Children’s Wellness
Well-Care Visits
A well-care visit is a preventive exam your baby, child, or teen has with their health care provider to help keep them healthy. Regular well visits are one of the best ways to find physical, developmental, and emotional problems. These visits also allow you to discuss any concerns you have regarding your child, such as behavior, sleep, eating, physical activity, or upcoming changes in your child’s life.
A well-care visit includes:
- A physical exam
- Health and developmental history
- Screenings
- Health education and counseling
- Immunizations (if needed)
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that children are seen for routine well-care visits at regular intervals. These visits are covered by UPHP.
After birth, well-care visits should be scheduled at the following ages:
| Infancy | Early Childhood | Middle Childhood | Adolescence |
| 3-5 days | 15 months | 5 years | 12 years |
| 1 month | 18 months | 6 years | 13 years |
| 2 months | 24 months | 7 years | 14 years |
| 4 months | 30 months | 8 years | 15 years |
| 6 months | 3 years | 9 years | 16 years |
| 9 months | 4 years | 10 years | 17 years |
| 12 months | 11 years | 18 years | |
| 19 years | |||
| 20 years |
Shots keep us from getting sick with certain diseases. When a child is made “immune” to an infectious disease it is called immunization. Keeping your child up to date on immunizations helps to keep them healthy. Visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s vaccine schedule to know what your child is due for.
| Infants | Toddlers | Preschoolers |
| 2 months | 1 year | 3 years |
| 4 months | 15 months | 4 years |
| 6 months | 18 months | 5 years |
| 9 months | 2 years | |
| 30 Months |
Below you will find more information on your child’s development, positive parenting, safety, and health at each stage of your child’s life.
| Infants age 0-1 | Middle Childhood age 6-8 |
| Toddlers age 1-2 | Middle Childhood age 9-11 |
| Toddlers age 2-3 | Young Teens age 12-14 |
| Preschoolers age 3-5 | Teenagers age 15-17 |
Childhood obesity now affects one in five children and adolescents in the United States. Obesity can lead to diabetes, cancer, heart disease, breathing issues, joint problems, depression, and low self-esteem. To reduce the chances of these health problems, UPHP encourages children and their families to eat well and be active. A great starting point is to remember the 5-2-1-0 rule. Work toward meeting these goals:
- Eat 5 or more servings fruits and vegetables each day
- Have 2 hours or less of recreational screen time each day (school work does not count)
- Get 1 hour or more each day of moderate to vigorous physical activity
- Drink 0 sugary drinks (soda, sugar-sweetened sports drinks, or juice)
A healthy smile plays an important role in a child’s health and development. Visits to the dentist should start at 12 months old or when a child’s first tooth comes in. Visits should continue twice yearly through life.
Healthy Kids Dental is a Michigan Department of Health and Human Services program for Medicaid-eligible children under the age of 21. For information on no-cost services and coverage, or to locate a participating dentist, visit www.healthykidsdental.org.
Below are some tips from Healthy Kids Dental for caring for teeth at home:
- It is important to brush teeth twice a day (after breakfast and before bed). Use a soft-bristled toothbrush and toothpaste that has fluoride.
- Your child does not need to rinse after brushing. The toothpaste left in his or her mouth helps protect teeth against cavities.
- Floss teeth once a day. The best time for flossing is at the bedtime brushing. This will get food out from between teeth so it does not stay there all night.
- Replace toothbrushes every three to four months. If your child has been sick, replace his or her toothbrush so it is not passing germs.
- When your baby has teeth, start brushing using a soft infant toothbrush and a smear of fluoride toothpaste (about the size of a grain of rice).
Children should never be put to bed with juice or milk. This can cause severe tooth decay (rotting of the teeth). Only water should be given after brushing at bedtime.
The Childhood Healthy Habits program is designed to help keep your child’s health on track from birth through early adulthood. Children ages birth through age 20 are automatically enrolled when they become a UPHP member. The program includes:
- Free information about living a healthy lifestyle, including information on when your child is due for immunizations and/or well-care visits.
- Free access to a contact person. This person can help with questions about services and age-appropriate health care.
If you have questions about the Childhood Healthy Habits program, or would like to disenroll your child, call UPHP at 906-225-1127.
Page Last Updated: 01/12/2023