Well Child Exam Specialist

What is a well-child exam?

A well-child exam is a type of regular preventive care visit that you book for your child at New Beginnings Pediatrics. As your child’s primary pediatrician, Dr. Bansal can thoroughly evaluate your child at any stage throughout infancy, childhood, adolescence, and young adulthood.

During a well-child exam, Dr. Bansal talks to you about your child’s mental and physical wellness and development. With a series of short, easy procedures and tests, she gathers information about your child’s well-being. She also makes sure your child is on track with healthy growth and is developing healthy habits. 

A well-child exam includes all of the components of a regular physical, including:

• Height and weight measurements
• Vitals tracking (heart rate and blood pressure)
• Head and neck exam
• Evaluation of balance and coordination
• A general visual exam

Other important possible components include mental health screenings, vaccinations, and vaccine updates. Both you and your child (depending on their age and ability to do so) may ask questions and bring up any concerns you have regarding growth or health. 

When does my child need a well-child exam?

There is a standard schedule to follow with well-child exams that begins shortly after birth. The first visit should happen within the first week when your child is 3-5 days old. Then, the well-child visit schedule is as follows for babies and toddlers:

• One month
• Two months
• Four months
• Six months
• Nine months
• 12 months (one year)
• 15 months
• 18 months (1.5 years)
• 24 months (two years)
• 30 months (2.5 years)

After the 2.5 year mark, you should bring your child in once a year for subsequent well-child visits until age 18. Dr. Bansal might recommend more frequent wellness visits if your child has any long-term conditions affecting their health or development, but this is the standard schedule for children. 

It’s important to keep in mind that well-child visits are separate from sports and school physicals, and you should not neglect a well-child visit even if your child has gotten either of them recently.

What are the benefits of keeping up with well-child exams?

When you keep up with your child’s well-child exams at New Beginnings Pediatrics, it becomes easier over time for Dr. Bansal to identify concerns when they arise. She knows your child and how they behave and tracks their development in numerous ways.

If any part of the physical exam seems abnormal, she can refer back to past information from previous visits to find out what the issue may be. Well-child exams also offer you an opportunity to bring up questions and raise concerns about your child’s diet, social skills, sleep schedule, and other points of development, even if they aren’t sick at the time. 

To book the next well-child exam for your child, call New Beginnings Pediatrics, or schedule one online today.