Well-Child Visits

We follow the American Academy of Pediatrics schedule: newborn check at 3–5 days, then visits at 1, 2, 4, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 24, and 30 months, followed by an annual check-up every year from age 3. If we’re monitoring a specific concern, we may recommend more frequent visits.

Well-child visits are scheduled, preventive check-ups for a healthy child — growth, development, vaccines, and anticipatory guidance. Sick visits are same-day appointments for a specific concern like fever, ear pain, or injury. If your child wakes up sick on the day of a scheduled well visit, call us — we’ll often reschedule the well part and turn the appointment into a sick visit.

Yes. Bring any forms that need a provider’s signature and we’ll complete them in the room. If your school or league uses a specific form (such as the VHSL physical), bring that version — and let us know at check-in so we can budget time.

Most visits in the first two years include vaccines per the CDC/AAP schedule. After age 2, vaccine visits become less frequent, though we recommend the flu shot every fall for all children 6 months and older. If you’re catching up on missed vaccines, we’ll build a safe schedule with you.

We accept most commercial plans and many Virginia Medicaid plans. Well-child visits — including recommended vaccines and screenings — are covered as preventive care by most plans with no copay. Because plan participation changes, please call us at 703-580-6400 or confirm with your plan before the visit.

Yes. The purpose of a well-child visit isn’t to treat a problem — it’s to catch the ones that aren’t obvious at home. Subtle changes in growth, early vision or hearing issues, emerging mood concerns, missed vaccines, and small delays in development are all much easier to address early. Prevention is the core of what pediatrics does.