Screening, 13 Months to 5 Years

It's important for your child to continue to have regularly scheduled checkups, often called well-child visits. During these visits, your child's doctor will check your child's growth and development and examine your child for possible problems.

Checks at well-child visits include:

• Behavioral concerns such as temper tantrums, thumb-sucking, breath-holding, and aggressive behavior that hurts others emotionally or physically (bullying).
• Blood pressure screening. It is important for your child to have his or her blood pressure checked every year, beginning at age 3.
• Developmental delay screening, including two checks for autism.
• Head circumference until 24 months of age.
• Hearing.
• Height, weight, and body mass index (BMI).
• Vision.

If risk factors are present, other tests may include:

• Lead screening.
• Tuberculosis screening.

A hematocrit test may be done if your doctor is concerned about your child's red blood cell count.

Regular dental checkups are recommended for all children.

For more information on the milestones of early childhood growth and development, see the topics Growth and Development, Ages 12 to 24 Months and Growth and Development, Ages 2 to 5 Years.