Pediatric Wellness Check-Ups

Wellness check-ups are routine appointments scheduled with your child’s pediatrician to evaluate their growth, development and overall health. Well visits are important for preventative care and to ensure children are meeting key developmental milestones as an infant and through adolescence. The American Academy of Pediatrics has established guidelines for a schedule of recommended visits at specific ages.

Well-child visits begin a few days after birth and are recommended regularly for the newborn stage as this is a key period of growth and development. Frequent visits can help ensure that any potential concerns are diagnosed early and an appropriate care plan is developed. Pediatric patients will move towards an annual well visit schedule at the age of three.

What to Expect at a Wellness Visit

Physical Exam: Your health care provider will check measurements including height, weight and head circumference in infants. Pediatricians will assess vital signs and will perform a thorough evaluation to check for any physical abnormalities.
Developmental Milestones: Together with your input, your pediatrician will assess the child’s developmental progress. This will allow them to determine if your child is meeting age-appropriate milestones in specific areas including motor skills, speech, cognitive abilities and social-emotional development.
Immunizations: Your child will receive the recommended vaccinations according to the suggested immunization schedule. Vaccines are an important to help protect children against various infections and illnesses.
Nutrition and Growth Tracking: Providers will ask questions and discuss the child’s nutrition, eating habits and growth patterns. They may offer advice on age-appropriate diets and address any weight or nutritional concerns.
Behavioral and Emotional Health: Pediatricians will assess and may inquire about the child’s behavioral, emotional and mental well-being. When appropriate, they may offer guidance on managing challenges in these areas.
Safety and Injury Prevention: Parents are educated on child safety, including car seat use, sleep practices for infants, home safety and the prevention of injuries.
Vision and Hearing Screening: Vision and hearing screenings may be conducted to identify any potential issues that could affect a child’s learning and development.
Health Education: Parents will receive educational information on the health and well-being of their child.
Screening for Risk Factors: Providers may inquire about family medical history and review potential risk of genetic or environmental factors that could impact the child’s health and allows help in the management of chronic illnesses.
Discussion and Communication: Well child visits provide an opportunity for parents to discuss any concerns or questions they may have about their child’s health, development or behavior.

It is important for parents to attend all scheduled well child visits and communicate openly with their child’s health care provider. These visits provide an opportunity for parents to inquire about any concerns or questions that they have about their child’s health. Regularly scheduled well visits allow for a proactive and preventive approach to pediatric health care.

Connect With our Pediatric Team

If you would like to schedule a well visit for your child, contact our team to schedule an appointment. We work to provide patients with easy access to care when it is needed. Our pediatricians are passionate about promoting the overall well-being of children. When seeking a provider, trust the team at Hattiesburg Clinic to provide expert care for your child.

Pediatric Wellness Check-Ups