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Well-Child Visits in Baton Rouge- Checkups From Newborn to Teen

✓ Medicaid Covers Checkups ✓ New Patients Welcome

Regular checkups catch problems early and keep your child on track. At Red Stick Pediatrics, our certified pediatric nurse practitioners follow the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) schedule at every visit. Louisiana Medicaid covers well-child visits, usually at no cost to you.

Not sure if your child is due? Call and we'll check their record for you.

Call (225) 273-5995
New Patient Info

At A Glance

Well-Child Visits at Red Stick Pediatrics

  • What it is: A scheduled checkup for a healthy child, focused on growth, development, and prevention
  • Ages: Newborn (3–5 days old) through the teen years
  • How often: 7 visits in the first year, 5 more by age 3, then once a year
  • What's included: Physical exam, growth check, developmental screening, vision and hearing checks, vaccines, and time for your questions
  • Cost with Medicaid: Covered under Louisiana Medicaid's EPSDT benefit, usually no copay
  • Who you'll see: Certified pediatric nurse practitioners, overseen by board-certified pediatricians
  • Where: 888 Tara Blvd, Baton Rouge, LA 70806
  • Book: (225) 273-5995 · Mon–Fri 8 AM–5 PM, Sat 9 AM–12 PM

Well-child visits are covered by Louisiana Medicaid.

Under the EPSDT (Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic, and Treatment) benefit, Medicaid covers every recommended checkup for children under 21, including screenings and vaccines, usually at no cost to families. Red Stick Pediatrics accepts Healthy Louisiana Medicaid plans and LaCHIP.

See accepted insurance →
Read: Does Medicaid cover pediatric care in Baton Rouge?

Checkups Explained

What Is a Well-Child Visit?

A well-child visit is a checkup for your child when they're healthy. It's different from a sick visit. Instead of treating one problem, your child's provider looks at the whole picture: how they're growing, learning, moving, sleeping, eating, and feeling.

Well-child visits are also called well visits, wellness checks, annual checkups, or well-baby visits for infants.

At every well-child visit at Red Stick Pediatrics, your child's provider will:

  • Measure growth: height, weight, and head size for babies, plotted on a growth chart
  • Do a full physical exam: heart, lungs, ears, eyes, belly, skin, and more
  • Check development: speech, movement, social skills, and learning for your child's age
  • Screen vision and hearing at recommended ages
  • Give vaccines that are due
  • Talk about everyday health: nutrition, sleep, safety, behavior, and school
  • Answer your questions. Bring your list. This visit is your time.
Prevention First

Why Checkups Matter, Even When Your Child Seems Healthy

Many health and developmental concerns don’t have obvious symptoms at first. Regular checkups give your child’s provider a chance to:

  • Catch problems early, like speech delays, vision trouble, anemia, or high blood pressure, when they’re easier to treat
  • Keep vaccines on schedule to protect against diseases like measles and whooping cough
  • Track your child’s growth over time, not just on one day
  • Build a relationship so your child is comfortable with their provider, and you know who to call

Seeing the same pediatric office from birth means your child’s provider knows their full history. When your child does get sick, that history leads to faster, better answers.

Visit Schedule

Well-Child Visit Schedule: When Your Child Needs a Checkup

Red Stick Pediatrics follows the AAP Bright Futures schedule, the national standard for children’s preventive care.

AAP well-child visit schedule at Red Stick Pediatrics, Baton Rouge
AgeVisitKey Checks at This Visit
3–5 daysNewborn visitWeight, feeding, jaundice check, newborn screening results
1 monthWell-baby visitGrowth, feeding, sleep, parent wellness check
2 monthsWell-baby visitGrowth, development, first round of infant vaccines
4 monthsWell-baby visitRolling, head control, vaccines
6 monthsWell-baby visitSitting, starting solids, first teeth, vaccines
9 monthsWell-baby visitDevelopmental screening, crawling, babbling
12 months1-year checkupWalking, first words, lead and anemia tests, vaccines
15 monthsToddler checkupLanguage, behavior, vaccines
18 monthsToddler checkupDevelopmental and autism screening, vaccines
2 yearsToddler checkupAutism screening, lead test, BMI begins
2½ years (30 months)Toddler checkupDevelopmental screening, speech
3 yearsYearly checkupBlood pressure checks begin, vision screening
4–5 yearsYearly checkupSchool readiness, vision and hearing tests, pre-kindergarten vaccines
6–10 yearsYearly checkupSchool performance, activity, nutrition, vision and hearing
11–14 yearsYearly checkupPuberty, mood, depression screening (starting at 12), preteen vaccines
15–18+ yearsYearly checkupTeen health, mental health, sports, healthy relationships

Your child’s provider may add or adjust screenings based on their health history. Missed a visit? It’s never too late. Call and we’ll help your child catch up.

