--- title: "Birth to 17 Health Guidelines at Sutter Health" description: "Learn about the checkups, screenings and vaccines your child needs from birth through adolescence." url: "https://www.sutterhealth.org/health/preventive-care-guidelines/guidelines-birth-to-17" --- 1. [Home](https://www.sutterhealth.org/) / 2. [Health and wellness](https://www.sutterhealth.org/health) / 3. [Preventive Care](https://www.sutterhealth.org/health/preventive-care-guidelines) / 4. Birth to 17 Health Guidelines # Health Maintenance Guidelines: Birth to 17  Learn about the checkups, screenings and vaccines your child needs from birth through adolescence. [Schedule appointment](https://www.sutterhealth.org/schedule-appointment) [Find a Doctor](https://www.sutterhealth.org/find-provider-results?facets=%5B%7B%22i%22%3A%22acceptingNewPatients%22%2C%22v%22%3A%5Btrue%5D%7D%2C%7B%22i%22%3A%22c_providerSpecialties.specialty.name%22%2C%22v%22%3A%5B%22Pediatrics%22%5D%7D%5D&verticalKey=healthcare_professionals) ## Guidelines  **Checkups** **Screening and Tests**  **Immunizations** **Counseling and Evaluation Topics**  **Individualized/Patient-Clinician Shared Decisions** ### Checkups Babies and toddlers need checkups at 1, 2, 4, 6, 9, 12, 15 and 18 months. Children should have annual doctor visits from ages 2-17, including a checkup at 30 months. **Checkups** ### Checkups Babies and toddlers need checkups at 1, 2, 4, 6, 9, 12, 15 and 18 months. Children should have annual doctor visits from ages 2-17, including a checkup at 30 months. **Screening and Tests**  ### Screening and Tests  - **Blood pressure**: Checked annually age 3+. - **Chlamydia and gonorrhea**: Checked yearly for sexually active females ages 16 to 24 years. - **HIV**: Testing starts at age 15 and older. Screening can start younger for anyone high risk. - **Obesity**: Monitoring begins at age 6. - **Syphilis**: Age 15 and older; start younger if at risk. - **Vision**: Checked at least once between ages 3 to 5 years. **Immunizations** ### Immunizations Two-month series of vaccines can be given as early as 6 weeks. - **COVID-19**: All eligible ages should receive the recommended vaccine dose and schedule per CDC, WCHA, AAP, AAFP and [California Department of Health (CDPH)](https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/Pages/publichealth4all/vaccines.aspx#table "California Department of Health (CDPH)") guidelines. - **Diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis (Tdap or Td)** - **Hepatitis A** - **Hepatitis B** - **HPV (human papillomavirus)**: Ages 11 to 14 years should receive a two-dose series (can begin as early as age 9). Ages 15 to 26 should receive a three-dose series. - **Influenza**: Children 6 months to younger than 9 years old who have not received at least two doses of flu vaccine in their lifetime need two doses of flu vaccine spaced at least four weeks apart. Afterward, only one annual dose of flu vaccine is needed. - **MMR (Measles, mumps and rubella)** - **Polio** - **Pneumococcal**: For patients under 19 years, either PCV20 or PCV15 can be used to complete vaccination according to currently recommended schedules. - **Rotavirus** - **Varicella (chickenpox)**  **Counseling and Evaluation Topics**  ### Counseling and Evaluation Topics  - **Anxiety**: Starts at age 8. - **Depression**: Starts at age 12. - **Domestic violence**: Starts at age 12. - **Sexually transmitted infections**: Starts at age 11. - **Skin cancer**: Starts at age 6. - **Tobacco use and vaping**: Starts at age 11. **Individualized/Patient-Clinician Shared Decisions** ### Individualized/Patient-Clinician Shared Decisions - **Human Papillomavirus (HPV)**: Discuss at age 9 - **Meningococcal B vaccine**: Can be given ages 16 to 23 1 / 2 1 / 2 ## 2026 Health Guides [English (PDF)](https://edge.sitecorecloud.io/sutterhealt962c-sutterhealt8fce-production57cc-4860/media/Project/SutterHealth/SutterHealth/Files/Health/2026-health-maintenance-guidelines-english.pdf "English (PDF)") [Spanish (PDF)](https://edge.sitecorecloud.io/sutterhealt962c-sutterhealt8fce-production57cc-4860/media/Project/SutterHealth/SutterHealth/Files/Health/2026-health-maintenance-guidelines-spanish.pdf "Spanish (PDF)") [Chinese (PDF)](https://edge.sitecorecloud.io/sutterhealt962c-sutterhealt8fce-production57cc-4860/media/Project/SutterHealth/SutterHealth/Files/Health/2026-health-maintenance-guidelines-chinese.pdf "Chinese (PDF)") ![doctor-stethescope-infant](https://edge.sitecorecloud.io/sutterhealt962c-sutterhealt8fce-production57cc-4860/media/Project/SutterHealth/SutterHealth/Images/people/babies/doctor-stethescope-infant.jpg?h=600&iar=0&w=800) ## Find a Pediatrician  Sign in to our patient portal, [My Health Online](https://www.sutterhealth.org/patient-resources/my-health-online), to find providers and schedule appointments. [Find a Pediatrician](https://www.sutterhealth.org/find-provider-results?facets=%5B%7B%22i%22%3A%22c_providerSpecialties.specialty.name%22%2C%22v%22%3A%5B%22Pediatrics%22%5D%7D%5D&verticalKey=healthcare_professionals) [Schedule appointment](https://www.sutterhealth.org/schedule-appointment) ```json {"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"MedicalOrganization","name":"Sutter Health","@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/#medicalorganization","url":"https://www.sutterhealth.org","logo":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/static/images/sutter-health-logo.svg","address":{"@type":"PostalAddress","streetAddress":"2200 