well child visit 16 years old

Family Life

AAP Schedule of Well-Child Care Visits

Parents know who they should go to when their child is sick. But pediatrician visits are just as important for healthy children.

The Bright Futures /American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) developed a set of comprehensive health guidelines for well-child care, known as the " periodicity schedule ." It is a schedule of screenings and assessments recommended at each well-child visit from infancy through adolescence.

Schedule of well-child visits

• The first week visit (3 to 5 days old)
• 1 month old
• 2 months old
• 4 months old
• 6 months old
• 9 months old
• 12 months old
• 15 months old
• 18 months old
• 2 years old (24 months)
• 2 ½ years old (30 months)
• 3 years old
• 4 years old
• 5 years old
• 6 years old
• 7 years old
• 8 years old
• 9 years old
• 10 years old
• 11 years old
• 12 years old
• 13 years old
• 14 years old
• 15 years old
• 16 years old
• 17 years old
• 18 years old
• 19 years old
• 20 years old
• 21 years old

The benefits of well-child visits

Prevention . Your child gets scheduled immunizations to prevent illness. You also can ask your pediatrician about nutrition and safety in the home and at school.

Tracking growth & development . See how much your child has grown in the time since your last visit, and talk with your doctor about your child's development. You can discuss your child's milestones, social behaviors and learning.

Raising any concerns . Make a list of topics you want to talk about with your child's pediatrician such as development, behavior, sleep, eating or getting along with other family members. Bring your top three to five questions or concerns with you to talk with your pediatrician at the start of the visit.

Team approach . Regular visits create strong, trustworthy relationships among pediatrician, parent and child. The AAP recommends well-child visits as a way for pediatricians and parents to serve the needs of children. This team approach helps develop optimal physical, mental and social health of a child.

More information

Back to School, Back to Doctor

Recommended Immunization Schedules

Milestones Matter: 10 to Watch for by Age 5

Your Child's Checkups

• Bright Futures/AAP Recommendations for Preventive Pediatric Health Care (periodicity schedule)

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home // patients & visitors // resources // KidsHealth library // Doctors & Hospitals // Checkups // Well-Child Visit: 16 Years

Well-Child Visit: 16 Years

What to expect during this visit.

Your doctor and/or nurse will probably:

1. Check your teen's weight and height, calculate body mass index (BMI) , and plot the measurements on a growth chart .

2. Check your teen's blood pressure and possibly hearing .

3. Ask questions, address concerns, and offer advice about your teen's:

Eating. Teens should eat 3 meals a day that include lean protein, whole grains, at least 5 servings of fruits and vegetables, and 3 servings of low-fat or nonfat dairy products or fortified soy milk.

Sleeping. Teens need about 8–10 hours of sleep per night. Poor sleep is common during the teen years and can hurt school and athletic performance. Biological changes make teens want to stay up later, but early school start times can make it hard for them to get enough sleep. Encourage your teen to follow a relaxing bedtime routine. Electronic devices, like smartphones and computers, should be turned off before bed.

Physical activity. Teens should get 60 minutes of physical activity per day. Encourage your teen to balance screen use (TV, video games, smartphones, tablets, and computers) with healthy behaviors, like spending time with others, being physically active, and getting enough sleep. Set a good example by limiting your own screen time and exercising daily.

Growth and development. By age 16, it's common for teens to:

• if female, have gotten a first period by now. If your daughter hasn't , talk to your doctor.
• if male, show signs of pubertal development (the testicles get bigger, the penis gets longer, and pubic hair grows)
• be influenced by their peer group
• explore different identities to help them determine where they fit in
• have sexual feelings. This includes an interest in dating and relationships, exploring one's sexuality, and becoming aware of sexual orientation  and gender identity.
• begin to think abstractly and reflect on how to make decisions, but still be impulse-driven and not think about the consequences of their actions
• want to engage in risky behaviors

4. Do an exam . The doctor will look at the skin, listen to the heart and lungs, check the back for curvature of the spine, and check for puberty development. A chaperone should be present during the exam.

5. Update immunizations. Immunizations can protect people from serious illnesses, so it's important that your teen get them on time. Immunization schedules can vary from office to office, so talk to your doctor about what to expect.

6. Order tests. Your doctor may check for anemia , high cholesterol ,  tuberculosis , and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs)  and order tests, if needed.

Looking Ahead

Here are some things to keep in mind until your teen's next checkup at 17 years :

