What Pediatricians Wish You Knew About Well-Child Checks
5/19/2026
Dr. Noelle Westrum, Aspirus Pediatrician
A well-child visit is a routine check-up focused on a child’s overall health. Beginning shortly after birth and continuing through adolescence, these visits are scheduled at key stages of childhood to monitor growth and development, identify concerns early, and support long-term health.
However, as children get older and family schedules get busier, these important visits can slowly fall off the radar.
Part of that may be because parents do not always see the value in well-child visits, especially when a child seems healthy. “A common misconception that parents have would be that if their child is healthy, they don’t need to come in for an exam,” explained Dr. Noel Westrum, pediatrician at Aspirus Health, “But there is just so much more to a well-child visit than just a simple exam.”
To help parents better understand what these visits actually include, Dr. Westrum highlights three things she wishes every parent knew.
- A physical exam is only part of the visit.
Well-child visits include much more than checking in on height, weight and vital signs.
“We are trying to get a holistic view of a child’s health,” Dr. Westrum said. “That means not only their physical health, but their developmental well-being. We are looking at their communication skills, their fine motor skills, problem solving, and their social and emotional development.”
Providers also use these visits to screen for developmental delays, behavioral concerns, and learning challenges that may not be obvious day to day. They also offer time for parents to ask questions about sleep, nutrition, school, behavior, and emotional health.
- Well-child visits should continue until age 21.
The standard pediatric well-child visit schedule recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics generally includes visits at:
- Newborn (3 to 5 days after birth), 1 month, 2 months, 4 months, 6 months, 9 months, and 12 months
While many parents associate check-ups with early childhood, preventive care remains important through the teen years. These visits often include monitoring growth and puberty, mental health screening, and support for healthy decision-making as children gain independence.
- Preventive visits and additional concerns may be billed separately.
Most insurance plans cover annual well-child visits as preventive care. However, if additional medical concerns are addressed during the same appointment, those services may be billed separately depending on insurance coverage.
If a child has acute or ongoing concerns such as illness, asthma management, mental health concerns, or medication questions, a separate visit may be recommended so there is enough time to fully address those needs.
Because well-child visits are recommended throughout childhood, staying on schedule helps ensure important screenings and developmental check-ins are not missed.
One simple way families can stay on track is by scheduling the next visit before leaving the office. “That way they have it on the calendar, and they get a reminder,” Dr. Westrum said.
Regular well-child visits help ensure children are growing, developing, and thriving at every stage of childhood. To learn more, talk to your child’s pediatrician or visit aspirus.org to use the Find a Doctor tool.
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