Baby’s Checkup Schedule
When does baby need to see the pediatrician, and what should you expect when you get there? Use this cheat sheet to know what’s in store for each of baby’s doctor visits.
Even babies who are perfectly healthy go to the doctor a lot. That’s because the first two years are a crucial time in baby’s growth and development, and your doctor will want to keep close
tabs on your baby’s progress. Some pediatricians’ schedules will vary slightly, but the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends babies get checkups at birth, 3 to 5 days after birth and then at 1, 2, 4, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18 and 24 months. Here’s what will likely happen at each of them.
At Every Appointment, Starting At Birth
A pediatrician should examine baby in the hospital within 24 hours of birth. “We do a full exam, looking for normal body function. We look for basic newborn reflexes,
skin tone, alertness and hip stability,” says Anita Chandra-Puri, MD, a pediatrician at Northwestern Memorial Physicians Group in Chicago and a spokeswoman for the AAP.
This is to make sure that baby is looking healthy and responding well. Here’s what else to expect during the first checkup — and each one thereafter too
