Your well child is going to be a well kindergartener so soon! There might be some last immunizations to finish before school starts, and your healthcare provider will continue to track growth, development, and milestones.
At the appointment
Depending on your vaccine schedule, this may be a visit with no vaccines or just a seasonal one, like flu. Baby can still get caught up, however, and often immunizations for acellular pertussis, diphtheria, polio, tetanus, measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella are required to start kindergarten. At this age, some milestones your healthcare provider might look for include counting to 10, listening well, telling a story, copying triangles and squares, tying a knot, and writing some letters and numbers.
Getting both an eye exam and a hearing exam before Baby starts kindergarten is usually part of your visit, and it’s required by some schools. If Baby has trouble hearing or seeing, being aware of it before school starts will allow you to give Baby the help they need to learn, play, and grow.
Questions to ask
Question time has been your realm for much of Baby‘s life, but now that they are older, feel free to let them do some of the asking! It’s a good way to build their relationship with their healthcare provider and learn about their health. If you want to have a few questions in your back pocket, here are some examples you might want to use:
- What’s the best way to prepare Baby for starting school?
- Is there a recommended day-to-day eating schedule?
- Is it time to teach Baby to swim?
- What kind of sports protection equipment does my child need?
A note on vaccines
Ovia Health by Labcorp is committed to providing evidence-based guidance and supporting families with trusted health information. Recent shifts and changes to vaccination recommendations and schedules for pregnant women, children, and infants have raised questions about the safety and efficacy.
We continue to follow the guidance of leading medical organizations including the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and the American Academy of Family Physicians about vaccination safety and continued use. Your healthcare provider is best positioned to advise you on vaccination safety for pregnant women, infants, children, and the broader public.
Sources
- “AAP Schedule of Well-Child Care Visits.” HealthyChildren.org. American Academy of Pediatrics. December 18, 2015. Web.
- “Well-child visits.” MedlinePlus. U.S. National Library of Medicine. February 5, 2015. Web.
- Heiting, Gary. “Eye exams for children.” All About Vision. AllAboutVision.com. July 2015. Web.
- American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). “AAP Immunization Schedule.” 2026. Web https://publications.aap.org/redbook/resources/15585/AAP-Immunization-Schedule
