Taking Your Newborn to the Pediatrician: How Often and What to Expect

Taking Your Newborn to the Pediatrician

Taking Your Newborn to the Pediatrician: How Often and What to Expect

As new parents you will make multiple visits to the pediatrician for the first two years, for various purposes including immunization, well-baby visits, conducting physical examinations to track developmental milestones and may be when your baby falls sick.

For all these reasons it becomes super imperative for parents to know how often they need to visit the children’s doctor and what to expect from these visits. If you are wondering where to get the overview of your little one’s check-ups and appointments, keep reading this post.

The First Doctor Visit after your Child’s Birth (Well Baby Visits)

As a new parent you will make the first visit to your baby’s doctor within 3-5 days of your newborn’s arrival. Here are a few things that the doctor would check during the first visit.

  • Do a complete medical exam which will include measuring your baby’s weight, length, and head circumference.
  • The doctor will ask how you’re doing with the new baby and how your baby is eating and sleeping.
  • The doctor will check your baby’s reflexes, vision, and hearing.

Immunization Visits

Immunization is the best way to protect children from getting several diseases. Your child will need numerous vaccinations to achieve immunity against several viral infections. Here is a list of recommended vaccines according to the age at which they should be administered.

At Birth: Within 24 hours of birth your child will receive BCG and Hepatitis B injection.

Two Months: DtaP, Hib, Hepatitis B, IPV, PCV

Four Months: DPT, Hib, OPV, PCV

Six Months: DPT, Hib, Hepatitis B, OPV, PCV

12 months: MMR, Varicella

5-6 years: DPT, OPV, MMR, Varicella

Visiting the Doctor if Your Child is Sick Or not Meeting Growth Milestones

Newborns may often face health issues such as stomach aches or a high temperature in such cases you need to make a visit to your pediatrician.  You can also visit your child’s doctor if you or your child care professional feel your child is not hitting age-appropriate milestones. It may be a sign of an underlying problem.

Choose the Best Newborn Care

Find a pediatrician who can understand your concern and someone who has ample experience to guide you properly on this journey of parenthood. If you are looking for the best pediatrician in Sharjah book an appointment with us today. If you need help with taking care of your newborn you need not go looking somewhere else, as we provide the best nurses and nannies for your little one at Maika.