Reasons for well-child checkups
- Track growth and development: Regular checkups are a way to monitor your child’s growth. Your pediatrician will also check developmental milestones, such as motor skills and language development.
- Prevent illness and injuries: Well-child visits are a chance to talk about immunizations/vaccinations. They also allow time to speak about nutrition, general safety concerns and your child’s overall well-being.
- Build a relationship: These checkups help to establish a trusting relationship between you and your child’s healthcare team.
What to expect
- Physical exam: Measure vital signs (blood pressure, height and weight) to make sure growth and development are on track.
- Developmental screening: Checking for developmental milestones, motor skills and language development.
- Vaccinations: Vaccines protect your child against serious illnesses. Your pediatrician will review the recommendations, and answer any questions you may have.
- Nutrition and exercise: Your child’s provider can give feedback and tips for age-appropriate nutrition and physical activity for building healthy habits.
- Safety and injury prevention: Address any concerns such as car seat usage and home safety. For teens, this can include questions about alcohol/drug use, mental health, and high-risk behavior.
We want you to be comfortable addressing any healthcare problems with your provider while also being transparent about what the visit entails. Topics such as the flu, COVID-19, new injuries, orthopedic trauma, headaches, abdominal pain, rashes, illness (ear infections, strep throat, etc.), new prescriptions, management of chronic illnesses such as asthma or diabetes, or specific school concerns such as ADHD are not covered as a part of the routine well-child visit and may be billed separately.
Beginning at 12 years of age and beyond, young people have the right to confidentiality, and they have an opportunity for examination and counseling without parents/caregivers present. Each young person can choose whether they want to share their personal health information with their parent or guardian. Our providers will encourage these conversations, especially in instances of healthcare decision making. Health professionals may break confidentiality if they believe your child is: at risk of self-harm or suicide, being seriously harmed or at risk of being seriously harmed, or seriously harming someone else or at risk of seriously harming someone else.
Colorado Mountain Medical is able to fill out daycare, school, sports and other forms if your child is up to date on their wellness visits. Contact your child’s physician or e-mail Pediatric.Forms@VailHealth.org.