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Children & Adolescents
At Best Start, we follow the American Academy of Pediatrics’ recommended schedule for well-child exams and vaccinations.
(AAP Schedule) We think is it crucial to see our patients regularly for well checks to establish a strong relationship with your child and family.
During the first two and half years, these visits occur every few months. Starting at age 3 these checkups should occur once a year around the child’s birthdate. Once kids are in school it may be more convenient to schedule these visits during the summer. If your child needs a sports or camp physical, please bring these forms with you for the well-child exam. If your child has had a checkup in the past year, we are happy to fill these forms out for you at a later date. Please allow 2-3 business days for these to be filled and signed.
We are often asked how long children should continue to see a pediatrician as they get older. Some teens love to continue seeing us while others feel we are “baby doctors.” We hope our clinic environment will help them feel comfortable coming to see us. We are happy to see patients in our clinic until they graduate from high school. The summer before college we can perform a college physical if needed.
Well checkups are typically scheduled several days to a few weeks in advance. Please give us ample time to schedule your child’s appointment by calling ahead. We try to open up our schedule out at least 3 months. We can often schedule your child’s next well exam when you are in the office. We also set up reminders on the computer, so you should receive a text, call or email when it is close to time to schedule your next visit.
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Our pediatricians are ready to talk to you on the many issues that affect your adolescent:
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Parent-teen Communication
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Peer pressure
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Nutrition
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Emotional development
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Substance abuse
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Puberty and Sexual Development
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Safety and High-Risk Behavior