Patient Resources

Health Screening Guidelines for Children from Birth to Age 2

Screening tests are an important part of managing your child’s health. See the screening guidelines and information below for children from birth to age 2 from the American Academy of Pediatrics and other health organizations. You and your child’s healthcare provider may decide that a different schedule is best for your child. But this plan can guide your discussion. Talk with your child’s healthcare provider to make sure your child is up-to-date on what they need.

Screening*	Who needs it	How often
APGAR score. These are measurements done soon after birth. They include heart rate, breathing, skin color, muscle tone, and reflex responses. This score is used to check a newborn's general health at birth.	All newborns	1 and 5 minutes after birth
Lead level	All children in this age group.	Risk assessment of lead exposure at 6, 9, and 18 months. Risk assessment or blood test at 12 and 24 months. Children considered to be at risk may need more testing from age 18 months to 6 years. Ask your child's healthcare provider about screening guidelines in your state.
Newborn screenings. Tests may vary by state. This is a series of tests for conditions such as: Hearing loss Congenital heart disease Congenital hypothyroidism Phenylketonuria Sickle cell disease Cystic fibrosis Severe immunodeficiency	All newborns. Ask your child's healthcare provider about the tests in your state.	Testing is done when your baby is at least 24 hours old. It is usually done before discharge from the hospital.
Oral health	Children ages 6 months and older	Dental exams every 6 months. Fluoride supplements from age 6 months to 16 years for those with low fluoride levels in their water. Fluoride varnish should be applied to the primary teeth of all infants starting at the age of 6 months. It is recommended that varnish be applied every 3 to 6 months, based on the child's risk for tooth decay.

Screening*

Who needs it

How often

APGAR score. These are measurements done soon after birth. They include heart rate, breathing, skin color, muscle tone, and reflex responses. This score is used to check a newborn's general health at birth.

All newborns

1 and 5 minutes after birth

Lead level

All children in this age group.

Risk assessment of lead exposure at 6, 9, and 18 months. Risk assessment or blood test at 12 and 24 months. Children considered to be at risk may need more testing from age 18 months to 6 years. Ask your child's healthcare provider about screening guidelines in your state.

Newborn screenings. Tests may vary by state. This is a series of tests for conditions such as:

Hearing loss
Congenital heart disease
Congenital hypothyroidism
Phenylketonuria
Sickle cell disease
Cystic fibrosis
Severe immunodeficiency

All newborns. Ask your child's healthcare provider about the tests in your state.

Testing is done when your baby is at least 24 hours old. It is usually done before discharge from the hospital.

Oral health

Children ages 6 months and older

Dental exams every 6 months. Fluoride supplements from age 6 months to 16 years for those with low fluoride levels in their water. Fluoride varnish should be applied to the primary teeth of all infants starting at the age of 6 months. It is recommended that varnish be applied every 3 to 6 months, based on the child's risk for tooth decay.