Even when your child appears perfectly healthy, regular wellness exams serve a critical role. These visits allow your pediatrician to track physical growth, assess developmental milestones, screen for conditions that may not yet be showing symptoms, and ensure your child's immunizations are up to date.

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Well visits are also the time when parents can bring up questions about nutrition, sleep, behavior, school readiness, social development, and the many other topics that arise as children grow. Our pediatricians value these conversations and make time for them at every visit, because we believe that guiding parents through the journey of raising a child is just as important as examining the child.

While each visit is tailored to your child's age and individual needs, a typical well child exam at our practice includes a thorough physical examination with measurements of height, weight, and head circumference (for infants and toddlers) recorded on a growth curve. Your pediatrician will review developmental milestones appropriate to your child's age, administer any recommended vaccinations, and conduct age-appropriate screenings such as vision, hearing, and developmental assessments.

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Beyond the clinical elements, we take time to discuss the topics most relevant to your child's stage of life. For infants, that might mean feeding, sleep habits, and tummy time. For toddlers, we often talk about language development, toilet training, and managing tantrums. School-age conversations shift to nutrition, exercise, screen time, and academic performance. For adolescents and teenagers, we address puberty, mental health, substance avoidance, and the transition toward independence, and we provide the opportunity for teens to speak privately with their doctor during a portion of the visit.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends a specific schedule of well child visits to ensure your child receives timely care at every stage. In the first two years of life, visits are more frequent, typically at 3 to 5 days, 2 weeks, 1 month, 2 months, 4 months, 6 months, 9 months, 12 months, 15 months, 18 months, and 24 months. After age two, annual wellness visits are recommended through adolescence and into the college years.

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We encourage parents to schedule well visits in advance and, when possible, to book the next appointment before leaving the office. During peak cold and flu season, appointment availability can be more limited, so planning ahead helps ensure your child is seen at the recommended time.

At West End Pediatrics, we believe there is no one-size-fits-all approach to raising a child. Every child has a unique temperament, every family has its own history and values, and every stage of development brings different challenges. Our pediatricians take the time to understand your family's context, including factors like school environment, family history, nutrition habits, and lifestyle, so that the care and guidance we provide is meaningful and actionable for you.

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We also recommend selecting the same pediatrician for your child's wellness visits whenever possible. Continuity of care fosters a deeper relationship between your child, your family, and your doctor. If your primary pediatrician is unavailable for a visit, another physician in our group will see your child promptly, and because we regularly consult with one another and learn from each other, the quality of care remains consistent.

Well child visits can be scheduled at either of our two Manhattan locations. Our Uptown office at 450 West End Avenue is open Monday through Friday and on weekends. Our Downtown office at 2 Fifth Avenue is open Monday through Friday. To book a wellness exam, call our Uptown office at 212-769-3070 or our Downtown office at 212-353-0072.

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We serve families throughout the Upper West Side, Greenwich Village, Chelsea, Tribeca, Midtown West, Hell's Kitchen, and surrounding Manhattan neighborhoods.