Preventive Pediatric Care
Well-child visits
Regular checkups help your child grow, develop, and stay healthy from the newborn days through young adulthood. Start with the overview below, then choose your pediatric practice for its appointment process and local details.
More than a physical
A visit focused on the whole child
Well visits create time to look at your child’s health today, prepare for the next stage, and talk through the questions that do not always fit into a sick visit.
Growth & development
Measurements, developmental milestones, school progress, behavior, and emotional well-being.
Vaccines & screening
Age-appropriate immunizations and screening guided by current recommendations and your child’s history.
Everyday guidance
Nutrition, sleep, safety, activity, relationships, and healthy routines for each age and stage.
Questions and guidance
Time to discuss concerns, review progress, and build a long-term relationship with your pediatric provider.
Two practices, two appointment paths
Choose your child’s pediatric practice
Appointment requests, forms, and visit details are handled by each office. Select the practice where your child receives care.
North Bethesda
Metropolitan Pediatrics
See Metro’s well-visit details, preparation guidance, and phone scheduling information. Metropolitan Pediatrics provides care through age 22.
Germantown
THH Pediatrics
See THH’s well-visit details, preparation guidance, and online appointment request. THH provides pediatric care through age 22.
Recommended visit schedule
A schedule that grows with your child
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends frequent visits in the first years and yearly preventive visits through adolescence. Both MAPP practices provide pediatric care through age 22, and your provider will personalize the schedule based on your child’s needs.
Newborn
3–5 days
2 weeks
1 month
Infancy
2, 4, 6 & 9 months
12, 15 & 18 months
Toddler years
24 months
30 months
3 years
Ages 3–22
Every year
Annual visits through young adulthood, with pediatric care through age 22.
Both MAPP pediatric practices also schedule a 2-week newborn visit. Exact timing may vary for newborn follow-up and children who need additional monitoring.
What changes with age
Care for each stage
Newborns & infants
- Feeding and weight gain
- Sleep and safe sleep
- Early development
- Family adjustment and support
Toddlers & preschoolers
- Language and social development
- Nutrition and toilet learning
- Behavior and routines
- School readiness and safety
School-age children
- Learning and school progress
- Activity, nutrition, and sleep
- Friendships and emotional health
- Sports, injury prevention, and forms
Teens & young adults
- Physical and emotional health
- Healthy relationships and risk reduction
- Private time with the provider
- Preparing for adult health care
Before the appointment
Plan ahead for a smoother visit
Well visits fill quickly, especially before school and sports seasons. Both practices recommend scheduling about three months ahead whenever possible.
- Complete questionnaires your practice sends before the visit.
- Bring a medication list, vaccine records from outside providers, and any school, camp, or sports forms.
- Write down questions and changes you have noticed.
- Tell the office about special forms or concerns when you schedule.
Ready to schedule a well-child visit?
Choose the practice where your child receives care for the correct appointment path.