As children change over the years, so do their check-up visits. Depending on your child’s age, your doctor will focus on different aspects of their health:
Before age 2
During this phase, babies grow and develop rapidly. These visits are often held every few months starting from 2 months of age to about 18 months of age. Your doctor will:
- Ask about their eating and sleeping habits
- Check if they’re meeting developmental and language milestones
- Checking their weight, length, and head size (or circumference)
- Recommend routine vaccines to keep them healthy, including those that protect against:
- Chickenpox (varicella)
- Flu (influenza)
- Hepatitis B
- Measles
- Polio
- Tetanus
- Whooping cough (pertussis)
Between ages 2 to 5
In this age group, check-ups start to slow down, but are still recommended to be done annually. At each visit, your child’s doctor will continue to check if their weight and height are expected for their age group. Other exams like vision, hearing, and blood pressure examinations often begin for those at around age 3 or 4.
Now that your child is becoming more independent and more energetic, it’s important to keep an eye on how they’re developing. Developmental milestones cover a wide range of abilities, including:
- Motor skills can include both large muscle movements, like walking, changing positions, and standing, and small muscle movements that use fine motor skills, like writing, drawing, and being able to use scissors.
- Language skills, including being able to putting words together, speak using sentences, and asking for help
- Social skills, such as playing alongside other children, taking turns, and knowing to put their toys away
- Thinking skills, like playing "make-believe", sort objects by shape or colour, and being able to remember part of or tell simple stories
With their newfound independence, it’s important to help them start developing healthy habits at an early age, like setting limits on screen time, introducing them to books, having a balanced diet, and getting plenty of quality sleep.
For younger children starting school for the very first time, certain immunizations may be required. Your child’s doctor or pediatrician can review their vaccination history and confirm whether they may require any additional doses.
Between ages 6 to 17
In school-age children, routine check-ups are usually done every year or two. depending on their health and how they are developing.
With school becoming a larger part of their daily routine, it’s important to share any feedback and concerns that are being brought up by their teachers at school (or other parental figures like camp counselors). Check-ups are important for spotting learning difficulties and disabilities because many signs can be subtle and easily mistaken for behavioral issues or lack of motivation. At routine visits, doctors screen for issues like attention problems, language delays, or developmental concerns that can affect how a child learns. They also talk with parents about school performance, social behavior, and concentration.
As your child enters their teenage years, they go through a ton of changes, including physically, emotionally, and socially. They start figuring out who they are, deal with mood swings, care a lot more about what their friends think, and want more independence (even if they still need guidance). It’s also when things like body image, school stress, and risky behavior can show up. Mental health struggles like anxiety or depression often start around this time too. Regular check-ups help catch these issues early and give kids the support they need as they grow into themselves.
From babies to teenagers, every child can benefit from routine check-ups. A back-to-school check-up before the fall rush can help them to start the school year strong.
All material copyright MediResource Inc. 1996 – 2026. Terms and conditions of use. The contents herein are for informational purposes only. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Source: www.medbroadcast.com/healthfeature/gethealthfeature/The-Importance-of-Routine-Health-Check-Ups-for-Kids-and-Teens-Before-Fall