• Encourage your teen to participate in a variety of activities , such as music, arts, sports , after-school clubs, and other activities of interest.
• Encourage your teen to take responsibility for schoolwork. Praise accomplishments and provide support in areas where your teen struggles.
• Talk about future college or work plans . If your teen is having trouble in school, find out if bullying , depression , learning or attention problems are to blame.
• Spend time with your teen every day. Share mealtimes , be active together, and talk about things that are important to your teen. 
• Praise good choices , and include your teen in decision-making.
• Set rules and explain your expectations. Have fair consequences for rule-breaking.
• Encourage your teen to wait until older to engage in sexual activity with others. Explain the risk of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and unwanted pregnancy. Discuss the importance of birth control and condom use.
• Your teen should brush their teeth twice daily, floss once a day, and see a dentist once every 6 months.
• Explain to your teen the dangers of smoking , vaping ,  alcohol , and drugs . Talk about prescription drug misuse. Praise your teen for saying no to these activities.
• Look for signs of depression , which can include irritability, depressed mood, loss of interest in activities, poor grades, and talk of suicide.
• Encourage your teen to take charge of medical care by learning to chedule doctor's appointments, renew prescriptions, and care for any ongoing health problems.
• Teens should always wear a seatbelt while in a vehicle.
• As your teen starts driving , set limits for the number of passengers allowed and what hours they may drive. Tell your teen not to text or use the phone while driving.
• Talk about the dangers of drinking and driving and tell your teen to never get in a car with someone who has been drinking or using drugs. Instead, let your teen know to always call you for help.
• Teens should apply sunscreen of SPF 30 at least 15 minutes before going outside and reapply about every 2 hours. They should not use tanning beds, as these increase the risk of skin cancer .
• Make sure your teen knows about online safety , cyberbullying , and wise use of social media .
• Prevent gun injuries by not keeping a gun in the home. If you do have a gun, keep it unloaded and locked away. Ammunition should be locked up separately. Make sure kids can't get to the keys.
• Talk to your doctor if you're concerned about your living situation . Do you have enough food , a safe place to live, and health insurance ? Your doctor can tell you about community resources or refer you to a social worker.

These checkup sheets are consistent with the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)/Bright Futures guidelines.

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Catch Up on Well-Child Visits and Recommended Vaccinations

Many children missed check-ups and recommended childhood vaccinations over the past few years. CDC and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommend children catch up on routine childhood vaccinations and get back on track for school, childcare, and beyond.

Making sure that your child sees their doctor for well-child visits and recommended vaccines is one of the best things you can do to protect your child and community from serious diseases that are easily spread.

Well-Child Visits and Recommended Vaccinations Are Essential

Well-child visits and recommended vaccinations are essential and help make sure children stay healthy. Children who are not protected by vaccines are more likely to get diseases like measles and whooping cough . These diseases are extremely contagious and can be very serious, especially for babies and young children. In recent years, there have been outbreaks of these diseases, especially in communities with low vaccination rates.

Well-child visits are essential for many reasons , including:

• Tracking growth and developmental milestones
• Discussing any concerns about your child’s health
• Getting scheduled vaccinations to prevent illnesses like measles and whooping cough (pertussis) and  other serious diseases

It’s particularly important for parents to work with their child’s doctor or nurse to make sure they get caught up on missed well-child visits and recommended vaccines.

Routinely Recommended Vaccines for Children and Adolescents

Getting children and adolescents caught up with recommended vaccinations is the best way to protect them from a variety of   vaccine-preventable diseases . The schedules below outline the vaccines recommended for each age group.

See which vaccines your child needs from birth through age 6 in this easy-to-read immunization schedule.

See which vaccines your child needs from ages 7 through 18 in this easy-to-read immunization schedule.

The  Vaccines for Children  (VFC) program provides vaccines to eligible children at no cost. This program provides free vaccines to children who are Medicaid-eligible, uninsured, underinsured, or American Indian/Alaska Native. Check out the  program’s requirements  and talk to your child’s doctor or nurse to see if they are a VFC provider. You can also find a VFC provider by calling your  state or local health department  or seeing if your state has a VFC website.

COVID-19 Vaccines for Children and Teens

Everyone aged 6 months and older can get an updated COVID-19 vaccine to help protect against severe illness, hospitalization and death. Learn more about making sure your child stays up to date with their COVID-19 vaccines .

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• Well-Child Visit Handouts

Parent and patient handouts from the Bright Futures Tool and Resource Kit , 2nd Edition, address key information for health supervision care from infancy through adolescence. Bright Futures is a national health care promotion and disease prevention initiative that uses a developmentally based approach to address children’s health care needs in the context of family and community.

See Handouts by Language for well-child visit handouts up to 2 years of age translated into Arabic, Bengali, Chinese, French, Haitian Creole, Hmong, Korean, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Somali, and Vietnamese.

NEW! September 2022: Bright Futures: Health Equity Resources for Health Care Professionals This compendium of resources was created for pediatric health care professionals to address the impact of racism, bias, and discrimination on the health and well-being of their patients and families.

Handouts are accessible with a subscription. For more information about a subscription, please e-mail [email protected] )

Parent Handouts

Bright Futures Parent Handout: First Week Visit (3 to 5 Days) English PDF    |    Spanish PDF

Bright Futures Parent Handout: 1 Month Visit English PDF    |    Spanish PDF

Bright Futures Parent Handout: 2 Month Visit English PDF    |    Spanish PDF

Bright Futures Parent Handout: 4 Month Visit English PDF    |    Spanish PDF

Bright Futures Parent Handout: 6 Month Visit English PDF    |    Spanish PDF

Bright Futures Parent Handout: 9 Month Visit English PDF    |    Spanish PDF

Bright Futures Parent Handout: 12 Month Visit English PDF    |    Spanish PDF

Bright Futures Parent Handout: 15 Month Visit English PDF    |    Spanish PDF

Bright Futures Parent Handout: 18 Month Visit English PDF    |    Spanish PDF

Bright Futures Parent Handout: 2 Year Visit English PDF    |    Spanish PDF

Bright Futures Parent Handout: 2½ Year Visit English PDF    |    Spanish PDF

Bright Futures Parent Handout: 3 Year Visit English PDF    |    Spanish PDF

Bright Futures Parent Handout: 4 Year Visit English PDF    |    Spanish PDF

Bright Futures Parent Handout: 5 and 6 Year Visits English PDF    |    Spanish PDF

