Prevention Guidelines, Birth to Age 2
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 .
|
Screening |
Who needs it |
How often |
|---|---|---|
|
APGAR (a test to check the overall health of a baby right after birth) Breathing, color, heart rate, movement, and reflexes are checked |
All newborns |
1 and 5 minutes after birth |
|
High lead level |
All children in this age group |
Risk assessment of lead exposure at ages 6, 9, and 18 months; risk assessment or blood test at ages 12 and 24 months |
|
Newborn screenings (a series of tests for metabolic, endocrine, hemoglobin, and other conditions; tests may vary by state) Tests include hearing loss, congenital hypothyroidism, phenylketonuria, sickle cell disease, cystic fibrosis, severe heart problems, and severe immunodeficiency |
All newborns; talk with your healthcare provider about the tests in your state |
Before leaving the hospital, or at age 2 to 4 days |
|
Tooth decay |
Children ages 6 months and up |
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 every 3 to 6 months |
|
Vaccines |
Who needs it |
How often |
|
DTaP (diphtheria, tetanus, acellular pertussis) |
All infants |
At ages 2 months, 4 months, 6 months, 15 to 18 months, and a booster between ages 4 to 6 years |
|
Chickenpox (varicella) |
All infants who have not had chickenpox |
Between ages 12 to 15 months (and the second dose between 4 to 6 years) |
|
Haemophilus influenzae type b conjugate |
All infants |
2-dose series: At ages 2 and 4 months; booster dose between ages 12 to 15 months 3-dose series: At ages 2, 4, and 6 months; booster dose between ages 12 to 15 months |
|
Hepatitis A vaccine |
All infants |
Between ages 12 to 23 months, with a second dose at least 6 months after the first dose |
|
Hepatitis B vaccine |
All infants |
At birth, between ages 1 to 2 months, and a final dose between ages 6 to 18 months |
|
Inactivated poliovirus |
All infants |
At ages 2 months, 4 months, 6 to 18 months (and a booster between ages 4 to 6 years) |
|
Influenza (flu) |
Children 6 months and older |
At 6 months of age, and then once a year; children 6 months through 8 years need 2 doses when vaccinated for the first time. Experts advise the flu shot as the first choice; the nasal spray can be used for healthy children 2 years or older who don't get the flu shot. |
|
Measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) |
All infants |
First dose between ages 12 to 15 months (and the second dose at 4 to 6 years, or before starting kindergarten) |
|
Pneumococcal conjugate (PCV13) |
All infants |
At ages 2 months, 4 months, 6 months, and between ages 12 to 15 months |
|
Rotavirus |
All infants |
2-dose series: At ages 2 and 4 months 3-dose series: At ages 2,4, and 6 months |