Birth exam
The baby’s first checkup is usually given in the hospital, right after birth. A nurse will assess the baby. This assessment checks certain physical traits to assist in determining whether your newborn needs any special treatments or monitoring immediately.
Your baby my have a thorough physical exam,within 24 hours of birth. Some of the things checked:
A doctor will examine your baby, check the infants breathing and heartbeat, and assess the baby’s ability to pass urine and stool.
Measurements of length, weight and head circumference.
Well-child visits (birth – 12 months)
Within the first weeks after birth, your baby should begins a series of health exams, generally called well-child visits. Physicians have individual approaches to the timing of these well child visits. During many of these visits, your baby may have:
- Length, weight, and head circumference measurements taken. These measurements are recorded on a growth chart and are compared to previous and later measurements to make sure the baby is growing as expected.
- A physical exam. The doctor examines your baby thoroughly for any problems. The doctor also assesses the baby’s reflexes and general development and observes how you and your baby interact.
- Immunizations. Your doctor may provide you with a schedule so that you know how many vaccines to expect at each visit.
- If needed, screening test follow-up
Well-child visits (12 – 24 months)
Routine well-child visits usually are scheduled several times during ages 12 to 24 months. These visits allow your child’s pediatrician to keep a close eye on your child’s general health and development. Talk about your child’s new skills, such as walking, talking, combining words, etc.. During these checkups it’s a good time to ask any questions and discuss any growth and development issues.