River Plaza Drive","addressLocality":"Sacramento","addressRegion":"CA","postalCode":"95833","addressCountry":"US"},"areaServed":{"@type":"AdministrativeArea","name":"California"},"sameAs":["https://www.facebook.com/SutterHealth","https://www.instagram.com/sutterhealth/","https://x.com/SutterHealth","https://www.youtube.com/sutterhealth","https://www.linkedin.com/company/sutter-health","https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sutter_Health"]} ``` ```json {"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"WebPage","name":"Birth to 17 Health Guidelines at Sutter Health","description":"Learn about the checkups, screenings and vaccines your child needs from birth through adolescence.","url":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/health/preventive-care-guidelines/guidelines-birth-to-17","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/health/preventive-care-guidelines/guidelines-birth-to-17#breadcrumblist"}} ``` ```json {"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/health/preventive-care-guidelines/guidelines-birth-to-17#breadcrumblist","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Health and wellness","item":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/health"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Preventive Care","item":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/health/preventive-care-guidelines"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":4,"name":"Birth to 17 Health Guidelines"}]} ``` ```json {"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"VideoObject","name":"Baby Vaccine Schedule: Which Shots and When, Birth to Age 2","thumbnailUrl":"https://cf-images.us-east-1.prod.boltdns.net/v1/static/817826402001/72f2862e-f7e6-4010-a925-ed2378dd78d5/75ce53f6-3e1d-4057-b3a0-6ed737afab12/1280x720/match/image.jpg","uploadDate":"2024-09-03T22:35:56.482Z","embedUrl":"https://players.brightcove.net/817826402001/79bcaa57-54d7-453c-9f1f-8ab3ef7b15de/index.html?videoId=6361462274112","description":"Getting the right immunizations at the right time is crucial to protect your baby’s health. Find out which vaccines babies need from birth to age 2 to stay protected from life-threatening diseases. ","duration":"PT5M32S"} ``` ```json {"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"VideoObject","name":"HPV and Flu Vaccines for Teens: What Parents Should Know","thumbnailUrl":"https://cf-images.us-east-1.prod.boltdns.net/v1/static/817826402001/ba119fc8-2702-4f01-8979-e54f259c0dde/7a4bafd6-59c9-4346-93c0-670c24820ca9/1280x720/match/image.jpg","uploadDate":"2024-09-04T19:19:33.885Z","embedUrl":"https://players.brightcove.net/817826402001/79bcaa57-54d7-453c-9f1f-8ab3ef7b15de/index.html?videoId=6361510750112","description":"Make sure your preteen or teenage child has the vaccinations they need to stay healthy. Learn about the HPV vaccine, which can prevent certain types of cancer, and why the annual flu shot is especially important for teens.","duration":"PT2M47S","transcript":"[MUSIC PLAYING]\nTANYA NAUENBERG: Immunizations are\nvery important for our preteen and teenage children\nto help protect their health now and long into the future.\nTwo critical vaccinations for teens\nare the HPV vaccine and the flu shot.\nHuman PapillomaVirus, or HPV, is a common virus\nthat can lead to six types of cancer later in life.\nStudies show the HPV vaccine is highly effective\nand gives your child close to 100%\nprotection from HPV-related cancers.\nThe fact that we have a vaccine that\ncan help safeguard our children from cancer is truly amazing.\nThe American Academy of Pediatrics\nand the California Department of Public Health\nrecommends the HPV vaccine for girls and boys starting\nat age 11 to 12, but it can be given as early as age 9.\nBy vaccinating as early as age 9,\nwe ensure kids are protected well before any exposure\nto the virus.\nAnother vaccine that's important for young teens\nis the annual flu shot.\nThe flu can be particularly severe for teens,\nleading to missed school and affecting their ability\nto participate in sports and other activities.\nIn rare cases, it can lead to hospitalization.\nThe AAP and the CDPH recommends everyone age 6 months and older\nget a flu shot every year.\nAnd the flu vaccination is especially\ncrucial for teens with chronic health conditions like asthma\nor diabetes.\n\nParents often have questions about how vaccines are tested\nto make sure they're safe.\nVaccines, including those for HPV and flu,\nare researched and tested extensively for safety\nbefore being approved.\nFindings from vaccine safety monitoring systems\nand scientific studies have shown both vaccines have\nan excellent safety record.\n\nAt your vaccine appointment, let us\nknow if your child is anxious about shots\nand what helps them feel calmer.\nWe want to help in any way we can.\nTo prevent fainting, your child should\nsit or lie down while getting a vaccine\nand for 15 minutes after.\nWe also find distraction works well.\nYour teen is welcome to bring their mobile device\nor listen to their favorite music during the vaccination.\nIf you have any questions about vaccinations for your child,\nplease don't hesitate to ask your care team.\nWe're here to answer any questions you may have\nand to help you make informed decisions.\nWorking together, we can help keep\nour children and our community healthy and safe.\n[MUSIC PLAYING]"} ```