Navigating Well-Child Visits: What New Parents Can Expect

Words by Maggie Downs

 

For new parents, the whirlwind of caring for an infant can be overwhelming. But one crucial aspect of your baby’s health that can’t be ignored is the well-baby visit, a series of routine checkups that ensure your child is growing and developing as they should.

As your baby grows, well-child visits become valuable opportunities not just for the pediatrician to monitor the child’s health, but also to address the parents’ concerns, says Dr. Jasmin Brown, who practices at DAP Health’s Coachella Valley Community Health Center in Coachella.

 

Start Early, and Keep Going

These visits are scheduled at specific intervals during your baby’s first few years of life, typically starting within one to three days after the baby has been discharged from the hospital and continuing at regular intervals thereafter. (In the first year, visits are usually at 1, 2, 4, 6, 9, and 12 months, then 15, 18, 24, and 30 months. Above age 3, children are seen annually.)

During these visits, a pediatrician will measure your baby’s weight, length, and head circumference to track their growth trajectory. These measurements are compared to standard growth charts to ensure your baby is meeting developmental milestones.

The doctor will look for signs of jaundice in the baby’s eyes, check the size of the fontanels (the soft spots) atop the baby’s head, look for abnormalities in the mouth, check lymph nodes in the neck, feel for masses in the abdomen, look for spinal cord anomalies, check for dysplasia in the hips, and examine the baby’s genitals.

“It can be a challenge to cover everything, especially in those early visits, and unfortunately things do get missed,” Dr. Brown says. “So, if the provider doesn’t do a thorough exam, I encourage parents to say, ‘Can you look at this? Does this look okay?’ Because everything from head to toe is important.”

 

It’s Not Just About Weight and Size

Beyond physical measurements, your pediatrician will also assess the baby’s motor skills, cognitive development, and social interactions. They may ask questions about feeding habits, sleep patterns, and general behavior to gain insight into their overall well-being. This is also an opportunity for you to discuss any concerns you may have, whether it’s regarding feeding difficulties, sleep issues, or developmental milestones.

Well-baby visits also serve as an opportunity for preventative care. Dr. Brown says this is another reason why establishing a relationship with a pediatrician is imperative; a doctor who knows your family can tailor the visit to your needs. “If there are some things like deafness, or if the parents have cardiac disease, you can possibly look for things in the child that could be addressed early on,” she says.

 

Getting All Your Baby’s Shots is Important

Your pediatrician will also discuss immunizations and administer any vaccines that are due according to the recommended schedule.

Vaccinations are crucial for protecting your baby from serious infectious diseases, and your pediatrician will address any concerns you may have regarding safety and efficacy.

 

Things You Can Take Home with You

Finally, well-baby visits are an opportunity for parental education and guidance. Your pediatrician can offer advice on various topics such as breastfeeding, formula-feeding, infant nutrition, sleep hygiene, and safety measures. They can also provide resources and support to help you navigate the challenges of parenthood.

“These visits are critical to understand the baby’s health at an early age and to set them up for their future,” concludes Dr. Brown.

 

If you would like your child to become a DAP Health pediatric patient, please click here.