To keep your body functioning at its top level, it’s important to check in with your doctor regularly. You take your car in for regular checkups, right? Why not take care of your most prized possession in the best manner possible?

The American Academy of Family Physicians recommends you refer to the following list of preventative services. Please note, these guidelines are not comprehensive. Consult your family care physician for recommendations regarding your personal screening and wellness schedule.

Newborn

• Measurements, head circumference, weight for length, possibly blood pressure—at risk only: daily until 1 month old, then monthly
• Sensory screening
• Vision: daily until 1 month old, then monthly
• Hearing: newborn until 3 days old, then at risk only
• Developmental/behavioral assessment
  • Developmental screening: 9 months only
  • Developmental surveillance: daily until 1 month old, then monthly
  • Psychosocial/behavioral assessment: daily until 1 month old, then monthly
  • Physical examination: daily until 1 month old, then monthly
  • Procedures
    • Immunizations: consult the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) Red Book® online for the most up-to-date information.
    • Newborn screening: newborn until 3 days old, then at risk only
    • Iron deficiency screening
    • Tuberculin test: at risk only
    • Oral health and dental caries prevention

12 Months to 9 Years

• Measurements
  • Head circumference: every three months until 30 months
  • Length/height/weight: every three months until 3 years old, then annually
  • Body Mass Index: At 24 and 30 months, then annually
  • Blood Pressure: At 24 months and 30 months, then annually
• Sensory screening (vision, hearing): strongly recommended from 3 to 6 years and again at 8 years, otherwise recommended only for those at risk
• Developmental/behavioral assessment:
  • Developmental screening: at 18 and 30 months, then annually from 5 years
  • Developmental surveillance: at 12, 15 and 24 months, then at 3 and 4 years
  • Autism screening: at 18 and 24 months
  • Psychosocial/behavioral assessment: every three months until 3 years old, then annually
• Physical examination: every three months until 3 years old, then annually
• Procedures: 
  • Immunizations: consult the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) Red Book® online for the most up-to-date information.
  • Iron deficiency screening: recommended only for those at risk
  • Lead screening: recommended only for those at risk
  • Obesity: recommended only for those at risk
  • Tuberculin test: recommended only for those at risk
  • Oral health and dental caries prevention

10 Years to 21 Years

• Measurements
  • Body Mass Index: annually 
  • Blood pressure: annually
• Sensory Screening
  • Vision: strongly recommended at 10, 12, 15 and 18 years, otherwise recommended only for those at risk
  • Hearing: strongly recommended at 10 years, otherwise recommended only for those at risk
• Developmental/behavioral assessment (developmental surveillance, psychosocial/behavioral assessment): annually; alcohol and drug use assessment recommended for those at risk
• Physical examination: annually
• Procedures
  • Immunizations: consult the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) Red Book® online for the most up-to-date information.
  • Cervical dysplasia: recommended only for those at risk (11 years+)
  • Lipid screening: recommended only for those at risk (20 years+)
  • Iron deficiency screening: recommended only for those at risk
  • Tobacco screening: strongly recommended annually from 18 years+, otherwise recommended only for those at risk
  • HIV and STI Screening: recommended only for those at risk
  • Lead screening: recommended only for those at risk
  • Tuberculin test: recommended only for those at risk
  • Oral health and dental caries prevention: recommended only for those at risk

* This information has been adapted from Appendix c: Recommendations for preventive pediatric health care. in: Hagan JF, Shaw JS, Duncan PM, editors. Bright futures: Guidelines for health supervision of infants, children, and adolescents. 3rd edition. elk grove Village (iL): American academy of Pediatrics; 2008, the centers for Disease control and Prevention, and the United States Preventive Services task Force.