Children's Health

Immunizations, or vaccinations, protect your child from getting sick from diseases, such as Measles, Polio, Meningitis, Hepatitis B and Mumps. Make sure that:

• Your child goes to the doctor for regular checkups
• Your child gets all their shots on time and on schedule
• You talk to your child’s doctor is you have any questions or concerns. If there is something you don’t understand, ask. This way you can be sure you are doing everything you can to keep your child healthy.

Well-Care Visits

Your child’s health starts with you, the parent! The early years in your child’s life is their foundation for their health. Take charge of your child’s health, by monitoring it from the beginning. You can do that by first scheduling and attending your child’ well care visits. What are well care visits? Well care visits are simply periodic preventative check-ups. The standard check-up schedule is:

• 2 to 5 days
• 1 month
• 2 months
• 4 months
• 6 months
• 9 months
• 12 months
• 15 months
• 18 months
• 2 years old (24 months)
• 2 ½ years old (30 months)
• 3-21 years old (annual visits)

There are many benefits to well care visits. First of all, it provides preventative care (i.e. immunizations and developmental screenings). Secondly, it allows both the parent and physician to monitor the growth and development of child and discuss any concerns. Lastly, the regular visits will allow parent, child, and physician the opportunity to develop a trustworthy relationship.

Effective January 1, 2019, new mental health and substance use services are available with NYS Children’s Medicaid. These services give children/youth (under age 21) and their families the power to improve their health, well-being and quality of life, strengthening families and helping them make informed decisions about their care. Services are provided at home or in the community. Learn more on our Children and Family Support Services page here.
 

Helpful Resources:

FOR KIDS

Dental Health & Hygiene
American Dental Association (ADA) Mouth Healthy:

• Healthy Habits
• Breastfeeding and Your Baby’s Mouth
• Why Baby Teeth Matter
• 8 Common Concerns
• 8 Secrets to a Great Checkup

Development
Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC):

• Infants & Toddlers (Ages 0-3) – Milestones & Schedules
• Toddlers (1-2 years of age)

National Institute of Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD):

• Speech and Language Developmental Milestones

Nutrition
Let’s Move:

• Healthy Eating for Kids

Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC):

• Ideas to Help Children Maintain a Healthy Weight
• Nutrition and the Health of Young People

Heart.org (American Heart Association):

• Dietary Recommendations for Healthy Children

GirlsHealth.gov:

• Nutrition

ChooseMyPlate.gov (United State Department of Agriculture):

• Teens
• Your Guide To Good Nutrition – Eat Healthy To Stay Healthy

Physical Activity
Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC):

• Physical Activity Facts
• Physical Activity and Health: A Report of the Surgeon General

Heart.org (American Heart Association):

• Recommendations for Physical Activity in Children

Let’s Move.org:

• Get Active

Well Care Visits:
HealthyChildren.org (American Academy of Pediatrics):

• AAP Schedule of Well-Child Care Visits

Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC):

• Developmental Monitoring and Screening

FOR ADOLESCENTS

Dental Health & Hygiene
ADA Mouth Healthy:

• Healthy Habits
• Oral Concerns

Development
HealthyChildren.org (American Academy of Pediatrics):

• A Teenager’s Nutritional Needs
• Stages of Adolescence

Fitness
WebMD:

• 5 Ways to Help Unfit Teens Get Moving

Nutrition
HealthyChildren.org (American Academy of Pediatrics):

• Nutrition

Physical Activity
HealthyChildren.org (American Academy of Pediatrics):

• Fitness

Well Care Visits:
HealthyPeople.gov (Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion):

• Adolescent Health