Good health is important during early childhood because healthy children grow and learn best. Keeping your child healthy involves a lot more than just taking good care of him or her during times of illness. Children do best when their overall well-being and that of their family is supported. Children do best when their early experiences involve learning how to make healthy choices. Your doctor or health care professional plays an important role in promoting good health for your child. Visit him or her regularly and if possible do so as a family. By going together, your entire family will have a better understanding about healthy living and how to make the most of available resources. Children with special health care needs, chronic illness, disabilities, or those who live in foster homes or have other special risk factors, usually benefit from seeing a health professional more often.

• Be sure to get regular checkups from a doctor who knows you, knows your family, and who can make sure that you receive all medical and non-medical services available to you (the "medical home" approach).
• Be sure that your child receives all Well-Child (HealthCheck) exams as recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics. These exams should include:
  
  • health & developmental history
  • unclothed physical exam
  • vision & hearing screening
  • dental exam
  • appropriate immunizations (shots)
  • appropriate blood & urine tests
  • discussion & guidance for parents
• Build a relationship with your doctor by participating in all of your child's checkups.
• Learn about child development.
• Recognize that you may need extra help during times of family stress (divorce, remarriage, death, unemployment or relocation).
• Connect with people in your community.

For more information about child health services, call the Wisconsin MCH hotline: 1-800-722-2295.