Regular checkups help build a healthy foundation for your child’s future.
Children grow and change quickly. Regular well-child visits give you and your child’s healthcare provider an opportunity to follow that growth, celebrate milestones, identify concerns early and make sure your child has the preventive care they need.
At Eastern Iowa Health Center, our Pediatrics team partners with parents and caregivers from infancy through the teenage years. And well-child visits aren’t only for when something is wrong—they’re dedicated time to focus on your child’s overall health and development.
Your child’s visit will change as they grow, but a well-child appointment may include:
A complete physical exam
Height and weight measurements
Growth monitoring
Developmental and behavioral screenings
Recommended vaccinations
Vision and hearing screenings when appropriate
Conversations about nutrition and physical activity
Sleep and safety guidance
School, social and emotional health discussions
Time for parents and caregivers to ask questions
Your child’s provider will recommend care and screenings based on your child’s age, health history and individual needs.
Children develop at different rates, but there are important milestones healthcare providers monitor as children grow.
Developmental screening helps us understand how your child is learning, communicating, moving, behaving and interacting with others. Regular visits allow your provider to follow those changes over time and identify areas that may need additional attention.
If there is a concern, identifying it early can help your family connect with appropriate resources and support.
Have a concern about your child’s development? You don’t need to wait until the next well-child visit to ask. Contact your child’s healthcare provider anytime you have questions.
Babies and young children need checkups more frequently because they grow and develop so quickly. As children get older, well-child visits generally become annual appointments.
A typical schedule includes visits around:
The newborn period
2 months
4 months
6 months
9 months
12 months
15 months
18 months
24 months
30 months
Every year beginning at age 3 and continuing through adolescence
Your child’s healthcare provider may recommend a different schedule based on your child’s individual healthcare needs.
Annual checkups remain important as children enter school and move into their teenage years.
As children grow, appointments may include conversations about:
Physical growth and development
Nutrition and physical activity
Sleep
School
Emotional and mental well-being
Healthy relationships
Puberty and changing bodies
Risk prevention and healthy decision-making
Recommended screenings and vaccinations
These visits give children and teens an opportunity to build a relationship with their healthcare provider and begin learning how to take an active role in their own health.
You can help make the most of your appointment by bringing:
Your child’s current medication information
Available vaccination or medical records, especially if your child received care somewhere else
School, daycare or sports forms that need to be completed
Information about changes in your child’s health or behavior
A list of questions or concerns you want to discuss
No question is too small when it comes to your child’s health.
From your baby’s first months through the teenage years, our Pediatrics team is here to help you navigate each new stage.
Regular well-child visits allow us to get to know your child and family, follow their health over time and work together to help your child grow, develop and thrive.
Call Eastern Iowa Health Center at 319.730.7300 to schedule a well-child visit with our Pediatrics team.
SCHEDULE A PEDIATRIC APPOINTMENT
