The first year of your baby is crucial to its growth and development. This is when babies, even those who are perfectly healthy, often go to the pediatrician.
Pediatrician keeps a tab on the baby’s physical and developmental progress, updates their immunization and answers the questions, and addresses your concerns.
It is recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) to take your child to the pediatrician for a wellness checkup at birth, 3 to 5 days after birth, and then at 1,2,4,6,9, and 12 months of age.
If you have a baby under one year of age, here is a checklist on what will happen at your child’s each wellness checkup.
Checkup Checklist: 3 to 5 Days Old
For the first wellness visit of your baby, bring all the hospital paperwork – including information about the baby’s weight and health during discharge from the hospital and complications that you faced during birth or pregnancy.
During the visit, your baby will be:
- Vaccinated for hepatitis B (HBV)
- Screened for hearing and blood
- Measured and weighed to make sure their growth is on track
- Carefully observed for the development and behavior
- Physical examined.
You can ask questions about your child’s safety, feeding, and any other issues you or your baby face.
Checkup Checklist: 1 Month Old
During the 1st-month wellness checkup, the pediatrician may ask about how things are going with the baby, how well the baby is eating, and how you feel.
They may also measure and weigh the baby, observe the baby’s behavior and development, and perform a physical exam. You can expect to answer questions like where your baby is sleeping at night, what kind of car seat or crib you use for your baby, and what you do when your baby cries too much.
Checkup Checklist: 2-Months Old
During this wellness checkup, in addition to the usual physical exam and screening, your baby will be immunized against seven or eight different diseases.
The vaccines your baby will receive may include rotavirus vaccine, diphtheria, tetanus, acellular pertussis vaccine (DTaP), Haemophilus influenza type B vaccine (Hib), pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV), and inactivated polio vaccine (IPV), and Hepatitis B vaccine (HBV).
Don’t worry pediatrician will combine some shots so there’s less pricking and crying.
This wellness visit is also a great time to talk about your issues as a parent, such as issues with breastfeeding, anxiety, or sadness.
You can also expect to receive some tips from the pediatrician to ensure the safety of your baby.
Checkup Checklist: 4 Months Old
At your baby’s 4-month wellness checkup, expect the standard procedures – measurements. Psychosocial, developmental, and behavioral observations, and a physical exam.
Your child may also receive the 2nd dose of vaccines: rotavirus vaccine, diphtheria, tetanus, acellular pertussis vaccine (DTaP), Haemophilus influenza type B vaccine (Hib), pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV), and inactivated polio vaccine (IPV).
There may also be blood screening to detect anemia, and you may be advised to give your child liquid iron supplements until you incorporate iron-containing solid food into their diet.
Checkup Checklist: 6 Months Old
By the age of 6 months, your baby may have doubled their birth weight. The 6-month wellness checkup will cover a lot of things, including dental health check, physical exams, feeding habits and routines, and observation of their growth and development.
Your baby may receive the third dose of the vaccines, i.e.,rotavirus vaccine, diphtheria, tetanus, acellular pertussis vaccine (DTaP), Haemophilus influenza type B vaccine (Hib), pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV), and inactivated polio vaccine (IPV).
Checkup Checklist: 9 Months Old
By the age of 9 months, your child may start to sit on their own and get ready to crawl. The 9-month wellness checkup checklist may consist of:
- Immunization as per immunization schedule
- Screening (developmental screening and dental check)
- Discussion on feeding and development of the baby
- Child’s safety
Early interventions are crucial to address developmental delay, so if you have additional concerns about your child’s development, the pediatrician may help you arrange additional tests.
Checkup Checklist: 12 Months Old
At the first birthday, your little one is much different than they were at their very first wellness checkup – they may be crawling, trying to talk, or even taking their first steps.
The wellness checkup at the age of one year may include usual measurements, physical examination, and discussion about the child’s feeding and sleeping habits. The pediatrician may also tell you the ways to encourage your child’s positive physical, cognitive, and social development.
Screening may include tests for the detection of anemia, blood lead level, hearing, vision, and blood pressure.
By the age of one, your child is ready to receive their first dose of vaccines for measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR), varicella (chickenpox), and hepatitis A (HAV).
Wellness Checkup for Babies in The Woodlands and Spring, TX
At Northwoods Pediatric Center, P.A., our pediatrician can provide your child with wellness exams in a hygienic, positive, and relaxing kid-friendly environment. Our team of compassionate and child-friendly pediatricians is dedicated to your child’s health and wellness, providing you with guidance and support at every step.
If you would like to make an appointment with one of our pediatricians, call us today at (281) 296-7770 or use our convenient online request form.
