.