Health Library

Guide to the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of conditions from A to Z.

Find Health Information

Search entire library by keyword

Choose by letter to browse topics

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

(A-Z listing includes diseases, conditions, tests and procedures)

Can't find a health topic, click here to tell us what's missing

Home > Health Library

Prevention Guidelines for Infants and Toddlers

<< Back to Prevention Guidelines

Prevention Guidelines for Infants and Toddlers

Here are the screening tests and immunizations for infants from birth to age 2. Although you and your health care provider may decide that a different schedule is best for your baby, this plan can guide your discussion.

Screening	Who needs it	How often
APGAR (a test to determine how well an infant tolerated the birthing process and is adapting to his or her new environment)	All newborns	One minute and five minutes after birth
Congenital hypothyroidism	All newborns	Before leaving hospital or 2 to 4 days of age
Hearing loss	All newborns	Before leaving hospital or at 1 month
Elevated lead levels	All year-old infants* and children age 2 who are at average or increased risk	Yearly
Iron-deficiency anemia	All infants between 6 and 12 months* and children ages 1 to 5 years who are at average or increased risk	Yearly
Newborn screenings (some states require 29 or more tests for infections and disorders)	All newborns	Before leaving hospital
Phenylketonuria	All newborns	Before leaving hospital
Prevention of dental caries	Children ages 6 months to 5 years whose primary water source is deficient in fluoride	At routine exams; first dental visit recommended at 1 year
Sickle cell disease	Newborns	Birth to 2 months
Visual impairments	Children younger than 5 years	At well-child/routine exams
Immunization	Who needs it	How often
Hepatitis B vaccine (monovalent)	All infants	At birth, between 1 and 2 months, and a final dose at 6 to 18 months
Diphtheria	All infants	At 2 months, 4 months, 6 months, 15 to 18 months, and a booster at 4 to 6 years
Tetanus toxoids	All infants	At 2 months, 4 months, 6 months, 15 to 18 months, and a booster at 4 to 6 years
Acellular pertussis	All infants	At 2 months, 4 months, 6 months, 15 to 18 months, and a booster at 4 to 6 years
Haemophilus influenzae type b conjugate	All infants	At 2 months and 4 months; additional doses may be required, based on which vaccine your doctor uses
Inactivated poliovirus	All infants	At 2 months, 4 months, 6 to 18 months (and a booster at 4 to 6 years)
Pneumococcal (conjugate)	All infants	At 2 months, 4 months, 6 months, and at 12 to 15 months
Measles, mumps, rubella (MMR)	All infants	First dose between 12 and 15 months (and the second dose at 4 to 6 years, or before starting kindergarten)
Chickenpox (varicella)	Those infants who have not contracted chickenpox	Between 12 and 15 months (and the second dose at 4 to 6 years)
Flu (seasonal); trivalent inactivated influenza	All infants	At 6 months, and then annually when the flu vaccine becomes available in the community; the first year your child gets this vaccine two doses are required up until 8 years of age
Hepatitis A	All infants	At ages 12 to 23 months, with a second dose at least six months after the first dose
Rotavirus	All infants	At 2 months, 4 months, and 6 months (must be started before 14 weeks, 6 days of age)