How Often Do Children Get Routine Bloodwork?

I have 3 children. Ages 15, 6 and 11 months. None of them have ever had routine blood work. Not neccessary. They are all healthy.

"Routine" bloodwork? Never. Bloodwork to check for a specific issue? A couple of times. But never just as a *routine*. My kids are 13, 10 and 8.

Never heard of 'routine' bloodwork for children and I have a 21 and 10 yr old-I am in TX so maybe it is different in other parts of the U.S.

None of my 4 children ever had routine bloodwork. One of my girls had bloodwork when we were checking on why she had headaches.

My kids have never had bloodwork done, even when we were on WIC. It's not a "routine" procedure!

I have never heard of this before. If I were you I would check the American Acad of Pediatrics to see if they have guidelines on this. If your doc is asking you to do this he either thinks something may be wrong or is possibly gouging your insurance.

Mine don't. We do bloodwork if there is a serious problem, otherwise, not at all.

ETA: That's my choice. they did ask to do bloodwork for routine stuff at about 4. If your kids are going to school, you may have to do that, but mine are homeschooled so I tell my doctor what they can and can't do, not the other way around. Shots, on the other hand, if you are vaxing (and we do) are about once a year after age 1.

my kids have never had routine bloodwork.

i have a 6 & 4 yr old. neither one of them has ever had bloodwork except the heel prick in the hospital. that's all. didn't know that there was routine bloodwork.

Not really sure. My daughter only had her one year. She is now three and they have not sent her for bloodwork. Maybe before they go to school? Not sure. Ask your pedi for better answers. Maybe even google it? Sorry that I couldn't be of any help.

My 2 year old had blood drawn at his 1 yr appt to check for lead, cbc and platelet count. All turned out fine. He didnt cry at all and it was quick and easy. The phlebotomist sang the itssy bitsy spider song while she was doing it and he loved it. He hasnt had blood drawn since.

My 12 year old just had her hemoglobin checked at her checkup on Wednesday. I think that was the first time since 1 year. My 18 month old last had her hemoglobin checked at 15 months but that's because she'd had a few months of anemia (that they ran a bunch of tests for last summer) otherwise it would have been at a year too - when they also tested for lead.

At 1 and 2. That is primarily to check lead. But that is here in NJ.

My kids had blood taken at 1,2,3 & 4 but that is to check lead levels.

My son turned 1 in February. He goes back at 15 months, then again at 18 months. Not sure how often after that. I hope not too often. He hates getting shots. :/ ****Sorry****** I gave you immunization info. I apologize

My kids had bloodwork at age 1 to test for lead and anemia. My son had it again at age 3 (my daughter is only 22 months) and they re-tested lead and anemia and also did a cbc...checking for any childhood cancers, etc. that an elevated blood count would show. And my kids never showed any other signs of anemia or anything else - my pediatrician orders those labs as routine for every patient they have when they turn 1 and 3. I don't think it's the norm but feel that it should be.

My son is 12 and he only had bloodwork twice that I recall. Neither was for anything "routine". Once (when he was about 4 or 5?) when he was suddenly unable to walk, and then last year when we did a "routine physical" on him after recovery from pneumonia and a sudden asthma attack that he'd never experienced before in his life. The routine bloodwork checked his cholesterol levels, but they drew extra vials so that we could do a RAST panel for his allergies. That's it. No other blood work that I recall.
My daughter is 9, I don't recall her ever having any bloodwork drawn for anything.

Added later:
I noticed some of the other posters mentioned testing for lead. My kids' doctors did routinely ask about where we lived (as in, what year was your house built) on the forms. Prior to some year (not sure what it is) lead paint was the norm. Any home built after a certain date will not have lead paint used in it. Any home built before that date, might have lead paint in it and therefore the occupants might have lead exposure, hence a possible need for testing their levels.

Ummm...never, unless there's a problem. WIC checks their iron level with a finger prick every 6 months, but that's it and only if the parents qualify to receive WIC.

My daughter had a blood platelete disorder last year and had her blood checked weekly for about a month, and then it gradually went down in frequency. After 4 months, the hemotologist/oncologist told me that she was fine, but that they could continue to check her blood if I wanted them to. But he said it would clearly be for my benefit to definitely know she was okay, but it wasn't necessary. If a hemotologist doesn't think it's necessary, neither do I.

My daughter had it only done once so far (she is 4 1/2 right now), and that was to check lead levels. Should not be too often unless there is reason to.

My son is 8. I don't think he's ever had blood work done.