Bright Futures Parent Handout: 7 and 8 Year Visits English PDF    |    Spanish PDF

Bright Futures Parent Handout: 9 and 10 Year Visits English PDF    |    Spanish PDF

Bright Futures Parent Handout: 11-14 Year Visits English PDF    |    Spanish PDF

Bright Futures Parent Handout: 15-17 Year Visits English PDF    |    Spanish PDF

Patient Handouts

Bright Futures Patient Handout: 7 and 8 Year Visits English PDF    |    Spanish PDF

Bright Futures Patient Handout: 9 and 10 Year Visits English PDF    |    Spanish PDF

Bright Futures Patient Handout: 11-14 Year Visits   English PDF    |    Spanish PDF

Bright Futures Patient Handout: 15-17 Year Visits English PDF    |    Spanish PDF

Bright Futures Patient Handout: 18-21 Year Visits English PDF    |    Spanish PDF

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Bright Futures Information for Parents: 15-17 Year Visit

Here are some suggestions from Bright Futures experts that may be of value to your family.​​

How Your Family Is Doing

Set aside time to be with your teen and really listen to her hopes and concerns.

Support your teen in finding activities that interest him. Encourage your teen to help others in the community.

Help your teen find and be a part of positive after-school activities and sports.

Support your teen as she figures out ways to deal with stress, solve problems, and make decisions.

Help your teen deal with conflict.

If you are worried about your living or food situation, talk with your health care professional. Community agencies and programs such as SNAP can also provide information.​

Your Growing and Changing Teen

Make sure your teen visits the dentist at least twice a year.

Give your teen a fluoride supplement if the dentist recommends it.

Support your teen’s healthy body weight and help him be a healthy eater.

• Provide healthy foods.
• Eat together as a family.

Be a role model.

Help your teen get enough calcium with low-fat or fat-free milk, low-fat yogurt, and cheese.

Encourage at least 1 hour of physical activity a day.

Praise your teen when she does something well, not just when she looks good.

Your Teen's Feelings

If you are concerned that your teen is sad, depressed, nervous, irritable, hopeless, or angry, let your health care professional know.

If you have questions about your teen’s sexual development, you can always talk with your health care professional.

Healthy Behavior Choices

Know your teen’s friends and their parents. Be aware of where your teen is and what he is doing at all times.

Talk with your teen about your values and your expectations on drinking, drug use, tobacco use, driving, and sex.

Praise your teen for healthy decisions about sex, tobacco, alcohol, and other drugs.

Know your teen’s friends and their activities together.

Lock your liquor in a cabinet.

Store prescription medications in a locked cabinet.

Be there for your teen when she needs support or help in making healthy decisions about her behavior.

Encourage safe and responsible driving habits.

• Lap and shoulder seat belts should be used by everyone.
• Limit the number of friends in the car and ask your teen to avoid driving at night.
• Discuss with your teen how to avoid risky situations, who to call if your teen feels unsafe, and what you expect of your teen as a driver.
• Do not tolerate drinking and driving.

If it is necessary to keep a gun in your home, store it unloaded and locked with the ammunition locked separately from the gun.

Consistent with Bright Futures: Guidelines for Health Supervision of Infants, Children, and Adolescents, 4th Edition

The information contained in this webpage should not be used as a substitute for the medical care and advice of your pediatrician. There may be variations in treatment that your pediatrician may recommend based on individual facts and circumstances. Original handout included as part of the Bright Futures Tool and Resource Kit, 2nd Edition.

Inclusion in this webpage does not imply an endorsement by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). The AAP is not responsible for the content of the resources mentioned in this webpage. Website addresses are as current as possible but may change at any time.

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) does not review or endorse any modifications made to this handout and in no event shall the AAP be liable for any such changes.

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American Academy of Pediatrics

Preventive Health Care Visits in Children

Scheduled visits to the doctor (also called well-child visits) provide parents with information about their child's growth and development. Such visits also give parents an opportunity to ask questions and seek advice, for example, about toilet training .

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that after the first year of life children should see their doctor for preventive health care visits at 12, 15, 18, 24, and 30 months of age and then yearly until age 10. Visits can be made more often based on the advice of the doctor or the needs of the family.

Examination

At each visit, several measurements are taken, screening procedures are done, and vaccinations are given depending on the schedule.

Height and weight are checked, and head circumference is measured until the child is 36 months old. Good growth is one indicator that the child is generally healthy. The child's actual size is not nearly as important as whether the child stays at or near the same percentile on the height and weight charts at each visit. A child who is always in the 10th percentile is likely fine (although smaller than most children of the same age), whereas a child who drops from the 35th percentile to the 10th may have a medical problem.

Beginning at age 3, blood pressure is measured at each visit.

The doctor also monitors how the child has progressed developmentally (see Childhood Development ) since the last visit. For example, the doctor may want to know whether an 18-month-old child has begun speaking or whether a 6-year-old child has begun reading a few words (see table Developmental Milestones From Ages 18 Months to 6 Years ). In the same way, doctors often ask age-appropriate questions about the child's behavior. Does the 18-month-old child have tantrums ? Does the 2-year-old child sleep through the night ? Does the 6-year-old child wet the bed at night ? Parents and doctors can discuss these types of behavioral and developmental issues during the preventive health care visits and together design approaches to address any issues.

