Most healthy, full-term newborn babies need to be seen by their health-care provider on the third or fourth day of life or two to three days after hospital discharge, and again at one to two weeks and four weeks of life. The frequency of visits in the first month of life will depend on how your baby is feeding and gaining weight. After the first month, you will need to bring your baby back for a check-up at two months, four months and six months of age, to coincide with the timing of immunizations. Your baby usually has one more visit between six and 12 months of age.
Your baby will need to see a health-care provider to ensure they are healthy and that they stay that way. If health concerns do arise, these professionals are available to help your baby through their challenges, or they may refer them to more specialized health-care providers.
Your baby’s first medical visit
Most healthy, full-term newborn babies are released from the hospital within one to two days after birth. These babies, and those who are delivered at home, need to be seen by their health-care provider on the third or fourth day of life. Many new parents have lots of questions. Try to bring a list of questions with you to the medical visit, so that you do not forget to ask them when you see the health-care provider. At your newborn baby’s first medical visit, the health-care provider will do the following:
- review the newborn record you received at hospital discharge
- ask questions about your baby's feeding
- ask how often your baby is wetting their diapers with urine (pee) and passing stool (poop)
- measure your baby’s weight by placing them naked on a baby scale
- check your baby’s overall health, including their breathing, heart and eyes
- answer questions about your baby’s feeding, sleeping and overall health
- review newborn screening test results
Subsequent medical visits
You will need to bring your newborn baby back to their health-care provider for a well-baby visit at one to two weeks and four weeks. After the first month, bring your baby back for a check-up at two months, four months and six months of age, to coincide with the timing of immunizations. Your baby will usually have one more well-baby visit between six and 12 months of age. Try to bring a list of questions with you to each appointment, so that you do not forget what to ask when you see the health-care provider. During the visit, the health-care provider will do the following:
- ask questions about your baby's feeding
- ask how often your baby is wetting their diapers with pee and passing stool (poop)
- measure their weight, length and head circumference
- check your baby’s overall health, including their breathing, heart and eyes
- make sure major development milestones are being met, such as smiling, head control, rolling, babbling and sitting
- check for any physical conditions of concern
- answer questions about your baby’s development, feeding and nutrition, sleeping and overall health
- administer vaccinations according to the recommended immunization schedule