well baby care [AS, wyllan, to wish; ME, babe + L, garrire, to chatter] , periodic health supervision for infants and children to promote optimal physical, emotional, and intellectual growth and development. Such health care measures include routine immunizations to prevent disease, screening procedures for early detection and treatment of illness, and parental guidance and instruction in proper nutrition, accident prevention, and specific care and rearing of the child at various stages of development. The recommended preventive health care schedule for children who are developing normally is at months 1, 2, 4, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, and 24 and at years 3, 4, 5, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, and 18. Well baby care may be provided in a clinic, a convenient local meeting place, a private doctor’s office, the office of a community health nursing service, or a school. Nurses or nurse practitioners frequently provide the care.