Finally, the doctor does a complete physical examination. In addition to examining the child from head to toe, including the heart, lungs, abdomen, genitals, spine, arms, legs, head, neck, eyes, ears, nose, mouth, and teeth, the doctor may ask the child to perform some age-appropriate tasks. To check gross motor skills (such as walking and running), the doctor may ask a 4-year-old child to hop on one foot. To check fine motor skills (manipulating small objects with the hands), the child may be asked to draw a picture or copy some shapes.

Preventive visits should include a check of vision and hearing. Vision screening may begin at 3 years of age, if children are cooperative, but is recommended at 4 and 5 years of age. Parents should let the doctor know before then if they have any concerns about their child's vision. At this age, vision tests include the use of charts and testing machines.

Hearing tests, after the newborn testing, typically begin at 4 years of age, but parents should let the doctor know before then if they have any concerns about their child's hearing.

Some children may need to have their blood checked for anemia or an increased level of lead .

Children who are at risk of having high cholesterol should have a blood test between the ages of 2 years and 10 years. Children at risk include those who have a family history of high cholesterol levels, heart attack, or stroke or have risk factors for heart disease (for example, diabetes, obesity, or high blood pressure). All children should have a cholesterol test at age 9 to 11 years and again at age 17 to 21 years.

Children are screened for tuberculosis (TB) risk factors with a questionnaire at all well-child visits. Risk factors include exposure to TB, being born in or having traveled to areas of the world where TB is common (countries other than the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand and Western and North European countries), having a family member with TB, and having parents or close contacts who are recent immigrants from an area where TB is common or who have recently been in jail. Those with risk factors then usually have tuberculosis screening tests done.

The age of the child and various other factors determine whether other tests are done.

Child safety is discussed during preventive visits. Specific safety concerns are based on the age of the child. For example, the discussion might be focused on bicycle safety for a 6-year-old child. The following examples of injury prevention apply to children aged 12 months to 4 years:

Use an age-appropriate and weight-appropriate car seat. (Infants and toddlers should ride rear-facing until they outgrow the rear-facing weight or height limits of a convertible car seat. Convertible car seats have limits that will allow most children to ride rear-facing up to age 2 years. Once they are 2 years old or, regardless of age, have outgrown their rear-facing car seat, toddlers should sit in a forward-facing car seat with harness straps for as long as possible based on weight and height limits.)

Place car seats in the back seat of the vehicle.

Review automobile safety both as passenger and pedestrian.

Tie up window cords to avoid strangulation.

Use safety caps and latches.

Prevent falls.

Remove handguns from the home.

Closely supervise children while in or near any body of water (for example, bathtubs, pools, spas, wading pools, ponds, irrigation ditches, or any other standing water). Children 1 year of age and older should have swim lessons and should wear a life jacket while swimming and always while boating.

Image courtesy of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), National Center for Injury Prevention and Control ( Transportation Safety Resources ). This guidance from the CDC is for the United States, and regulations may differ in other countries.

In addition to those in the list above, the following examples of injury prevention apply to children age 5 years and older:

Use a forward-facing car seat with a harness for as long as possible (until children outgrow the weight or height limits for the car seat) and then use a belt-positioning booster seat until the vehicle seat belt fits properly (typically when children have reached 4 feet 9 inches in height and are between 8 years and 12 years of age).

Have children under 13 years of age restrained with a seat belt in the back seat of the vehicle.

If the vehicle does not have a back seat, disable the air bag in the front passenger seat.

Have children wear a bicycle helmet and protective sports gear.

Instruct children about safe street crossing.

Closely supervise swimming and sometimes have children wear a life jacket while swimming and always while boating.

The doctor may also emphasize other safety topics, such as the importance of installing and maintaining smoke alarms and of keeping potential toxins (such as cleaners and drugs) and firearms (guns) out of the reach of children. Parents should take the opportunity to bring up topics that are most relevant to their unique family situation. As children get older, they can be active participants in these discussions.

Nutrition and exercise

Parents can help prevent obesity and type 2 diabetes by establishing healthy eating patterns and promoting regular exercise. Parents should provide children with a variety of healthy foods, including fruits and vegetables along with sources of protein. Regular meals and small nutritious snacks encourage healthy eating in even a picky preschooler. Although children may avoid some healthy foods, such as broccoli or beans, for a period of time, it is important to continue to offer healthy foods. In addition, parents should limit the child's intake of fruit juices, which, despite their seemingly healthy origin, are mainly sugar water. Some children lose their appetite for food at mealtime if they drink too much fruit juice. Parents should guide children away from frequent snacking and foods that are high in calories, salt, and sugar.

Exercising and maintaining good physical and emotional health are very beneficial for children. Playing outdoors with the family or participating on an athletic team is a good way to encourage children to exercise and prevent obesity.

Screen time (for example, television, video games, cell phones and other handheld devices, and noneducational computer time) may result in inactivity and obesity. Limits on the time a child spends using devices with screens should start at birth and be maintained throughout adolescence.