By Age

What to Expect at Your Child's Checkup, by Age

Every stage of childhood brings new milestones, so each checkup is built around your child's age. Open a stage to see what's covered.

Babies have 7 well-child visits in their first year because they grow and change so quickly.

  • Growth checks at every visit, including head circumference
  • Feeding support, whether breastfeeding or formula
  • Safe sleep guidance to reduce the risk of SIDS
  • The first rounds of infant vaccines, starting at 2 months
  • A check-in on how you are doing. Screening for postpartum depression is part of early infant visits.

New parent? See our newborn care page for your baby's first visit.

Toddler checkups focus on language, behavior, and development, with screenings at 18 months, 2 years, and 30 months.

  • Developmental and autism screenings at recommended ages
  • Lead testing at 12 and 24 months, required for children on Medicaid
  • Speech, potty training, tantrums, and picky eating, all fair game
  • Fluoride varnish to help prevent cavities
  • Kindergarten readiness and required school vaccines by age 4–5

School-age checkups happen once a year and cover growth, learning, activity, and emotional health.

  • Vision and hearing tests to rule out problems that can affect learning
  • Questions about focus, behavior, or grades. We can evaluate for ADHD if needed.
  • Nutrition, physical activity, and screen time
  • School and sports forms completed at the visit. Bring them with you.

Teen checkups add private time with the provider, mental health screening, and preteen vaccines.

  • Private time with the provider. Starting around age 11–12, part of the visit is one-on-one, as the AAP recommends. Parents are still part of the visit.
  • Depression screening every year starting at age 12
  • Preteen vaccines at 11–12
  • Puberty, sleep, stress, sports, and safety
  • Learn more about adolescent care
Know the Difference

Well-Child Visit vs. Sick Visit vs. Sports Physical

Well-child visit vs. sick visit vs. sports or school physical
Well-Child VisitSick VisitSports/School Physical
PurposePrevention and developmentTreat a specific illness or injuryClear a child for sports or school
WhenOn the AAP schedule (yearly after age 3)When your child is sickBefore a season or school year
Includes vaccines?✅ Yes, if dueUsually notOnly if done as a well visit
Developmental screening?✅ Yes❌ No❌ No
Covered by Medicaid?✅ Yes (EPSDT)✅ Yes✅ Usually, when combined with the yearly well visit
Book itWeeks aheadSame dayCombine with a checkup

Tip: Schedule your child’s yearly checkup in spring or early summer, and bring the school or sports form. One visit covers both, before the July–August rush.

Checklist

How to Prepare for Your Child's Well-Child Visit

Bring:

  • ✅ Your child's Medicaid, LaCHIP, or insurance card
  • ✅ Your photo ID
  • ✅ Your child's shot record (if you're new to us)
  • ✅ Any school, daycare, camp, or sports forms
  • ✅ A list of your child's medicines and vitamins
  • ✅ Your questions, written down or in your phone

Help your child get ready:

  • Tell them ahead of time what will happen. Keep it simple and honest.
  • If shots are due, let them know it will be quick, and plan a small reward after
  • Bring a favorite toy, book, or comfort item for little ones
  • Dress babies and toddlers in clothes that come off easily

Running late or need to reschedule? Call us at (225) 273-5995 as soon as you can.

