Regular Doctor Visit (Age 0 – 10)

Regular doctor visits are important to ensure babies, children and teens are healthy and developing normally. This is why it’s important to find a family doctor or pediatrician, both of whom are well-trained with expertise in providing primary care for babies, children, and teens.

A regular doctor visit, sometimes called a routine check-up, physical exam, or a wellness visit, focuses on prevention and catching potential health concerns early. This is different from an appointment for a specific illness or injury. If you are ever concerned about a health issue, don’t wait for the next scheduled visit — call your doctor.

How often a child or teen should get a regular doctor visit depends on their age and how they are growing. 

Well-Baby Visits (before age 2)

Your baby should see a doctor or other primary care provider multiple times for a well-baby visit before their second birthday. Babies grow and develop quickly and require more monitoring. 

The first visit generally happens when your baby is 1 – 2 weeks old. This first visit often includes weighing your baby, checking how feeding is going, doing a general health exam, reviewing your baby’s infant screening exams, making sure they are sleeping safely and asking how you and your family are adjusting to the new baby. Generally the only medicine a healthy baby needs is Vitamin D, make sure to ask your doctor how much to give.

Generally the following schedule for well-baby visits are recommended following this initial visit: 

• 2 months old

• 4 months old

• 6 months old

• 9 months old

• 12 months old

• 18 months old

At these visits, your doctor will do a physical exam, check weight, length and head circumference, ask about your child’s eating and sleep habits, and review how your baby is developing. Your doctor will also offer routine vaccines to prevent diseases and keep your baby healthy. They will also answer any questions you may have about your baby’s development or behavior. Remember, every baby grows and develops a little differently. See this overview of developmental milestones from the Canadian Paediatric Society.

Well-Child Visits (Ages 2 to 5)

From age 2 to 5, annual well-child visits are recommended to monitor your child’s health, catch potential concerns early, check in on development, discuss any behavioral concerns and ensure routine vaccines are provided to prevent diseases and keep your child healthy.

This is an important time for your child’s growth and development as they approach school age. It is a good time to develop good habits with your child including avoiding screen time, promoting literacy by introducing and encouraging them to read and explore through books, developing a healthy sleep routine, maintaining exercise and activity, and feeding them healthy and nutritious food.. It is normal for your child to be acting out and testing boundaries at this age, your doctor can discuss with you the importance of positive discipline for your child (learn more here).

Wellness Visits (Ages 6+)

From age 6 to 17, wellness visits are recommended every year or two. Depending on your child’s health and how they are developing, your doctor may do a full physical exam every year or two, and a shorter assessment in between. Generally, these visits last 10 to 20 minutes. If you think you will need more time to discuss additional concerns, let your doctor’s staff know when you schedule the appointment.

This is an important time to review how school is going, any specific concerns brought up by your child’s teachers. It is a good time to maintain those good habits of healthy eating, maintaining good sleep habits, limiting screen time and encouraging activity and exercise. We also check in to make sure your child is developing positive peer relationships and discuss any behavioral problems that may have arisen and how to positively discipline.

Learn more

• Caring for Kids is a resource for parents and guardians from the Canadian Paediatric Society. 

• AboutKidsHealth is a resource from the Hospital for Sick Kids in Ontario.

Please note: The advice in this article draws on evidence from the research literature, as well as recommendations from the Canadian Paediatric Society.