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Doctor Visits

Make the Most of Your Child’s Visit to the Doctor (Ages 11 to 14 Years)

Take Action

Kids ages 11 to 14 years need to go to the doctor or nurse for a “well-child visit” once a year.

A well-child visit is when you take your child to the doctor to make sure they’re healthy and developing normally. This is different from other visits for sickness or injury.

At a well-child visit, the doctor or nurse can help catch any problems early, when they may be easier to treat.

Learn what to expect so you can make the most of each visit.

Child Development

How do i know if my child is growing and developing on schedule.

Your child’s doctor or nurse can help you identify “developmental milestones,” or signs to look for that show your child is developing normally. This is an important part of the well-child visit.

Some developmental milestones are related to your child’s behavior and learning, and others are about physical changes in your child’s body.

Check out these resources to learn more about developmental milestones:

• Developmental Milestones (Ages 9 to 11 years)
• Developmental Milestones (Ages 12 to 14 years)

Behavior Changes

What are some changes i might see in my child’s feelings, relationships, and behavior.

Developmental milestones for kids ages 11 to 14 years include:

• Wanting more independence and privacy
• Having mood swings (going quickly from happy to sad or sad to happy)
• Showing more concern about what their friends and classmates think
• Developing stronger problem-solving skills
• Developing a clearer sense of right and wrong
• Challenging rules and resisting advice from parents

This is also a time when some kids may start showing signs of depression or eating disorders. Bullying and social media use may also become issues at this age. It’s important to:

• Make sure the doctor screens your child for depression
• Have your child screened for anxiety
• Know the signs of eating disorders
• Teach your kids to use social media safely
• Watch for signs of bullying

Physical Changes

What physical changes will my child go through.

Many kids ages 11 to 14 years are going through puberty. Puberty is when a child’s body develops into an adult’s body.

• For girls, puberty usually starts between ages 9 and 13 years. Get more information about puberty to share with your daughter .
• For boys, it usually starts between ages 10 and 13 years. Get more information about puberty to share with your son .

You can help by giving your child information about what changes to expect during puberty. You can also encourage your child to talk about puberty with the doctor or another trusted adult, like a teacher or school nurse.

Puberty can be a difficult time for gender-diverse children — kids who feel that they’re a different gender than the sex that’s listed on their birth certificate. Encourage your child to talk with you or their doctor if they have questions about their gender. Find tips for parenting a gender-diverse child .

Behavior and Emotions

The doctor or nurse will pay special attention to signs of certain issues. .

The doctor or nurse will offer additional help if your child may:

• Be depressed 
• Have anxiety
• Struggle with an eating disorder
• Use tobacco, alcohol, or drugs 
• Experience any kind of violence 

And if your child may be having sex, the doctor or nurse will talk to your child about preventing STIs (sexually transmitted infections) — also called STDs (sexually transmitted diseases) — and pregnancy. Learn how to talk with your child about preventing STIs .

The doctor or nurse will make sure you and your child have the resources you need.

This may include telling you and your child about:

• Websites or apps that have helpful health information
• Organizations in your community where you can go for help

If needed, the doctor or nurse may also refer your child to a specialist.

Take these steps to help you and your child get the most out of well-child visits.

Gather important information.

Take any medical records you have to the appointment, including a record of vaccines (shots) your child has received.

Make a list of any important changes in your child’s life since the last visit, like a:

• New brother or sister
• Separation or divorce — or a parent spending time in jail or prison
• New school or a move to a new neighborhood
• Serious illness or death of a friend or family member

Use this tool to  keep track of your child’s family health history .

Help your child get more involved in visits to the doctor.

Once your child starts puberty, the doctor will usually ask you to leave the room for a few minutes so your child can ask questions about their health. This lets your child develop a relationship with the doctor or nurse, and it's an important step in helping your child learn about their health care.

Your child can also:

• Call to schedule appointments (if the doctor’s office allows it)
• Help you fill out medical forms
• Write down questions for the doctor or nurse

For more ideas,  check out these tips to help your child take charge of their health care . You can also share this list of questions for the doctor with your child .

What about cost?

Under the Affordable Care Act, insurance plans must cover well-child visits. Depending on your insurance plan, you may be able to get well-child visits at no cost to you. Check with your insurance company to find out more.

Your child may also qualify for free or low-cost health insurance through Medicaid or the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). Learn about coverage options for your family.

If you don’t have insurance, you may still be able to get free or low-cost well-child visits. Find a health center near you and ask about well-child visits.

To learn more, check out these resources:

• Free preventive care for children covered by the Affordable Care Act
• How the Affordable Care Act protects you and your family
• Understanding your health insurance and how to use it [PDF - 698 KB]

Ask Questions

Make a list of questions you want to ask the doctor..

Before the well-child visit, write down 3 to 5 questions you have — and ask your child if they have any questions to add. This visit is a great time to ask the doctor or nurse any questions about:

• A health condition your child has (like an allergy, asthma, or acne)
• Changes in behavior or mood
• Loss of interest in favorite activities
• Problems at school (like learning challenges or not wanting to go to school)

Here are some questions you may want to ask:

• How can I make sure my child is getting enough physical activity?
• How can I help my child eat healthy?
• Is my child at a healthy weight?
• Is my child's body developing normally?
• Is my child up to date on vaccines?
• How can I help my child succeed at school?

