According to WINC.FM, about 93% of children have seen a pediatrician within the last year. However, many parents may not know how often their child should go in for a check-up. While there is no specific rule stating how often your child should see a pediatrician, there are some basic guidelines to keep in mind.

Seven Visits

When it comes to figuring out how often your child should visit their pediatrician, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services gives a recommendation. On average, your child should have about seven well-child visits between the ages of one and four. These should occur at the following milestones.

  • 12 months
  • 15 months
  • 1.5 years
  • 2 years
  • 2.5 years
  • 3 years
  • 4 years

Know Your Child’s Medical Needs

While the above is what is recommended by the Department of Health and Human Services, you should keep in mind your child’s unique healthcare needs. Some children will need to see their pediatrician more often, and some age groups, like newborn babies for example, need to have more frequent check ups during those early developmental weeks and months. If you feel that something is wrong, you should always schedule an appointment as soon as possible. Because these ages are so important for healthy development, it’s crucial that you never wait or put off a visit, and instead contact your child’s pediatrician whenever you have a question or concern.

Why Pediatrician Visits Are Important

Regular visits to your child’s pediatrician are important for helping to identify issues and treat them before they can develop into more serious problems. For example, if your child is struggling with a runny nose, cough, and watery eyes, their pediatrician could identify the problem as an allergy and conduct tests to discover the exact cause. This will enable you to be able to take steps to help your child feel better and avoid what is causing them to have a reaction. Additionally, these visits can also be important for tracking their development. Developmental monitoring can help ensure that your child is growing and developing as they should and that they aren’t experiencing any delays or problems with their growth.

If it’s been a while since your child’s last check-up, consider setting one up sooner rather than later so that their pediatrician can ensure that they are growing the way they should and that there are no issues developing that could hinder their health.