5 Things to Expect at Your Child’s Next Well-Child Exam

From early infancy through adolescence, childhood is a time of rapid growth and change. To help you keep tabs on your child’s development and stay on top of their evolving health needs through every stage, The Center for Advanced Pediatrics offers a full schedule of well-child visits for children of all ages in Norwalk and Darien, Connecticut.

In this month’s blog, our expert team takes a closer look at the all-important well-child exam, including five things to expect at your child’s appointment — no matter what their age. 

Childhood health and wellness

As a cornerstone of quality pediatric primary care, regular well-child exams aim to help your child thrive through every phase of growth and development. During these invaluable check-in visits, our team provides:

• A complete physical exam
• Key milestone monitoring
• Developmental screenings
• Preventive care (vaccines)
• Health and safety guidance

Because babies grow and develop so quickly, 11 well-child exams occur in the first 2.5 years (30 months) of a child’s life: A first week visit, followed by appointments at one, two, four, six, nine, 12, 15, 18, 24, and 30 months of age. From age 3 through late adolescence, well-child exams are scheduled annually.  

Key aspects of a well-child visit

At every well-child appointment, you can expect us to cover age-specific assessments, screenings, preventive care, and guidance in five key areas: 

1. Comprehensive physical exam

First, we check your child’s vital signs, including their temperature, pulse (heart rate), respiration (breathing rate), and blood pressure (generally starting at age 3).  

Next, we measure their growth — including weight, length, and head circumference for infants, and weight, height, and body mass index (BMI) for older kids — and plot them on the appropriate growth chart. 

This helps us see how they compare to same-gender peers of the same age, helping ensure they’re following a healthy growth curve. From one wellness visit to the next, we hope to see that your child:

• Is growing in height at the same rate
• Is gaining weight at the same rate
• Has proportional height and weight growth

Finally, we perform a quick but thorough head-to-toe exam to check your child’s heart, lungs, abdomen, skin, joints, and reflexes. This exam is crucial for detecting early signs of conditions like heart murmurs or scoliosis.

2. Developmental milestone screening  

Developmental screenings check to see if your child is hitting typical milestones — or moving, behaving, interacting, communicating, playing, learning, and maturing as expected. 

While all kids develop at their own pace, most reach specific milestones by certain ages. Through a question-answer session with you and a few brief talks or play interactions with your child, we assess their development by considering milestones in every growth area:

• Social behavior and emotional capacity
• Communication and language abilities
• Physical movement and fine motor skills
• Cognition (learning and problem solving)

If our screening identifies an area of concern, we may recommend a formal developmental evaluation. For kids diagnosed with developmental delays, early intervention care can make a world of difference.

3. Health screenings and vaccinations  

Well-child exams provide an opportunity to monitor important aspects of your child’s health and well-being. Depending on their age, we may conduct hearing and vision screenings, screen for autism spectrum disorder, or provide mental health screenings for depression and anxiety.  

Preventive care is another key component of pediatric wellness visits, offered through age-recommended immunizations to protect against vaccine-preventable illnesses. 

4. Anticipatory guidance and counseling

Every pediatric wellness visit includes “anticipatory guidance,” or a brief explanation of upcoming developmental milestones to expect before the next well-child exam. 

We also take the opportunity to discuss pertinent age-related information about nutrition, sleep, and safety — from proper carseat use to poison prevention, online safety, and safe sports play.

5. Caregiver concerns and questions 

Lastly, we spend time connecting with you to answer any questions or address any concerns you may have about your child’s current status. This is your time to bring up anything about your child that’s been on your mind. Common questions include:

• My toddler has stopped napping — are they getting enough sleep?
• When should my child transition from a car seat to a booster seat?
• How can I help my high-energy adolescent choose healthier foods?
• Are there recommended screen time limits for younger children?
• Is it normal that my child…? (i.e., wets the bed, sucks their thumb)

From behavioral health, sleep habits, and eating patterns to emotional concerns, social issues, and school performance, no topic is off-limits. 

Over 60 years of pediatric care

With more than six decades (and counting) of providing quality care for babies, children, and adolescents in Connecticut’s Gold Coast region, The Center for Advanced Pediatrics is your trusted, go-to provider for expert well-child exams at every age. 

To schedule your child’s next wellness visit, contact your nearest office in Norwalk or Darien, Connecticut, today.