Well-child visits: Child developmental progress and signs

Well-child visits help you understand your child's developmental progress. These visits happen when your child isn’t sick. The purpose of a well-child visit is to check in on your child’s developmental progress (are they hitting important milestones?) and just in general make sure your child is feeling good.  These visits are the perfect time to ask the doctor any questions about your child’s health or express concerns you may have.

Prepare for well-child visits

We encourage you to write down a list of questions to have ready for each visit. Jot down any health concerns you may have, or things about your child’s development that worry you. For example, you may note that your child doesn’t seem interested in playing with other kids, isn’t speaking much, or that they tend to be clumsy.

Track your child’s development

Use the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Milestone Tracker App to identify specific areas where your child may be meeting or missing typical milestones. Bring the results to your well-child visits. This knowledge allows you and your pediatrician to understand what supports your child may need. 

Keep in mind: Every child will be different, and there is no “right” way or timeframe to grow. Milestones are based on what medical professionals consider to be “typical development” for children. It’s very common for children with developmental differences, like autism, to reach some milestones at different times than their peers, but that doesn’t mean they’re “behind” or broken. Think of these milestones more as general guidelines to help you spot areas your child may need help in, rather than a final judgment on their future. Detecting these areas early on, and getting your child the support they need, can make a big difference as your child grows up.

Stay on top of immunizations

Ensure your child is staying current on immunizations to help him or her avoid serious illnesses such as chicken pox, measles, mumps, polio and more. Follow the CDC Recommended Immunization Schedule and fill out the Immunization Tracker to make sure your child is up-to-date on immunizations.

Keep in mind: Vaccines DO NOT cause autism. Some children do have adverse reactions/side effects to routine vaccinations, but this is very rare. We debunk this, and more autism myths, in this article.

Conclusion

Remember to keep track of your child's developmental progress and any signs you may notice. Your child shouldn't only go to the doctor when they're sick! Well-child visits, aka check-ups, are an important part of your child's medical care. If you have concerns about your child's development, create a free, custom Action Plan.