Schedule of well-child visits

If you don’t already have one, you should start looking for a paediatrician or family doctor early on in your pregnancy so you can talk to her about any questions or concerns you have before your baby comes.

If your local hospital has a family practice unit, they may be able to help you find a doctor.
You can look online under “physicians and surgeons” in your area.
Links to organizations that can help you find a doctor for your child.

“Well-baby” or “well-child” visits are a lot like annual exams for adults, but focus on your child’s age and stage of development.

Age	Visit details
1 week	Babies are usually checked by a health care provider within the first week of going home from the hospital. At this first visit your child's health care provider will: Weigh your baby and measure your baby’s length and head circumference. Check for signs of jaundice. Check on how feeding is going for you and your baby. Do a general health exam. Ask how the family is adjusting to the new baby. Complete any screening tests that were not done at the hospital.
2, 4, 6, 9, 12 and 18 months, and 2-5 years*	When you take your child to a well-child visit, your child's health care provider will: ask about your child’s eating habits, sleep habits, ask about your child's developmental milestones, language milestones, and social and emotional issues, do a physical examination, check weight, height and head circumference, give any necessary vaccines. If your child's health care provider doesn’t give vaccines, they will tell you where to get them. They will also answer any questions you may have.
*Once your child is 5 years old, they will see their health care provider every 1 to 2 years until they are 18 years old.

Age

Visit details

1 week

Babies are usually checked by a health care provider within the first week of going home from the hospital. At this first visit your child's health care provider will:

Weigh your baby and measure your baby’s length and head circumference.
Check for signs of jaundice.
Check on how feeding is going for you and your baby.
Do a general health exam.
Ask how the family is adjusting to the new baby.
Complete any screening tests that were not done at the hospital.

2, 4, 6, 9, 12 and 18 months, and 2-5 years*

When you take your child to a well-child visit, your child's health care provider will:

ask about your child’s eating habits, sleep habits,
ask about your child's developmental milestones, language milestones, and social and emotional issues,
do a physical examination,
check weight, height and head circumference,
give any necessary vaccines. If your child's health care provider doesn’t give vaccines, they will tell you where to get them.

They will also answer any questions you may have.

*Once your child is 5 years old, they will see their health care provider every 1 to 2 years until they are 18 years old.

More information from the CPS

Reviewed by the following CPS committees

Public Education Advisory Committee

Last updated: July 2021