Is missing well-child visits during the first year of life considered neglect, or is it acceptable for parents to only bring their child in when they are sick?

From the Guidelines

Missing well-child visits during the first year of life can be considered a form of neglect, as it indicates a failure to provide for a child's basic health care needs.

Key Points

• The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends regular well-child visits during the first year of life to ensure a child's health and development are on track [ 1 ].
• Child neglect, including the failure to provide regular health care, can have serious and long-lasting consequences for a child's physical and emotional well-being [ 1 ].
• Home visitation programs, which provide a combination of services including parent education and counseling, have been shown to be effective in preventing child maltreatment and promoting positive parent-child interactions [ 1 ].
• While there is limited evidence on the harms of interventions to prevent child maltreatment, the potential benefits of regular well-child visits and home visitation programs outweigh the risks [ 1 ].
• Pediatricians and other primary care providers play a critical role in identifying children at risk for maltreatment and reporting suspected cases to Child Protective Services [ 1 ].
• The failure to provide regular health care, including well-child visits, can be a sign of neglect and should be taken seriously by healthcare providers and child welfare agencies [ 1 ].

From the Research

Definition of Neglect

Missing well-child visits during the first year of life can be considered neglect, as it may indicate a lack of attention to the child's health and developmental needs. According to 2, well-child visits are essential for immunizations, detection of disease, and monitoring of growth and development.

Importance of Well-Child Visits

Well-child visits are crucial for providing comprehensive care to children, including:

• Immunizations and vaccination administration 3
• Detection of disease and monitoring of growth and development 2
• Screening for postpartum depression in mothers of infants up to six months of age 4
• Developmental surveillance and formal developmental screening 4
• Autism-specific screening at 18 and 24 months 4

Barriers to Attendance

Despite the importance of well-child visits, there are several barriers to attendance, including:

• Transportation difficulties 2
• Difficulty taking time off from work 2
• Child care and other social stressors 2
• Lack of knowledge about the importance of well-child visits 5

Acceptability of Missing Visits

While missing well-child visits may be considered neglect, it is also important to recognize that some parents may face significant barriers to attending these visits. According to 6, the required number of well-child visits is unknown, and each physician should individualize a schedule to suit the needs of individual children and their families.

Key Findings

• A study found that only 25% of children had completed all five well-child visits by the first year, and less than 10% had consecutive visits with the same provider 5
• A quality improvement project aimed to increase adherence to well-child visits and continuity with providers, resulting in a significant increase in adherence and continuity 5
• Well-child visits provide an opportunity for comprehensive assessment, evaluation, and guidance for parents or caregivers 4