Why Red Stick

Why Baton Rouge Families Choose Red Stick Pediatrics for Checkups

  • AAP standards at every visit. We follow the Bright Futures guidelines, the national standard for pediatric preventive care.
  • Pediatric-trained providers. Our nurse practitioners hold the CPNP credential in pediatric care, and our clinic is overseen by board-certified pediatricians, including Dr. Stephen Sanches, MD, FAAP.
  • Experience with sick kids, too. Several of our providers, including Rachael Simms, APRN, CPNP-PC, spent years in pediatric and newborn intensive care units before moving to primary care.
  • Medicaid families welcome. Every child gets the same thorough checkup, whatever their insurance. Learn about our clinic →
  • Saturday mornings. Checkups available Saturdays 9 AM–12 PM for working parents.
  • Add-ons in one trip. Need shots, a school form, or even ear piercing? We can often do it at the same visit.
Service Area

Checkups for Families Across the Baton Rouge Area

Baton Rouge · Prairieville · St. George · Baker · Zachary · Central · Gonzales · Denham Springs

Red Stick Pediatrics is at 888 Tara Blvd, Baton Rouge, LA 70806. Get directions →

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FAQ

Well-Child Visit FAQ

A well-child visit is a routine checkup for a healthy child that focuses on growth, development, and preventing illness.

  • Includes a physical exam, growth check, and developmental screening
  • Vaccines are given if they're due
  • Vision and hearing are checked at recommended ages
  • Parents get time to ask questions about sleep, eating, behavior, and safety

Children need 7 well-child visits in the first year, 5 more between 12 and 30 months, and then one checkup every year starting at age 3.

  • First year: 3–5 days, 1, 2, 4, 6, 9, and 12 months
  • Toddlers: 15, 18, 24, and 30 months
  • Age 3 and up: once a year through the teen years
  • This is the AAP Bright Futures schedule

Yes. Louisiana Medicaid covers all recommended well-child visits for children under 21 through the EPSDT benefit, usually at no cost.

  • Includes screenings, lab tests like lead testing, and vaccines
  • LaCHIP also covers well-child visits
  • Red Stick Pediatrics accepts Healthy Louisiana plans
  • See accepted insurance →

A well-child visit includes a physical exam, plus developmental screening, vaccines, and health guidance that a basic physical doesn't.

  • A sports or school physical focuses only on clearing a child for activities
  • Red Stick Pediatrics can complete school and sports forms during your child's yearly well-child visit
  • Combining them saves you a trip and is usually covered by Medicaid

Your child gets any vaccines that are due on the recommended schedule, based on their age and shot record.

  • Most infant vaccines are given at the 2, 4, 6, 12, 15, and 18-month visits
  • Kindergarten vaccines are due around age 4–6
  • Preteen vaccines are due around age 11–12
  • Vaccines are free for children on Medicaid through the Vaccines for Children (VFC) program
  • Learn more about immunizations

Tests depend on your child's age. Common ones include lead and anemia screening, vision and hearing tests, and developmental screenings.

  • Lead blood test: 12 and 24 months (required for children on Medicaid)
  • Anemia (hemoglobin) check: around 12 months
  • Developmental screening: 9, 18, and 30 months
  • Autism screening: 18 and 24 months
  • Blood pressure: every year starting at age 3
  • Depression screening: every year starting at age 12

No. It's never too late to catch up on well-child visits or vaccines.

  • Call (225) 273-5995 and we'll review your child's record
  • We'll create a catch-up plan for any missed vaccines
  • Medicaid covers catch-up checkups and vaccines

Yes. Minor concerns, like a rash or a mild cough, can often be checked during the well-child visit.

  • Let the front desk know when you check in
  • If your child is too sick for a checkup (like a high fever), we'll do a sick visit instead and reschedule the checkup
  • More serious concerns may need a separate visit

Yes. Starting around age 11 or 12, part of each checkup is private time between your teen and their provider, as the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends.

  • It helps teens learn to manage their own health
  • Parents are still part of the visit, before and after
  • Learn more about our adolescent care

Call Red Stick Pediatrics at (225) 273-5995, Monday–Friday 8 AM–5 PM or Saturday 9 AM–12 PM.

  • New patients are welcome, including Medicaid
  • Book checkups a few weeks ahead, especially before school starts
  • Bring your child's insurance card, your ID, and any forms
  • New patient information →
The Red Stick Pediatrics care team in Baton Rouge

Is Your Child Due for a Checkup?
(225) 273-5995

New Patient Info

Services

Clinic Hours

  • Mon - Fri : 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
  • Saturday : 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM
  • Sunday : Closed
info@redstickpediatrics.com 225-273-5995

888 Tara Blvd
Baton Rouge, LA 70806

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