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Why is well-baby care so important?  
Keeping healthy while pregnant and receiving good prenatal care is the first step in well-baby care.  The next step is finding a pediatrician or healthcare provider who you trust to take the best possible care of your child.  Then, once your baby is born, you and your doctor will begin the check-ups and routines that keep your child healthy and strong. Your baby will need to be immunized (vaccinated) against certain diseases, and her growth and development will need to be charted.  You will probably have lots of questions to ask, and you should ask them.  This experience of watching your baby grow and develop while making sure she receives care when she needs it is what well-baby care is all about. You and your baby should visit the doctor regularly. The first 3 years of life are crucial to preventing, detecting, and treating health problems at an early age to give your child a healthy, happy future.

When should you and your baby see the doctor?
Newborn screening
Your newborn’s first experience with health care takes place as soon as she is born.  After-birth routines vary with the hospital and the state you live in.  In general your doctor will weigh your newborn and measure her body and the circumference of her head and do a physical exam.  Your newborn should also receive a hearing test.  Hearing loss is a condition that can be caught early on, but if left untreated, it may cause problems with your baby’s speech, language, brain development, and mental health.  See Hearing Screening for more information. 

Your newborn is also screened through a blood test for certain diseases such as sickle cell anemia and hyperthyroidism.  However, the tests vary from state to state. To find out which tests are required in your state, you can check with your state health department. Private laboratories can also test for additional conditions that are not screened automatically in your state. Your pediatrician can give you more information about newborn screening, or you can look at the American Academy of Pediatrics web site at http://www.aap.org.

Well-baby visits
You and your child should visit the doctor anywhere from 2 to 4 days after birth to 2 weeks after birth, depending on how soon you left the hospital, whether this is your first child, and whether there were any complications at birth. Your child's pediatrician will tell you when to bring the child into the doctor's office for his first check-up when you leave the hospital.

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends the following schedule for regular visits to the doctor during your child’s first few years.  However, more visits may be necessary according to your child’s needs.

• 2 weeks
• 1 month
• 2 months
• 4 months
• 6 months
• 9 months
• 1 year
• 15 months
• 18 months
• 2 years
• 3 years
• Each year after that throughout childhood

What happens during a visit to the doctor?
Visiting the doctor on this regular schedule will make sure that your child is on the right path for growth, development, and behavior.  In case something is wrong, your child will have a better chance for treatment the sooner it is caught.  The American Academy of Pediatrics developed a chart that describes regular procedures for each doctor visit during the first few years of your child’s life.  It includes when measurements are taken, what immunizations are given, and when screening for such things as eyes and hearing should take place.  To view the chart, go to http://www.aap.org/policy/re9939.html.

Well-baby visits for children from birth to 5 years of age include a number of services.  When you take your baby in for a visit, you should expect the following:

Complete medical and social history: Your healthcare provider will ask you questions about your family that relate to your baby’s health.  This will include asking about genetic diseases that may run in your family.  You will also be asked about your baby’s general health and development, including diet, sleep, immunizations, and any developmental milestones (link) your baby may have reached.

Physical exam: The physical exam includes measuring height, weight, head circumference (an important measure of brain growth), and a head-to-toe examination of your baby’s body.

Hearing and vision screening:  Hearing and vision screening are crucial to catching any problems early on that, if detected, can be treated before important development is lost.  For more information, see Hearing Screening and Vision Screening. 

Immunizations: Your baby needs to become immunized against certain diseases.  Vaccines strengthen the body’s immune system and help prevent diseases like hepatitis, tetanus, and chicken pox. For a schedule of immunizations and more information about them, see Immunizations Are Important. 

Nutrition: Your healthcare provider will ask you about breast- or bottle-feeding and your baby’s diet. Since diet plays an important role in keeping your baby healthy and strong, make sure to mention any difficulties you have in feeding your child or any questions you may have.  Your pediatrician may give you advice or recommend nutrition counseling.  See Feeding Your Newborn for more information.  

Dental referral: Once your baby starts teething, your doctor will recommend a visit to the dentist.  Your dentist can teach you the proper dental care for your child.  See Dental Health: What Every Parent Needs to Know for more information.

This is also the perfect time to ask your pediatrician for information about anything, so go for it!  Asking questions will help you learn to give your child the best possible care.   Topics you may want to ask about include:

• Sleep: patterns or difficulties.  Is my child getting the right amount of sleep?
• Emotional Development: Am I bonding enough with my child?
• Language Development: What can I do to help my child’s communication skills?
• Safety: How can I keep my child safe in the car or while at home?

Surviving the visit
Visiting the doctor can often be harder for you than your child.  Remember, even though your child may cry a lot (especially during shots), these visits do not hurt your child.  Try to relax. Even young children can sense when parents are anxious or when they are calm.  Ask questions about what tests are being done and what the shots are for.  Remember, it’s always best to talk with your child’s doctor if you have concerns about your child’s health or well-being. Your doctor plays an important role in making sure your child grows healthy and strong.

For more information, visit the American Academy of Pediatrics web site at www.aap.org or The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation site at http://www.rwjhamilton.org/Atoz/encyclopedia/article/001928.asp.