What health care does a child need? Child Wellness Checks for ages 0-5 with no health care

Wellness Checks, also called “well-baby” or “well-child” visits are a lot like annual exams for adults, but focus on the child’s age and stage of development, to ensure that they are meeting those stages. Families who already have a primary care practitioner like a doctor or nurse practitioner, have someone who can make sure that their child gets all the wellness checks needed. For the 20% of children in Renfrew County who do not have access to this, we want to help!

When do these happen?

Typically babies are checked at birth at the hospital, and then there should be another check within 3-7 days. This first week visit will include things like taking measurements, checking for jaundice, any screenings not done in the hospital, and will check to find out how feeding, general health, and the family health is progressing.

It is then recommended that you book well-child visits at 2, 4, 6, 9, 12 , 15 and 18 months, and once a year after that. At these visits, we are:

• Looking at eating and sleeping habits
• Checking developmental and language milestones, and for social and emotional issues
• Giving physical exams that check weight, height and head circumference
• Giving any necessary vaccines, or helping parents get them elsewhere

Where do you get these?

Normally these are booked through your primary care provider (a doctor or nurse practitioner). If you do not have primary care (including those without OHIP coverage), the Renfrew County Child Wellness Hub will do these wellness checks for free by appointment only.

Call to book an appointment:

ConnectWell – Renfrew County Child Wellness Hub

Mon. – Thurs. 10 AM to 6 PM

Fri. 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM.

613-570-8953

Want to learn more?

More on ConnectWell’s Renfrew County Child Wellness Hub:

https://connectwell.ca/services/renfrew-county-child-wellness-hub/

More info about well-child visits and why to book them:

https://caringforkids.cps.ca/handouts/pregnancy-and-babies/schedule_of_well_child_visits

Detailed information about each well-child or well-baby visit

https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/checkups.html

What is ConnectWell Community Health?

ConnectWell Community Health is a community-led healthcare organization one of Ontario’s Community Health Centres (CHC). ConnectWell has provided over 20 years of team-based care for individuals and families who may face barriers to accessing health services in Renfrew County. With a focus on the whole person, ConnectWell offers primary care, mental health support, and health promotion programs while also assisting with referrals and care coordination to ensure families receive the support they need.