You may also want to ask:

• How can I talk with my child about sex?
• How can I talk with my child about tobacco, alcohol, and drugs?
• How can I teach my child to use the internet safely?
• How can I talk with my child about bullying?

Take a notepad, smartphone, or tablet and write down the answers so you can remember them later.

Get tips to help you:

• Talk with your child about sex
• Talk with your child about tobacco, alcohol, and drugs
• Talk with your child about bullying

Find more tips to talk to your child about a range of tricky topics .

Ask what to do if your child gets sick. 

Make sure you know how to get in touch with a doctor or nurse when the office is closed. Ask how to get hold of the doctor on call, or if there's a nurse information service you can call at night or on the weekend. 

What to Expect

Know what to expect..

During each well-child visit, the doctor or nurse will ask you questions, do a physical exam, and update your child’s medical history. You'll also be able to ask your questions and discuss any problems. 

The doctor or nurse will ask you and your child questions.

The doctor or nurse may ask about:

• Behavior — Does your child have trouble following directions at home or at school?
• Health — Does your child often complain of headaches or other pain? How much sleep does your child get? When was their last visit to the dentist?
• Safety — Does anyone in your home have a gun? If so, is it unloaded and locked in a place where your child can’t get it?
• School and activities — Does your child look forward to going to school? What does your child like to do outside of school?
• Eating habits — What does your child eat on a normal day?
• Family and friends — Have there been any recent changes in your family? How many close friends does your child have? Has your child been bullied at school or online?
• Emotions — Does your child often seem sad, stressed, or bored? Do they seem scared or worried a lot? Does your child have someone to talk to about problems?
• Sexuality — Have you talked with your child about puberty? Is your child dating?

The answers to questions like these will help the doctor or nurse make sure your child is healthy, safe, and developing normally.

Physical Exam

The doctor or nurse will also check your child’s body..

To check your child’s body, the doctor or nurse will:

• Measure height and weight and figure out your child's body mass index (BMI)
• Check your child’s blood pressure
• Check your child’s vision and hearing
• Check your child’s body parts (this is called a physical exam)
• Decide if your child needs any lab tests, like a blood test
• Give your child shots they need

Learn more about your child’s health care:

• Find out how to get your child’s shots on schedule
• Learn about getting your child’s vision checked

Content last updated February 16, 2024

Reviewer Information

This information on well-child visits was adapted from materials from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Institutes of Health.

Reviewed by: Sara Kinsman, M.D., Ph.D. Director, Division of Child, Adolescent, and Family Health Maternal and Child Health Bureau Health Resources and Services Administration

Bethany Miller, M.S.W. Chief, Adolescent Health Branch Maternal and Child Health Bureau Health Resources and Services Administration

Diane Pilkey, R.N., M.P.H. Nursing Consultant, Division of Child, Adolescent, and Family Health Maternal and Child Health Bureau Health Resources and Services Administration

October 2021

You may also be interested in:

Help Your Child Stay at a Healthy Weight

Talk to Your Kids About Sex and Healthy Relationships

Get Your Teen Screened for Depression

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The Well-Child Visit

• Original Investigation Adolescent Preventive Care and the Affordable Care Act Sally H. Adams, PhD; M. Jane Park, MPH; Lauren Twietmeyer, MPH; Claire D. Brindis, DrPH; Charles E. Irwin Jr, MD JAMA Pediatrics

Whatever name you use—check-up, well-child visit, or health supervision visit—these are important.

The benefits of well-child visits include tracking your child’s growth and development. Your pediatrician will review your child’s growth since the last visit and talk with you about your child’s development. These visits are a time to review and discuss each of the important areas of your child’s development, including physical, cognitive, emotional, and social development. Pediatricians often use a resource called Bright Futures to assess and guide discussions with parents about child development. Parents can access Bright Futures to review information relevant to their child’s age using the website at the bottom of this page.

Another benefit of a well-child visit is the opportunity to talk about prevention. For many children in the United States, the most common cause of harm is a preventable injury or illness. The well-child visit is an opportunity to review critical strategies to protect your child from injury, such as reviewing car seat use and safe firearm storage. The well-child visit is an opportunity to ensure your child is protected from infectious diseases by reviewing and updating his or her immunizations. If there is a family history of a particular illness, parents can discuss strategies to prevent that illness for their child. Healthy behaviors are important to instill at a young age, and the well-child visit is a time to review these important behaviors, such as sleep, nutrition, and physical activity.

During the teenage years, well-child visits offer adolescents an opportunity to take steps toward independence and responsibility over their own health behaviors. Every well-child visit with a teenager should include time spent alone with the pediatrician so that the adolescent has the opportunity to ask and answer questions about their health. Adolescent visits provide an opportunity for teenagers to address important questions, including substance use, sexual behavior, and mental health concerns.

Physical examination and screening tests are also a part of the well-child visit. Your child’s visit may include checking blood pressure level, vision, or hearing. Your pediatrician will do a physical examination, which may include listening to the lungs and feeling the abdomen. Screening tests can include tests for anemia, lead exposure, or tuberculosis. Some screening, such as for depression or anxiety, is done using a paper form or online assessment.

How Parents and Kids Can Get the Most Out of a Well-Child Visit

Ideally, schedule the visit ahead of time so that there is time to complete any required school or sports forms. Some parents schedule these visits to correspond with their children’s birthdays, while others schedule these during summer months to prepare for the start of a new school year.

