Paediatric check-ups cluster in the first year of life — at around one, two, four, six and twelve months — and then spread out: once a year until six, and every one or two years through to adolescence. Each visit covers growth, development, immunisations, and vision and hearing.
They are the only appointments where a paediatrician sees your child while they are well, which is exactly why they pick up what goes unnoticed at home: a growth curve that drifts, a language delay, one eye that does not see as well as the other.
Why routine check-ups are worth keeping
In the early years, a child's body and brain change faster than they ever will again. A regular review lets the paediatrician:
- Check that growth is following the expected pattern for that age.
- Confirm developmental and language milestones.
- Keep the immunisation schedule up to date, including catch-up doses for families who have moved here.
- Screen vision and hearing at the ages when a problem is still easy to correct.
- Answer parents' questions about sleep, feeding, screens or behaviour without rushing.
The usual schedule, age by age
The pattern is broadly this, though the paediatrician adapts it to each child.
Birth to 12 months
The busiest stage: a visit in the first weeks and then at roughly one, two, four, six and twelve months. The paediatrician records weight, length and head circumference, and reviews feeding — breast or formula — sleep, muscle tone and eye contact. Most of the first-year vaccines are given during these visits.
One to three years
Reviews at around 15 to 18 months and at two and three years. The focus moves to walking, first words and first short sentences, the switch to family food, and habits such as sleep and toilet training.
Three to six years
Before starting school, a check-up should include a vision assessment. This is the key window for picking up a lazy eye (amblyopia), while it still responds very well to treatment. Speech, coordination, behaviour and how the child gets on with other children are reviewed too. It is also the age at which flat feet are assessed, which we cover in our article on children's podiatry and insoles.
Six to eleven years
If everything is going well, a review every one or two years is usually enough. The paediatrician watches growth, body mass index, posture and back, diet, physical activity, sleep and how school is going.
Adolescence
Between 12 and 18 the appointment changes character: puberty, food, sport, mental health, sleep and, where relevant, alcohol, tobacco and sexual health. Setting aside a few minutes to talk with the teenager alone matters — that is usually when the real questions come out.
What is actually checked
- Growth: weight, height and, in the first two years, head circumference, always plotted on reference charts. A single measurement means little; the trajectory is what counts.
- Development: social smile, sitting, crawling, walking, pointing, first words, pretend play, fine motor skills.
- Physical examination: heart, lungs, abdomen, hips, spine, skin, mouth and teeth, and genitals.
- Prevention: scheduled vaccines, vision and hearing screening, and advice on feeding, sleep, safety at home and sun protection.
Which signs should not wait for the next appointment?
- A fever in a baby under three months old.
- Loss of skills already gained: stops walking, stops talking, stops making eye contact.
- At 12 months, no pointing and no response to their name; at two years, no two-word phrases.
- Weight that stalls or falls without a clear reason.
- Loud snoring every night, with pauses in breathing.
- Rubbing the eyes, tilting the head, sitting very close to a screen, or not turning when called — this may need an ophthalmology assessment, and our guide to when to have an eye examination explains the timings — or an ENT review.
- Recurrent headaches or tummy pain, or mood and behaviour changes that persist.
None of these necessarily means something is wrong, but all of them deserve a consultation.
How to prepare for the appointment
- Bring the child health record and vaccination card, including those issued abroad.
- Note your questions on your phone in the days before; they are easy to forget in the room.
- Write down any medication, allergies and reports from other specialists.
- If you can, avoid nap time and feed time. A rested child cooperates far better.
Frequently asked questions
How often should a child have a check-up?
Frequently in the first year (around one, two, four, six and twelve months), once a year until the age of six, and every one or two years after that if all is well. The paediatrician adapts the schedule to each child.
What should I bring to the appointment?
The child health record and vaccination card — including cards issued in another country — reports from other specialists, and a list of medication and allergies.
Can missing vaccines be caught up if we have moved from abroad?
Yes. The paediatrician reviews the schedule your child followed, compares it with the one used here and proposes any catch-up doses, at the intervals appropriate for their age.
Booking an appointment
You can read more about our paediatric service and book by calling 972 30 65 65 or using the contact form. We are open Monday to Friday from 8 am to 8 pm and Saturdays from 9 am to 2 pm, and we work with more than 40 health insurers.
