What is a well-baby exam?

Preventive care: Well baby check ups involve monitoring your baby's growth (weight, height and head circumference), making sure your baby is developing normally, an exam, and vaccines. It's a great time for you to ask questions of your pediatrician and for you doctor to provide anticipatory guidance for the next stage in your child's life. They're usually scheduled at 1, 2, 4, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, and 24 months.

Surveylance: The well exam is focused on features of normal growth & development. Sleep patterns, emerging communication skills, safety issues @ a specific age, and more. Issues of emerging emotional reactions to stress & separation, play activity , eating patterns, etc. Though these may come up during sick visits, there is seldom time allotted to deal with them adequately.