60 Questions to Ask the Pediatrician at Your Child’s Next Well-Visit

Regular checkups at the pediatrician and dentist are crucial to ensuring that your child is healthy, hitting developmental milestones, and getting the proper vaccinations. These well-visits are an ideal opportunity to ask your pediatrician questions about your child’s health. Since your time with your pediatrician and pediatric dentist is limited and precious, bring a list of questions to ask your pediatrician on a notepad, smartphone, or tablet. This will ensure you won’t forget anything. List the most pressing questions at the top. That way, if you run out of time, at least you got the important questions answered first. Record answers so you can remember them later, too.

Here are a few questions to ask at your child’s pediatric well visit, grouped by age.

Questions to Ask the Pediatrician for Ages Newborn to 1 

1. How long should it take for the umbilical cord stump to fall off? 
2. How should we be treating the umbilical cord?
3. How much and how often should my baby be feeding? 
4. How long should a feeding take?
5. Do you have any tips to get my baby to burp?
6. What should my baby’s sleep schedule look like? 
7. Where should my baby sleep? 
8. soothe a baby to sleep? 
9. What measures should I be taking in regard to safe sleeping practices?
10. How often and where should we bathe baby?
11. What milestones should I be looking for and when?
12. How many wet and soiled diapers should my baby have?
13. What vaccinations are given and when?
14. When and how do I introduce solids? 
15. When should I wean my child off of breastmilk or formula?
16. baby proofing?
17. How do I get my child to stop sucking his thumb or using a pacifier?
18. baby teeth come in? When should they start to fall out?

What to Ask the Pediatrician for Ages 1-4

1. When and how do I wean off bottles?
2. What should I be doing to keep my child safe?
3. How do I maintain consistent nap, nighttime, and bedtime routines?
4. What foods should my child be eating?
5. Which behaviors are typical and which ones require a doctor’s visit?
6. Which vaccinations are given when?
7. What milestones should I be looking for and when?
8. How can I prepare my child for day care or school?
9. Do you have any potty-training tips?
10. my child’s car seat around? 
11. When should I switch to a booster seat?

Questions to Ask the Pediatrician for Ages 5-10

Kids these ages go for a checkup once a year. Ask questions about:

1. A health condition your child may have (like allergies or asthma).
2. Changes in mood or behavior.
3. Problems in school, either academically or socially.
4. Is my child up to date on vaccines?
5. How should I discipline?
6. How much physical activity should my child be getting?
7. Is my child’s weight healthy?
8. How can I help my child eat a healthy diet?
9. help a picky eater?
10. How should I talk to my child about bullying? 
11. How can I tell if my child is being bullied?
12. How much screen time is acceptable?
13. How can I teach my child to safely use the Internet?
14. How can I help my child know what to expect about puberty?

What to Ask the Pediatrician for Ages 11-13

1. Should my child get the HPV vaccine? 
2. COVID vaccine?
3. What do I need to know about puberty when it comes to my child?
4. drugs, or smoking with my child?
5. What hygiene habits are important for children at this age?

Questions to Ask the Pediatrician for Ages 14-18

1. What can I do to help my child cope with stress?
2. How much sleep should my child be getting?
3. What resources are available to teens if they need them? 
4. Can you answer any questions my teen has? (You may step out of the room for these answers.)

What Ask at Your Child’s Dental Checkups

Oral health is important at any age. Oral health impacts overall health. Here are some questions you can ask at your child’s first dental visit and beyond.

1. How is my child’s overall dental health?
2. What toothpaste and how much of it should my child be using? 
3. When should my child start to use fluoride toothpaste and mouthwash?
4. When should my child begin flossing?
5. When should my child get his first X-ray?
6. When should my child get sealants?
7. Does my child have enough space for adult teeth?
8. Do I need to see an orthodontist for a consultation?

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