Well-Baby Visits: Newborn To 6 Months
September 30, 2022
When your baby is thriving and growing, it’s easy to look past the importance of routine well-baby visits. However, babies are rapidly growing and developing in their first year of life, making it difficult to take in all of the changes. Well-baby visits ensure your child’s growth and development is on track and to take preventative or cautionary measures to ensure their needs are met.
The Benefits Of Children’s Routine Care
Babies need a lot of doctor visits in their first year of life. After that, they will graduate to well-child visits, which include screenings, assessments, and recommendations that will span through adolescence. Some benefits of routine care include:
- Tracking growth and development
- Prevention and immunization
- Raising concerns and questions
- A team approach to help develop optimal physical, mental, and social health of a child
Here at Holly Springs Pediatrics, we believe in children’s routine care appointments because when your child is healthy, they can be happy!
Newborn Visit
Congratulations, you just had a baby! Whether you are a first-time mom or you’ve been around the block a few times, a pediatrician should always examine your baby within the first week of them making their grand appearance. During this visit, pediatricians often look for basic newborn reflexes, hearing, and alertness. Your baby will also have their measurements taken and undergo a physical exam. This includes the heart, eyes, mouth, skin, ears, lungs, genitalia, and other extremities.
It is generally recommended that your baby see a pediatrician 3 to 5 days after birth to ensure everything is going well. Choosing a pediatrician before birth is always a great idea to make certain you can get an appointment and have an emergency contact if something goes wrong.
One-Month Visit
During a one-month visit, a pediatrician will run over all the basics like their height and weight, accompanied by other questions including, but not limited to:
- How much and how often your baby is feeding
- How their bowel movements are
- Duration of their sleep
- Any milestones (including lifting up their head, focusing on objects, etc.)
- Answering any questions you may have
Your baby will get their second dose of the hepatitis B vaccine either during this visit or during their two-month visit. Additionally, your pediatrician may suggest testing for tuberculosis (TB).
Two Months Visit
On top of a general well-check, two months is when your baby receives most of their first doses of vaccines. The CDC states at two months, your baby should get their first dose of the following:
- Rotavirus vaccine
- Diphtheria, tetanus, & acellular pertussis vaccine
- Haemophilus influenzae vaccine
- Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine
- Inactivated poliovirus vaccine
If your baby did not receive their second Hepatitis B vaccine during their one-month visit, they would often get it during this visit.
Four Months Visit
At four months, your baby is growing like a weed! Some babies may even double their weight by the time they hit five months. Their pediatrician will give them a physical exam and ensure they are growing at a projected rate. They are also ready for the second dose of their RV, DTaP, Hib, PCV, and IPV vaccines. Well-baby visits that occur around the 4-month mark may also include hematocrit or hemoglobin screening. Both of these tests are used to diagnose anemia, a condition where you lack enough healthy red blood cells to carry adequate oxygen to the tissues in your body.
Six Months Visit
Time flies when you’re having fun— your baby is now six months old! It won’t be long until your well-baby visits turn into well-child visits. At six months, your baby’s weight, height, and head circumference will be measured. Your doctor may ask you questions about their mobility, feeding and nutrition, peeing and pooping, and other developmental processes, such as teething. Additionally, your baby will often get their 3rd dose of DTaP, PCV13, and IPV. They also may begin to get annual vaccinations against influenza (IIV4).
At Holly Springs Pediatrics, we are focused on helping to grow healthy children one milestone at a time. We know that selecting a Pediatrician can be a challenge; however, we strive to provide high-quality, one on one health care in the treatment and education of your child. Want to learn more about well-baby visits? We invite you to meet our team and learn more about the services we offer. To schedule an appointment, visit our website or give us a call at (919) 249-4700.