Newborn Well-Child Visits: Early Care and Monitoring for New Parents

If you are a new parent, you may be unsure of how to care for your newborn. Well-child visits with your pediatrician are an essential part of caring for your child. Dr. Karen Vaughn at Vaughn Internal Medicine and Pediatrics in Bellmead, TX, provides a full range of medical services for all ages, including newborn well-child visits.

What You Need to Know About Newborn Well-Child Visits

Well-child visits can never begin too early. The first well-child visit usually takes place within 2 to 5 days of the birth of your child, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics. The first well-child visit provides the framework for future visits because information is used to track your child’s growth and development over time. During the first well-child visit, your pediatrician will:

• Administer first doses of some vaccinations, to prevent contagious diseases
• Measure and record vital statistics including weight, height, and other factors
• Order any laboratory testing or imaging studies necessary for the diagnosis of medical conditions
• Answer any questions or concerns you have about newborn care

Future well-child visits should happen at 2 weeks, 1,2,4,6,9,15, 18, and 24 months, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics. Additional screenings will happen when your child is older. Behavioral, social, and cognitive abilities will be assessed to determine if your child has ADHD ADD, autism, or learning delays.

Consider these general guidelines for caring for your newborn at home:

When feeding your newborn, your baby will want to feed every 2 to 3 hours if you are breastfeeding, or every 3 to 4 hours if you are feeding your baby formula.

When your newborn sleeps, your baby will want to sleep at least 16 hours every day for the first few weeks. Always place your baby on his or her back for sleeping, to make breathing easier.

When you are changing your newborn, first bowel movements will be black and tarry, changing to dark green and then to yellow.

When bathing your newborn, avoid bathing your baby too often, to keep your baby's skin from becoming too dry. Use only mild soap and lukewarm water.

Want To Know More About Newborn Well-Child Visits?

To learn more about well-child visits, call Dr. Karen Vaughn at Vaughn Internal Medicine and Pediatrics in Bellmead, TX. You can reach her in the office by calling (254) 335-5844, so call today.