Well-child Checkups: First Steps for your Child's Healthy Life

Well-child checkups are very important. They guard your child's health, and prevent or show health problems. The sooner any health problem is diagnosed, the sooner treatment can start.

What to Expect during your Child's Wellness Checkups

A doctor performs special screening tests to look for childhood health problems. Universal screens are done for all children at certain ages. Selective screens are done only for children at high risk for that disorder. Sometimes, screening test results show that a child needs more testing to either diagnose a problem, or to rule it out.

Your child should have wellness checkups at the following ages:

• 3 days to 1 week
• Under 6 weeks
• 2 months
• 4 months
• 6 months
• 9 months
• 12 months
• 15 months
• 18 months
• 24 months
• Annually through age twenty (20)

During these visits, the doctor will:

• Update your child's medical history
• Perform a full physical
• Do screens as needed
• Give vaccines based on a schedule
• Prepare you for the next stages in your child's growth

Talk to your child's doctor about well-child checkups. Well-child checkups are part of Horizon NJ Health's program. Well-child checkups are part of Horizon NJ Health’s Health and Wellness Program for Children and follows the national government's Early Periodic Screening, Diagnostic and Treatment (EPSDT) program, designed to make sure your children get the services they need to stay and grow healthy.

For information about the Health and Wellness Program for Children, call the Horizon Healthy Journey line toll free at 1-844-754-2451 (TTY 711), Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Eastern Time.