One of a new parent's responsibilities is making sure the baby has regular checkups, also called well-baby exams. They show whether the baby is growing and developing properly, and catch problems early, when they may be easier to treat. The baby's health care provider will say how often to come.
What the provider does
A complete physical exam, which includes:
- measuring height and weight;
- looking at the head, ears, nose and mouth;
- listening to the heart and lungs;
- testing hearing and vision (at some visits);
- checking reflexes.
The provider will also ask about the baby's development — for example, when the baby started smiling and rolling over — and at certain visits will run developmental and behavioural screening tests. All of this shows whether the baby is reaching important developmental milestones. The baby also gets any vaccines and screenings due, and you can ask any questions about caring for your baby.
How to prepare
- List the issues and questions you want to discuss.
- Be ready to answer questions about the baby's behaviour, eating and sleeping.
- Be ready to take notes.
Between checkups
Contact the provider at any time if your baby seems sick or you are worried about their development.
Sources
- "Baby Health Checkup," MedlinePlus, U.S. National Library of Medicine. https://medlineplus.gov/babyhealthcheckup.html
- Rewritten in hubnx's own words.
Licence: CC0 1.0 (public domain) · Adapted from medlineplus.gov
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