Does Your Child Need a Physical to Start Daycare?

Why daycares require a physical

Licensed daycare centers are regulated at the state level, and most states require proof that a child is healthy enough for group care and is current on required vaccines 1Ref 1DC Office of the State Superintendent of Education (2024).Health Form Requirements for Child Care Attendance.Example of state-level health form requirements for licensed child care: initial health report for infants must be dated no more than 3 months prior to first day of attendance; form must be completed by a licensed health care provider; illustrates the variation in state requirements. The goals are straightforward: protect the enrolling child, protect the other children in the program, and identify any health needs a family may not yet know about.

Well-child visits are a mandatory covered service under Medicaid and CHIP 2Ref 2Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (2024).Well-Child Care — Medicaid.Well-child visits are a mandatory covered service under Medicaid and CHIP; eligible children receive these exams at no cost; serves as the entry point for immunizations, developmental screening, and physical assessment required for daycare enrollment, meaning eligible families can access this exam at no cost. Some home-based daycares operate under lighter regulations, but most still require immunization records at minimum.

What the physical exam involves

A standard well-child visit for a daycare-age child — typically infants through age 5 — includes:

• A head-to-toe physical examination
• Height, weight, and head circumference measurements
• Age-appropriate vision and hearing screening
• Developmental and behavioral screening
• A review of immunizations against the CDC childhood schedule 3Ref 3Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2025).Child and Adolescent Immunization Schedule by Age (Updated July 2, 2025).Standard CDC childhood immunization schedule that daycare immunization requirements are typically based on; includes catch-up guidance for children who are behind on recommended vaccines

The clinician fills out a state-specific or daycare-specific health form that the family then submits. Ask the daycare which form they need before the appointment so you can bring it along. Some states require the health form to be dated no more than 3 months prior to first attendance for infants, or 6 months for toddlers — check your daycare's requirement.

Immunization requirements for daycare

Almost all licensed daycares require an up-to-date immunization record. Required vaccines generally follow the CDC childhood immunization schedule 3Ref 3Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2025).Child and Adolescent Immunization Schedule by Age (Updated July 2, 2025).Standard CDC childhood immunization schedule that daycare immunization requirements are typically based on; includes catch-up guidance for children who are behind on recommended vaccines, though the exact list varies by state. Common vaccines required at daycare age include:

• Hepatitis B (3 doses)
• DTaP (diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis — 4 doses by 18 months)
• Hib (Haemophilus influenzae type b)
• IPV (polio)
• PCV (pneumococcal)
• MMR (measles, mumps, rubella — first dose at 12–15 months)
• Varicella (chickenpox — first dose at 12–15 months)

If your child is behind on vaccines, a catch-up schedule is possible — a clinician will walk you through it. Religious or medical exemptions exist in many states but require specific documentation.

A simple checklist to get ready

1. Call the daycare and ask exactly which forms they require, and whether they have a blank form for you to bring to the appointment. 2. Schedule a well-child visit — mention at booking that you need a daycare physical and form completed. 3. Bring any previous immunization records to the visit. 4. After the visit, confirm the form is signed and dated before submitting. 5. Many daycares require the form to have been completed within the past year — check the timing if your child had a well-child visit recently.

What if my child does not have a regular pediatric provider?

Families without a regular pediatrician have several options:

• Federally qualified health centers (FQHCs) and community health centers provide well-child exams on a sliding-scale or no-cost basis regardless of insurance status.
• Local health departments often offer well-child services and immunizations, especially for infants and young children.
• Medicaid and CHIP cover well-child visits at no cost for eligible children 2Ref 2Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (2024).Well-Child Care — Medicaid.Well-child visits are a mandatory covered service under Medicaid and CHIP; eligible children receive these exams at no cost; serves as the entry point for immunizations, developmental screening, and physical assessment required for daycare enrollment.

A Gale primary-care clinician can also perform well-child exams and complete daycare forms. Book a visit and let the office know a daycare form needs to be completed so they can allocate adequate appointment time.