All children need to have regular well child check-ups. Good health care helps create a good foundation for growth and development. Regardless of age, well child check-ups are important for all infants, children and adolescents. Don't take good health for granted. Sometimes a child who appears healthy has a hidden medical problem. Well child care is important so problems can be found early.
Well Child Checkups May Include:
- Head to toe physical examination
- Developmental Screening
- Vision screening
- Hearing screening
- Blood pressure screening
- Anemia screening
- Urinalysis
- Lead screening, as needed
- Immunizations
- Health education
Well Child Checkup Schedule
Your child's health care provider will let you know how often your child should come for well child checkups. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that children be seen at the following ages:
From birth until the first birthday:
- Newborn, 3-5 days, 1 Month, 2 Months, 4 Months, 6 Months, 9 Months & 12 Months
After the first birthday, until kindergarten:
- 15 Months, 18 Months, 24 Months, 30 Months, 3 Years
Children and adolescents from 4 to 21 years old need a well child checkup each year.
The Early and Periodic Screening Diagnosis and Treatment Program (EPSDT) is a well child checkup program for Medicaid eligible children, birth through 19 years of age. South Carolina provides EPSDT through the Partners for Healthy Children Program. For more information, see the SC Department of Health and Human Services web site at scdhhs.gov.