Getting the Daycare or Preschool Health Form Completed for Your Child

What does the daycare health form ask for?

While the exact format varies by state and program, most forms cover:

• The date of the child's most recent physical exam
• Height, weight, and general health status at the time of the exam
• Immunization records with specific vaccine names and dates — aligned with the CDC-recommended childhood vaccination schedule 1Ref 1Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) (2025).Child and Adolescent Immunization Schedule by Age (updated July 2, 2025).Recommended childhood vaccination schedule; daycare immunization records must document specific vaccine names and dates per this schedule
• Any chronic conditions staff need to know about — asthma, allergies, epilepsy, food restrictions
• Medications taken at school, with authorization to administer them
• The clinician's signature, license number, and date of the exam

Some programs also ask for vision and hearing screening results, which are typically performed at well-child visits after age three. For very young infants, developmental milestone notes may be included. If the program serves children under two years old, the form may also require documentation of developmental screens such as the Ages and Stages Questionnaire.

Where do I get the right form?

The daycare or preschool will have its own required form — often mandated by the state's childcare licensing agency. Many states use a standardized Child Health Assessment form that all licensed programs are required to accept. Do not use a blank letter, a form from a prior daycare, or a form you found online — the new program's licensing authority may not accept it, and the enrollment process will have to start over.

Contact the enrollment coordinator before scheduling the appointment to get the current form. Bring it to the pediatric office or contact them in advance to ask whether they can complete it from an existing well-child visit on file without a new appointment. Some practices complete daycare forms administratively; others require the child to be seen. A quick call first saves a wasted trip.

How recent does the physical exam need to be?

Most states require the documented exam to have taken place within the past 12 months. For infants under one year, the window is often shorter — sometimes six months — because well-child visit schedules are more frequent at that age (2 months, 4 months, 6 months, 9 months) and developmental change is rapid.

If a well-child visit happened recently and is still within the required window, the clinician can usually complete the form from that visit's records without scheduling a new appointment. If the most recent visit is too old, a new well-child exam must be scheduled. Many pediatric practices experience higher booking demand before the school year, so scheduling early avoids last-minute delays.

Lead and anemia screening — what states commonly require at enrollment

In addition to immunizations, many state daycare licensing requirements include documentation of specific developmental health screenings. The AAP recommends universal blood lead testing at ages 1 and 2 years, and targeted screening for older children who live in pre-1960 housing, have a sibling with an elevated lead level, or have another identified risk factor 2Ref 2Lanphear BP, Lowry JA, Ahdoot S, et al. (AAP Council on Environmental Health) (2016).Prevention of Childhood Lead Toxicity.AAP recommendation for blood lead testing at ages 1 and 2 years and targeted screening for older children at elevated risk; action level set at 5 µg/dL; the basis for state daycare lead-screening documentation requirements. Blood lead levels at or above 5 µg/dL trigger case management follow-up. Many state childcare enrollment forms ask clinicians to document whether this screening has occurred and the result.

An anemia screen (hemoglobin or hematocrit) is also routinely performed at the 12-month well-child visit and is commonly documented on enrollment forms for infants and toddlers. The pediatric office can confirm what your specific state requires — and whether the most recent well-child visit already captured these results.

Why do immunizations cause delays on the form?

The immunization section is where daycare health forms most often stall. Vaccines must be documented with specific vaccine names and dates received — not just a note that "all vaccines are up to date" 1Ref 1Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) (2025).Child and Adolescent Immunization Schedule by Age (updated July 2, 2025).Recommended childhood vaccination schedule; daycare immunization records must document specific vaccine names and dates per this schedule.

If a vaccine is due but has not yet been given, some states allow a brief administrative grace period; others require proof of a scheduled appointment to receive the missing dose. If immunizations are behind schedule, arrange for them to be administered and documented before or at the well-child visit so the form can be signed in full without a follow-up step.

What if my child has a chronic condition or takes medication at school?

The health form alone is not sufficient to manage a condition such as asthma, a severe food allergy, epilepsy, or Type 1 diabetes at daycare. A separate written action plan is typically required in addition — an Asthma Action Plan, a Food Allergy Emergency Plan, or a Seizure Action Plan — that gives caregivers step-by-step instructions for what to do during an episode.

For any child who takes medication at school, a separate medication authorization form with the clinician's signature authorizing the dose, timing, and route is typically required before the program can administer it. Mention any relevant conditions and medications when calling to schedule the appointment so the office can set aside enough time and prepare the right paperwork.