Well Child Exam

Ensuring that your baby, child, or teenager stays healthy means regular wellness checkups with a qualified pediatric provider to detect health concerns before complications arise. At Merritt Pediatrics in San Antonio, Texas, board-certified pediatrician Christina Merritt, MD, provides well-child exams for young patients of all ages. Schedule an appointment today at Merritt Pediatrics by calling the office or using the online booking feature.

What is a well-child exam?

A well-child exam at Merritt Pediatrics is a medical evaluation that takes place yearly or more often among babies and toddlers. These exams can screen for medical problems, developmental delays, and mental health disorders. A well-child exam allows your child to receive vaccines and other preventive care. 

Each well-child visit is one hour, allowing Dr. Merritt to ensure that all of your questions and concerns are addressed. She completes any necessary school or updated vaccine paperwork. Merritt Pediatrics also provides sports physicals for young athletes and comprehensive newborn care and sick visits.

What are the benefits of a well-child exam?

The main benefit of a routine well-child exam at Merritt Pediatrics is screening for medical problems that could affect your child’s growth, development, and physical and/or mental well-being.

Merritt Pediatrics uses a concierge medicine model so that you never feel rushed or like just a number. You pay a monthly membership fee instead of dealing with insurance companies.

What happens during a well-child exam?

Dr. Merritt evaluates your child’s growth, development, weight, length or height, and head circumference in babies and younger kids. She checks their vital signs, asks about developmental milestones, and discusses your child’s symptoms, medical history, lifestyle, and medications or dietary supplements.

During a physical exam, she assesses their breathing, heartbeat, eyes, ears, throat, limbs, and reflexes to screen for signs of health concerns.

Dr. Merritt also completes hearing and vision screenings and may order blood work, urinalysis, tissue swabs, asthma and allergy testing, heart function testing, imaging procedures, or other diagnostic tests.

She offers mental health evaluations to screen for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), anxiety, depression, and other common mental health disorders. 

If your child needs treatment, Dr. Merrit makes recommendations. She could suggest home remedies, therapy, over-the-counter (OTC) medications, medication management, or diet and other lifestyle changes.

How often should I schedule a well-child exam?

Schedule well-child exams as directed by Dr. Merritt. She could suggest following American Academy of Pediatrics guidelines, which include visits at 3-5 days old and again at one, two, four, six, nine, 12, 15, 18, 24, and 30 months old — and yearly beginning at three years old. 

Schedule your child’s next well-child visit at Merritt Pediatrics by calling the office or requesting an appointment online today.