Well-child visit schedule
Short answer: The AAP lists well-child visits at 3 to 5 days, 1, 2, 4, 6, 9, 12, 15 and 18 months, at 2, 2½, 3, 4, 5 and 6 years, and every year from 7 through 21[1]. CPCMG asks families to book four to six weeks ahead[5].
What is a well-child visit?
The AAP describes well-child visits as just as important for healthy children as sick visits are for ill ones[1]. The Bright Futures/AAP “periodicity schedule” is a set of comprehensive health guidelines, a schedule of screenings and assessments recommended at each well-child visit from infancy through adolescence[1][2]. The AAP says the recommendations are designed for children who are receiving nurturing parenting, have no manifestations of any important health problems and are growing and developing satisfactorily; additional visits may become necessary if circumstances suggest concerns[2].
When are the visits?
The AAP lists well-child visits at these ages[1]:
| Stage (grouping added by this wiki) | Visits |
|---|---|
| Birth to 18 months | First week visit (3 to 5 days old), then 1, 2, 4, 6, 9, 12, 15 and 18 months |
| 2 to 6 years | 2 years (24 months), 2½ years (30 months), then 3, 4, 5 and 6 years |
| 7 to 21 years | Every year from 7 through 21 years old |
The visit ages in the table come from the AAP’s Schedule of Well-Child Care Visits[1].
A separate AAP page for expecting parents words the early schedule differently: a checkup within 48 to 72 hours after the newborn leaves the hospital, additional visits at about two to four weeks and at two, four, six, nine and 12 months, then at 15, 18, 24 and 30 months, followed by annual visits from three to five years[3]. The two pages summarize the same guidance in different words; the AAP says that if a doctor schedules visits more or less often than the guidelines, ask about the difference[3].
What do the visits cover?
The AAP names four benefits[1]:
- Prevention. Recommended immunizations, plus questions about nutrition and safety at home and school.
- Tracking growth and development. Seeing how much a child has grown since the last visit and discussing milestones, social behaviors and learning.
- Raising concerns. The AAP suggests bringing a list of your top three to five questions, on topics such as development, behavior, sleep, eating or getting along with family, and raising them at the start of the visit.
- A team approach. Regular visits build trustworthy relationships among pediatrician, parent and child.
At selected visits Bright Futures recommends universal screening for issues such as child development, maternal or adolescent depression, behavioral, social and emotional concerns, or oral health[2]. The AAP page also lists recent changes to the schedule’s footnotes, including a 2022 AAP statement on breastfeeding and human milk, a January 2023 AAP guideline on obesity, an October 2022 US Preventive Services Task Force recommendation on anxiety screening in children and adolescents, and a 2023 update asking that adolescents be screened for HIV at least once between ages 15 and 21[2]. The AAP says to review the schedule itself for what applies at each age[2].
How do plans pay for well-child care?
The AAP says managed care plans usually pay for well-child checkups and immunizations, and that high-deductible plans bought after March 10, 2010 must cover preventive services at 100 percent[4]. Its page dates from 2017, so confirm the current rules with your plan; the insurance and billing page has the fuller summary.
What does CPCMG add for well visits?
Beyond the booking and arrival rules on its appointments page, CPCMG asks families with MyChart to complete a Well Child Questionnaire before the visit[5]. For a new baby, CPCMG says the first appointment happens within three to five days of birth[6]. CPCMG asks families to book well-child visits four to six weeks in advance[5]. School, camp and sports forms are covered on the medical records page; CPCMG says a child may need a current annual physical on file before a doctor signs[7].
What does this page not cover?
This page does not list which vaccines or screenings occur at each visit, because the AAP’s schedule and the national immunization schedules are updated by their publishers. Use the AAP’s periodicity schedule and your child’s pediatrician for the current list. Nothing here is medical advice.
Frequently asked questions
How often should a baby see the pediatrician?
The AAP lists visits at 3 to 5 days, then 1, 2, 4, 6, 9, 12, 15 and 18 months.
When do annual visits start?
The AAP’s schedule lists visits at 2 years, 2½ years and then every year from age 3; a separate AAP page describes annual visits from three to five years.
How far ahead does CPCMG ask families to book a well visit?
Four to six weeks, according to CPCMG.
What should I bring to a well visit at CPCMG?
CPCMG asks for the immunization card, insurance card, co-payment and any forms to be completed.
See also
References
- ^ a b c d e f AAP Schedule of Well-Child Care Visits. HealthyChildren.org (American Academy of Pediatrics). Retrieved 31 October 2026.
- ^ a b c d e Preventive Care/Periodicity Schedule. American Academy of Pediatrics. Retrieved 31 October 2026.
- ^ a b Finding a Pediatrician. HealthyChildren.org (American Academy of Pediatrics). Retrieved 31 October 2026.
- ^ Primary Care Coverage: Information for Parents (page last updated 2017). HealthyChildren.org (American Academy of Pediatrics). Retrieved 31 October 2026.
- ^ a b c All About Appointments. Children's Primary Care Medical Group (cpcmg.net). Retrieved 31 October 2026.
- ^ Newborns. Children's Primary Care Medical Group (cpcmg.net). Retrieved 31 October 2026.
- ^ Medical Records. Children's Primary Care Medical Group (cpcmg.net). Retrieved 31 October 2026.