Make a list of topics you want to discuss with your child’s pediatrician, such as development, behavior, sleep, eating, or prevention. Bring your top 3 to 5 questions with you to the visit. As your child gets older, ask your child to contribute any questions he or she would like to ask.

When going to the visit, it may be helpful to bring your child’s immunization record, a list of questions, or any school or sports forms you need completed.

For More Information

https://www.healthychildren.org/English/family-life/health-management/Pages/Well-Child-Care-A-Check-Up-for-Success.aspx .

Published Online: November 6, 2017. doi:10.1001/jamapediatrics.2017.4041

Conflict of Interest Disclosures: None reported.

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Moreno MA. The Well-Child Visit. JAMA Pediatr. 2018;172(1):104. doi:10.1001/jamapediatrics.2017.4041

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16-year well-child visit, bright futures parent information:, forms to be filled out by parents:, routine vaccine(s):.

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Download: CDC Recommended Immunizations for Children 7-18 Years Old

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MARA LAMBERT, AFP Senior Associate Editor

Am Fam Physician. 2016;94(4):324

Related Editorial : Increased Alignment in Preventive Services Recommendations for Children .

Author disclosure: No relevant financial affiliations.

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has updated recommendations for preventive pediatric health care services, including evidence-based screenings and assessments that should be addressed at well-child visits. The recommendations are organized by age: infancy, early childhood, middle childhood, and adolescence. The most recent changes to the schedule were approved by the AAP Committee on Practice and Ambulatory Medicine, Bright Futures Periodicity Schedule Workgroup. A complete schedule is available at http://www.aap.org/periodicityschedule .

These updates address a variety of topics. Changes include the following:

Vision Screening . In addition to routine visual acuity screening at four and five years of age and in cooperative three-year-olds, instrument-based screening can be offered to assess risk at other ages (i.e., at 12 and 24 months of age, and at well visits from three to five years of age). The recommendation for vision screening is now a risk-based assessment instead of routine screening beginning at 18 years of age. Evidence shows that fewer new vision problems develop in young adults at low risk.

Oral Health . Fluoride varnish application should begin at six months of age and continue through five years of age. This recommendation was added to address dental caries, which is the most common chronic disease in young children.

Alcohol and Drug Use Assessment . To screen adolescents for drug and alcohol use, physicians are advised to use the CRAFFT (car, relax, alone, forget, friends, trouble) screening questionnaire.

Depression . Screening for depression is recommended annually for children and adolescents 11 through 21 years of age. Suicide is a leading cause of death in this age group.

Dyslipidemia Screening . Because of concerns about the growing epidemic of obesity in this population, screening for elevated blood cholesterol levels is now recommended in children nine to 11 years of age.

Hematocrit or Hemoglobin . In addition to the universal screening recommended at 12 months of age to detect iron deficiency anemia, physicians should conduct a risk assessment to determine if hematocrit or hemoglobin screening is needed in children at 15 and 30 months of age.

Sexually Transmitted Infection/Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Screening . Screening for HIV infection is recommended in adolescents 16 to 18 years of age. Statistics show that one in four new HIV infections occurs in persons 13 to 24 years of age, and approximately 60% of younger persons with HIV infection are unaware that they are infected.

Cervical Dysplasia . Screening for cervical dysplasia is no longer recommended annually from 11 through 21 years of age but instead should begin at 21 years of age.

Critical Congenital Heart Disease . Screening for critical congenital heart disease with pulse oximetry is now recommended. This should be performed in the hospital before newborn discharge.

Guideline source : American Academy of Pediatrics

Evidence rating system used? Yes

Literature search described? Yes

Guideline developed by participants without relevant financial ties to industry? Yes

Published source : Pediatrics . January 2016; 137(1):25–27

Available at : http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/137/1/e20153908.full.pdf

Coverage of guidelines from other organizations does not imply endorsement by AFP or the AAFP.

This series is coordinated by Michael J. Arnold, MD, Assistant Medical Editor.

A collection of Practice Guidelines published in AFP is available at https://www.aafp.org/afp/practguide .

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Copyright © 2024 American Academy of Family Physicians. All Rights Reserved.

Ex-cop accused in 2 killings, kidnapping of baby fatally shoots self at end of chase, police say

A former Washington state police officer accused of killing his ex-wife and his girlfriend , as well as kidnapping a baby, shot and killed himself at the end of a car chase with police in Oregon, authorities said Tuesday.

Oregon State Patrol troopers on the lookout for suspect Elias Huizar, 39, spotted him driving south on Interstate 5 near Eugene about 2:40 p.m., Oregon State Police Capt. Kyle Kennedy said at an evening news conference.

A pursuit ensued and at one point the suspect lost control of the vehicle he was driving and exchanged gunfire with pursuing troopers, Kennedy said. No injuries were reported, and the chase continued south, he said.

After approaching slow traffic, Huizar hit a stopped vehicle and spun into a median, the captain said. Huizar's car then became immobile and, as troopers "contacted" the vehicle, the suspect shot himself in the head, Kennedy said.

The 1-year-old boy Huizar had allegedly kidnapped was safely taken by troopers, Kennedy said. Authorities did not detail how they believed the child was kidnapped.

