Q: How often should I take my child in for a check-up? As they get older, will it decrease?

A: Well-child visits or “check-ups” are preventive health supervision visits that address all aspects of a child’s well-being. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends yearly well-child visits for children ages 3-21. Newborns, infants and toddlers are seen more often to monitor their rapid growth and development (this is also when they get the bulk of their immunizations). Infants are generally seen at birth, 3-5 days of age, 2-4 weeks of age, and at 2, 4, 6 and 9 months of age. Toddlers are seen at 12, 15, 18 and 24 months of age. Although the recommendation for older children is yearly, many insurance companies will only cover well visits every other year after a child’s fifth year. These recommendations are for children without any significant health problems, and additional visits may be necessary should circumstances suggest a need.

—Brett Christiansen, MD, Board Certified Pediatric Physician Marshall Pediatrics 530-626-1144, marshallmedical.org/pediatrics

Q: What’s a good exercise to start with if I just recently got back into working out?

A: When starting a new exercise routine, consider core, balance, strength and cardio—all are important factors to building joint strength prior to adding weights and thereby avoiding costly injuries. For cardio, start off with a light- to moderate-intensity for 15-25 minutes, depending on the individual. For resistance training, the assisted weight machines would be best to start with, aligning your body into the correct form to ensure safety. As for the amount of weight, you want to have enough that you accomplish 10-12 repetitions. As your body adapts to your workout, you’ll increase the weight and intensity, and/or change up the exercise. Your body will fully adapt to your workout every three weeks, so it’s important to keep progressing so that you don’t plateau. It’s recommended that you first consult with a personal trainer to ensure proper form, ability and guidance.

—Nathan Martelle and Haley Stamer, Personal Trainers Snap Fitness, Shingle Springs 530-672-2777, snapfitness.com