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All Kids Member Handbook: Regular Checkups
Regular checkups for children
Its important for children to have regular medical checkups even when they are not sick from the time they are born right up until they are 18. Healthy children are more likely to become healthy adults!
Your doctor will need to know your child's medical history. Tell your doctor about any illness or other medical condition your child has. Be sure to give the doctor a list of the medicines your child takes.
At regular checkups, the doctor will make sure your child is growing and developing properly. The doctor will:
Give your child a complete physical exam
Check your child's ears, eyes and mouth
Make sure your child has up-to-date immunizations (shots)
Talk to you about helping your child stay healthy
Did you know?
Children can get any health services or treatment that the doctor says are medically necessary.
There are no fees or co-payments for children's checkups, shots, lab tests or X-rays!
At regular checkups, your doctor or clinic can catch little problems before they become big ones!
When should I take my children for checkups?
Doctors say that children should have checkups often when they are very little, then every year or so as they get older. Here are the times when children should get a checkup:
2 weeks old |
3-4 years old |
1 month old |
4-5 years old |
2 months old |
5-6 years old |
4 months old |
6-8 years old |
6 months old |
8-10 years old |
9 months old |
10-12 years old |
12 months old |
12-14 years old |
15 months old |
14-16 years old |
18 months old |
16-18 years old |
2-3 years old |
18-21 years old |
Some children need checkups more often. Follow your doctors advice. Be sure your child gets a lead screening by age 1 (12 months old) and another lead screening at age 2 (24 months). If your child is age 3-6 years old and has not had a lead screening test, get your child tested right away.
Children's immunizations (shots)
Most doctors recommend certain shots at certain ages.
Birth |
Hepatitis B (Hep B) |
1 2 months |
Hepatitis B (Hep B) |
2 months |
Diphtheria, Tetanus and Acellular Pertussis (DTaP) Polio (IPV) Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) Rotavirus |
4 months |
Diphtheria, Tetanus and Acellular Pertussis (DTaP) Polio (IPV) Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) Rotavirus |
6 months |
Diphtheria, Tetanus and Acellular Pertussis (DTaP) Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) Rotavirus |
6-18 months |
Hepatitis B (Hep B) Polio (IPV) |
6 - 59 months |
Influenza (flu) |
12-15 months |
Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR) Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) Varicella (chicken pox) |
12-23 months |
Hepatitis A (Hep A) |
15-18 months |
Diphtheria, Tetanus and Acellular Pertussis (DTaP) |
4-6 years |
Diphtheria, Tetanus and Acellular Pertussis (DTaP) Polio (IPV) Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR) Varicella (chicken pox) |
11-12 years |
Tetanus, Diphtheria and Acellular Pertussis (Tdap) Meningococcal Conjugate Vaccine (MCV4) Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) for girls |
Take your teens for checkups too!
Its important for teenagers to have checkups too. The doctor or clinic can talk to teens about good habits that will help them become healthy adults.
The doctor can also talk to them about staying safe and avoiding problems that teens and young adults sometimes have, such as smoking, drinking, doing drugs, becoming pregnant, causing a pregnancy or getting a sexually transmitted infection.
Going to the dentist
Children should visit the dentist for a checkup every six months starting Children should visit the no later than age 2. To find a dentist every six months for your child, call 1-888-286-2447 starting at age 2. (TTY: 1-800-466-7566). The call is free.
Questions?
Please call us at 1-866-255-5437 (TTY: 1-877-204-1012). The call is free. You can call Monday to Friday, 8:30 to 5.
All Kids Hotline 1-866-ALL-KIDS (1-866-255-5437)
TTY: 1-877-204-1012