No injuries were reported in the second and final crash about 25 miles from the start of the chase, the captain said.

"Today was a worst-case scenario for us — having a murder suspect in the same vehicle as an innocent juvenile," Kennedy said. "That brings everything up another level for us. It’s a zero-sum game for us. We’re thankful for the way it turned out."

Huizar was charged with first-degree murder in Monday’s slaying of Amber Rodriguez, 31, at Wiley Elementary School in West Richland as classes were being let out shortly before 3:30 p.m., Benton County Prosecutor Eric Eisinger said during a Tuesday afternoon news conference.

The charge of murder includes an aggravated circumstance allegation of domestic violence, as well as a firearm enhancement, Eisinger said.

Huizar was also being investigated in the death of a woman whose body was discovered later Monday when authorities searched his home. That victim has not been identified but was described in an Amber Alert from Washington State Patrol as Huizar’s girlfriend.

According to a court document filed against Huizar on Monday, witnesses at Wiley Elementary School said a gunman wearing black clothing and a black hat shot Rodriguez. Eight .40-caliber bullet casings were recovered at the scene. Rodriguez was identified after the killing in part through her school employee ID, the documents said.

The pair’s 9-year-old son witnessed the shooting, according to the court filing. The former husband and wife have two children together, according to court documents. 

At the time of the shooting at the school, Huizar was under conditional freedom after being accused of third-degree rape of a child and second-degree rape, Eisinger said. His total bail had been set at $250,000, the prosecutor noted.

According to a separate court filing about Huizar’s alleged rapes, two teens went to police in early February after a 17-year-old girl — whom prosecutors in the filing said identified herself as Huizar's girlfriend — told officers she woke up to Huizar performing oral sex on her 16-year-old friend, who was "passed out" after all three had been drinking alcohol.

Huizar and the 17-year-old “have a child in common,” the filing said. Huizar met her when he was a resource officer at her middle school and got her pregnant when she was 15 years old, court records said.

The teen took the baby and drove off with her 16-year-old friend after February's alleged incident, before flagging down police, the court filing said.

Washington State Patrol on Monday had issued an Amber Alert for the 1-year-old. The state patrol had said Huizar and the boy shared the same last name, but the relationship between them was not immediately clear Tuesday afternoon. It was also not immediately clear whether the child was the same one Huizar had with the 17-year-old.

The alert was extended from Washington to Oregon as well as other places in the west, Eisinger said. The alert also said the women killed were Huizar’s ex-wife and his girlfriend.

Kennedy said Oregon State Police received a request to issue the alert about 10:30 p.m. Monday and put it into effect about an hour later.

The  West Richland Police Department  said earlier that Huizar was “armed and considered dangerous, and is likely to commit more crimes." Portland police told West Richland authorities that Huizar was seen in the Oregon city overnight, possibly driving a black sedan. 

The Yakima Police Department in Washington said Huizar was an officer there from 2013 to 2022.

“He did serve as a school resource officer for a period of time, at a couple schools during his employment. Mr. Huizar resigned in February of 2022, immediately following discipline,” a department spokesperson said. 

Shelley Redinger, superintendent of the Richland School District, said Huizar passed background checks and answered no to questions that included whether he had ever resigned from an employer with allegations of misconduct pending or if he’d ever been the subject of a workplace investigation accusing him of misconduct.

Redinger said Huizar’s last day as a district employee was in June 2023.

“We are extremely disheartened. That information about his past was not disclosed to us,” she said. “It is expectation for individuals who apply for employment with the Richland school district to be forthcoming and truthful in their applications.”

Antonio Planas is a breaking news reporter for NBC News Digital. 

Andrew Blankstein is an investigative reporter for NBC News. He covers the Western U.S., specializing in crime, courts and homeland security. 

Dennis Romero is a breaking news reporter for NBC News Digital. 

Missing teen child of Slack co-founder found safe in San Francisco, man held on abduction charge

T he 16-year-old child of Slack co-founder Stewart Butterfield was found safe in San Francisco after going missing for a week, while a man she was with was held on abduction and other charges.

Mint Butterfield had left their home about an hour north of San Francisco voluntarily last Sunday and was reported missing the following morning . Authorities spent a week combing San Francisco, focusing efforts on the Tenderloin district, notorious for its drug use and homelessness.

They found Mint late Saturday in a white van with Christopher “Kio” Dizefalo, 26, whom police described as “an adult friend.” He was being held in Marin County on $50,000 bail, charged with abduction of a child , among an array of felonies, and one misdemeanor charge of contributing to the delinquency of a minor, Marin County police said.

“Mint Butterfield has been safely located and reunited with family ,” the San Francisco Police Department said on X. “Thank you to those who spread the message and assisted with the search.”

Stewart Butterfield co-founded Flickr in 2004 and sold it to Yahoo a year later for $30 million. Butterfield then founded the workplace messaging system Slack, selling it to Salesforce in July 2021 for $28 billion.

Butterfield along with Mint’s stepfather, tech founder Jyri Engeström, expressed their gratitude after the teen was found.

“A heartfelt thanks to all the family, friends, volunteers and strangers who called in tips and made this recovery possible,” they said in an email to the press obtained by The San Francisco Standard. “We especially want to thank the seasoned law enforcement officers who understand the very real threat of predators who use the allure of drugs to groom teenagers.”

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