FAQs

It’s common for children to feel nervous about attending counseling, especially at the beginning. Our counseling team creates a warm, welcoming environment and uses age-appropriate approaches to help your child feel comfortable and build trust over time.

To get your child started with counseling services, the first step is scheduling an initial evaluation appointment by calling us at 910-483-7337. During this visit, our team will learn more about your child’s needs and recommend a personalized care plan.

Counseling sessions are confidential, helping create a safe and trusting environment for your child to share openly. Our team respects your child’s privacy while also keeping parents informed when it is important for their safety and overall care. If you have questions about confidentiality or would like to learn more, please contact one of our locations or speak with our team when scheduling your visit.

During a counseling session, our team creates a safe and supportive environment where your child can express their thoughts and feelings openly. Sessions are tailored to your child’s age and needs and may include conversation, play-based activities, or skill-building exercises. To get started, schedule an evaluation appointment by contacting one of our locations or booking online.

We strive to offer every child an appointment as soon as possible at all KidzCare Pediatrics locations and reserve these visits for children with urgent or sick care needs. We make every effort to accommodate same-day visits at your primary location whenever possible.

Appointments can be scheduled by calling 910-483-7337.

No, we do not currently offer telehealth visits.

For your child’s first visit, we recommend bringing your insurance card a photo ID. Upon arrival, you will be asked to complete a series of forms, which helps our team stay up to date on your child’s medical history, preferences, and current needs so we can make the most of your time together.

If you’re bringing a newborn, please bring any hospital or birth records you received, as well as feeding details and all discharge instructions. For families transferring from another practice, we encourage you to have your child’s previous medical records sent ahead of time or bring a copy with you to ensure continuity of care.

We recommend that newborns have their first pediatric visit within 48–72 hours after leaving the hospital or following a home or birthing center delivery. These early visits are an important opportunity for our providers to check your baby’s weight, feeding, and overall health, as well as answer any questions you may have as you settle in at home.

Our team is here to support you from the very beginning, and we encourage families to schedule this first visit before leaving the hospital—or shortly after delivery for home or birthing center births—to ensure a smooth transition home. Check out our Expectant Mothers page to learn more about the process of getting an infant started at KidzCare.

At KidzCare Pediatrics, our providers are experts in care for children from birth through adolescence, including:

• Newborns & Infants (0–12 months)
• Toddlers (1–4 years)
• Children (5–12 years)
• Teens & Young Adults (13–21 years)

Help prepare your child for vaccines by staying calm, positive, and reassuring before the appointment. For younger children, bringing a favorite toy, book, or comfort item can help distract and soothe them during the visit.

For older children, it can be helpful to briefly explain what to expect in a simple, honest way—letting them know it may feel like a quick pinch but will be over quickly. Holding your child, offering comfort, and praising them afterward can also make the experience easier and more reassuring.

If your child is behind on vaccines, your provider can create a safe and effective catch-up schedule to get them back on track. These schedules are designed to provide protection as quickly as possible while following recommended guidelines.

The vaccines your child needs are based on their age and follow a recommended immunization schedule designed to protect them at each stage of development. These typically begin in infancy and continue through childhood and adolescence, covering illnesses such as measles, mumps, rubella, polio, whooping cough, and more.

Your pediatric provider will review your child’s immunization record at each visit and let you know which vaccines are due. If your child is behind, a catch-up schedule can be created to safely keep them up to date.

Vaccines are important because they can help protect your child from serious and potentially life-threatening diseases. By helping your child build immunity, vaccines reduce the risk of infection and prevent complications that can affect their long-term health. Additionally, they help protect others by limiting the spread of illness within your family, school, and community.

It’s best for your child to be feeling well at the time of their physical. If they are sick, symptoms like fever or fatigue can affect exam results and may prevent accurate clearance for participation. In most cases, the visit may need to be rescheduled once your child has recovered.

If your child is not cleared during their physical, it means the provider has identified a concern that needs further evaluation before safe participation. Our pediatric care team will explain the reason, provide guidance on next steps, and may recommend additional testing, treatment, or a follow-up visit. Once the concern is addressed, your child can be re-evaluated for clearance.

If your child has a medical condition, our pediatric care team will carefully review their health history and current status during the physical. We will assess whether it is safe for them to participate and provide guidance or any necessary restrictions to ensure their safety. If needed, additional evaluation or follow-up may be recommended before clearing your child for activities.

Most children need a physical once a year. Many schools, sports teams, and camps require an annual exam to make sure your child is healthy and safe to participate. Even if a physical isn’t required, yearly visits help monitor growth, development, and overall health.

Yes, your child can usually return to school or daycare after a sick visit once their symptoms are improving and they are no longer contagious. Your child’s provider will give specific guidance based on diagnosis and treatment.

In general, children can return when they:

• Have been fever-free for at least 24 hours without fever-reducing medication
• Feel well enough to participate in normal activities
• Have improving symptoms such as cough, congestion, or sore throat
• Are no longer vomiting or having diarrhea for 24 hours

Some conditions—such as strep throat, pink eye, or certain infections—may require 24 hours of treatment (like antibiotics) before returning to school or daycare.

When should I seek urgent care instead of a sick visit?
You should consider urgent care instead of scheduling a regular sick visit if your child’s symptoms need immediate attention or occur outside normal office hours. While most common illnesses can be managed during a sick visit, urgent care may be more appropriate in certain situations.

Seek urgent care if your child has:

• Difficulty breathing or rapid breathing
• High fever that will not come down with medication
• Severe vomiting or diarrhea causing signs of dehydration
• A deep cut, possible broken bone, or significant injury
• Severe ear pain or sudden worsening of symptoms
• An allergic reaction with swelling, hives, or trouble breathing

If your child is experiencing life-threatening symptoms, such as severe breathing difficulty, unresponsiveness, or seizures, you should call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room immediately.

At KidzCare Pediatrics, we accept same-day appointments to ensure your child is seen in a timely manner. To schedule your child’s sick visit, please call 910-483-7337.

Should I bring anything with me to my child’s appointment?
For your child’s sick visit appointment, it’s helpful to bring a few important items so the provider can ensure the best care possible:

• Insurance card and identification
• List of your child’s current medications, vitamins, or supplements
• Record of symptoms, including when they started and any fever readings
• Your child’s medical history, if you are visiting a new provider

Wellness visits start shortly after birth, often within the first few days after your baby comes home. From there, visits are scheduled frequently during infancy and early childhood to closely monitor growth and development, then continue regularly—typically once a year—as your child gets older.

Yes, sports or school forms are often completed during a wellness visit. Since these visits include a comprehensive exam and review of your child’s health, they are a convenient time to fill out required forms for school, sports, or camp participation.

Be sure to bring any necessary paperwork with you to the appointment so it can be completed at that time.

If your child is sick on the day of their wellness visit, it’s best to contact our office. Depending on their symptoms, the appointment may be rescheduled or changed to a sick visit so your child can be properly evaluated and treated.

This helps ensure the wellness visit remains focused on preventive care while your child receives the appropriate attention for their illness.

Wellness visits are recommended regularly throughout childhood to monitor growth and development. Infants and toddlers are typically seen more frequently during the first few years of life, while children over age 3 usually have a wellness visit once a year.

Your pediatric provider will follow a recommended schedule and let you know when your child is due for their next visit.