When it comes to your children, you want to make sure you’re making the right decisions, and this definitely applies to their health. New parents may be unsure of how often their child should visit their family doctors. According to Facts.net, typically children under one year old will need to see the doctor several times a year while older children may only need to visit annually. Let’s look more in-depth at this topic.

Between One and Four Years Old

Your child will have many pediatrician appointments between the ages of one and four. This is because your child is developing at a rapid pace during these years, and it’s crucial that you and your pediatrician work together to ensure your child is hitting developmental milestones at the appropriate ages. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services advises that you take your child to see the doctor at 12, 15, 18, 24, and 30 months. Your child should also visit the doctor on their fourth birthday as well. On the child’s fourth birthday, you can consider this their first annual check-up after which point they will only need to visit their family doctors once a year.

Between Age Four and 18

Once your child has had their first annual checkup at age four, you’ll want to keep them on a regular annual checkup schedule each year. It’s easy to remember if you plan this visit around their birthday. During an annual checkup, their pediatrician will check for normal growth and development. Your child's mental health will also be evaluated as well as their social skills. These types of visits are referred to as well-child visits and don’t include appointments you might need for other reasons such as sickness or injuries.

You might be tempted to think that your child only needs to visit the doctor if they are sick or injured, but well-child appointments play a vital role in your child’s ongoing health and wellbeing. During these checkups, your family doctors will be able to identify potential problems so that early intervention can be started. This also helps to set an example for your child that it's important to maintain their health as they get older.

These are general recommendations for your child’s doctor visits. If you’re looking for family doctors in your area, please contact us at Hitchcock Family Medicine today. We are here to help you and your child on their wellness journey.