Screening tests and vaccines are an important part of managing your child's health. Below are guidelines for these, for children from birth to age 2. Talk with your child's healthcare provider to make sure your child is up to date on what he or she needs.
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Screening
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Who needs it
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How often
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APGAR (a test to check the overall health of a baby right after birth)
Breathing, color, heart rate, muscle tone, and reflexes are checked
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All newborns
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1 and 5 minutes after birth
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Lead level
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All children in this age group
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Risk assessment of lead exposure at ages 6, 9, 12, 18, and 24 months. Blood testing advised if risk assessment is high.
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Newborn screenings (a series of tests for metabolic, endocrine, hemoglobin, and other conditions; tests may vary by state)
Conditions tested for include hearing loss, congenital heart disease, congenital hypothyroidism, phenylketonuria, sickle cell disease, cystic fibrosis, and severe immunodeficiency
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All newborns; talk with your healthcare provider about the tests in your state
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Testing when newborn is at least 24 hours old; done before discharge from the hospital. Hearing screening done before infant is 1 month old.
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Oral health
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Children ages 6 months and up
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Oral health exams at 6 and 9 months; risk assessment at 12, 18, and 24 months. Risk assessment for fluoride supplementation at 6, 9, 12, 18, and 24 months; oral fluoride supplementation for those with low fluoride levels in their water; fluoride varnish should be applied every 3 to 6 months once teeth are present.
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Vaccines
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Who needs it
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How often
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DTaP (diphtheria, tetanus, acellular pertussis)
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All infants
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At ages 2 months, 4 months, 6 months, 15 to 18 months
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Chickenpox (varicella)
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All infants who have not had chickenpox
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Between ages 12 to 15 months
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Haemophilus influenzae type b conjugate
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All infants
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3-dose series: At ages 2 4 months, and between 12 to 15 months
4-dose series: At ages 2, 4, 6 months and between 12 to 15 months
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Hepatitis A vaccine
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All infants
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Between ages 12 to 23 months, with a second dose at least 6 months after the first dose
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Hepatitis B vaccine
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All infants
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At birth, between ages 1 to 2 months, and then between 6 to 18 months
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Inactivated poliovirus
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All infants
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At ages 2 months, 4 months, 6 to 18 months
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Influenza (flu)
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Children 6 months and older
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At 6 months of age, and then once a year; children 6 months through 8 years need 2 doses separated by 4 weeks when vaccinated for the first time.
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Measles, mumps, rubella (MMR)
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All infants
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First dose between ages 12 to 15 months
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Pneumococcal conjugate (PCV13)
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All infants
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At ages 2 months, 4 months, 6 months, and between ages 12 to 15 months
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Rotavirus
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All infants
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2-dose series: At ages 2 and 4 months
3-dose series: At ages 2, 4, and 6 months
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