Most parents know that their children need regular check-ups with their primary care doctor. Your child’s doctor will make sure that your child is safe, healthy and growing well. The doctor will want to know about any diseases that run in the family. Your doctor will give you things you need to know to keep your child healthy. You will be asked many questions about your child, so be ready. The doctor will want to know about how well your child sleeps and eats for example. As your children get older, the doctor will also ask questions about how well your child does in school.
See your child’s doctor within a few weeks after birth at least five times before the first birthday and at least every year after that.
The doctor will want your child to have certain blood tests. Your child’s shots, also called vaccines, are very important for your child’s health. Your doctor will recommend vaccines at many of your child’s check-ups to prevent your child from getting serious infections like measles and infections of the brain (meningitis) and the liver (hepatitis).
The Centers for Disease Control has provided a list of the important vaccines for your child. The chart tells you the best age to get the vaccine. To download a copy of the CDC’s 2024 Recommended Immunizations for Children from Birth Through 6 Years Old, visit CDC Recommended Vaccines Ages 0-6 years.
Source: CDC: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:Immunization Schedules