Routine Check Ups for Baby

Routine Check Ups for Baby

April 27th, 2010 by admin  |  No Comments

Check ups, or well visits as they are often called by doctors and insurance companies, are an important part of your baby’s first few years. Your baby’s doctor will be monitoring his growth, development, and general health, as well as keeping him healthy with regular immunizations against dangerous diseases. Catching any problems early is vital to treating them successfully, so make sure your baby attends all his scheduled well visits.

When to Go

Every doctor does things a little differently, but the standard visit times for a baby are at two weeks, at four weeks, at 2 months old, 4 months old, 6 months old and then every three months until baby reaches a year and a half old. Some doctors schedule a 21 month well visit, but many do not see baby again until two years old. After two, check ups will become a yearly occasion.

Be sure to ask your baby’s doctor ahead of time what the visit schedule looks like. Especially if the doctor is busy, it’s a good idea to schedule as many appointments ahead of time as you can, to ensure your baby gets in for a visit at the right time. This way, you will also know when the appointments are so that you can plan accordingly.

What to Expect

Most well visits will follow the same pattern, with a few additional procedures at certain check ups. At the beginning of the visit, the baby will be weighed, measured, and her temperature will be checked, probably by a nurse. Many parents have an impulse to give the baby a medication such a Tylenol prior to the appointment to dull the pain of any shots she might receive, but avoid doing this. It could cause a false temperature reading at the office, and baby should not receive immunizations if she has a fever.

After your baby’s stats have been recorded, the doctor will see her for an examination. The standard physical examination will include checking baby’s eyes, ears and mouth, as well as examining the genitals for normal development. The doctor will listen to your baby’s heart and lungs, and may also feel baby’s tummy, spine, and check her hips by bicycling her legs.

The doctor will have a number of questions for you regarding your baby’s eating, sleeping, and elimination habits. You might want to make a record for a few days prior to the appointment of how much and how often she eats, her sleep routine, and how many wet and dirty diapers she has in a day, so that you don’t have to remember on the spot. The doctor will also ask some developmental questions to be sure baby is on track. After all of the doctor’s questions have been answered, you should have an opportunity to present any concerns or questions you may have. If the doctor doesn’t ask, don’t be afraid to speak up! This is your chance to find out what you need to know about your baby’s health and development.

When the exam is complete, the nurse will return to give your baby any necessary shots. You should be presented with an information sheet detailing what shot she is receiving, why, and what the potential side effects are. If you have any questions or concerns, address them prior to the shot be administered.

At some check ups there will be additional tests or procedures. A blood test for anemia is usually performed at either nine months or one year. At 18 months, you may be asked to fill out a questionnaire screening for autism. Depending on the doctor, there may be other differences as well.

Being prepared for baby’s check ups will make them go smoothly and ensure you get the most out of each visit.

The Importance of Check Ups and Immunizations

The Importance of Check Ups and Immunizations

April 25th, 2010 by admin  |  No Comments

Keeping baby healthy is every parent’s top priority, and the best way to ensure this is through regular check ups and immunizations against childhood diseases. Your baby’s doctor is also committed to keeping your baby healthy, so be sure to attend all recommended check ups. Vaccinations will protect your baby from illnesses that could be very serious, even fatal, so make sure you stay on track with those as well.

Baby’s Check Ups

Your baby’s doctor will want to see him on a regular basis during the first two years of life. At first, baby will be seen every two months, then every three, every six, and finally once yearly after the age of two. These check ups allow the doctor to keep track of baby’s growth and development, and keep an eye on his health as well.

Through regular check ups, a pediatrician can identify potential developmental delays, and get your child the therapy or intervention that will help him catch up. These visits also allow the doctor to make sure baby is growing the way he should be. If baby isn’t gaining weight at a normal rate, falls off his growth curve, or shows any other abnormalities in growth patterns, the doctor can investigate further to determine the source of the problem.

Every time your baby sees his doctor, he will be given a thorough physical to check for anything abnormal that could indicate illness or some other problem. From the most minor problems to much more serious ones, regular check ups are your best chance of catching something as early as possible, to prevent it from becoming worse. As with the regular visit to the obstetrician during pregnancy, well baby check ups are vital to making sure everything is going as it should, and baby is healthy and developing at a normal rate.

The Vaccination Question

Recently, a great deal of controversy has surrounded the issue of vaccination. Many parents are choosing to vaccinate their children on an alternate schedule, while others are skipping vaccinations altogether. The bottom line is that vaccines exist to protect children from very serious illnesses that could even result in death. The American Academy of Pediatrics comes down firmly on the side of vaccinating on schedule, as the benefits outweigh the potential risks.

Vaccinations have nearly eradicated numerous serious illnesses such as polio that once claimed many young lives. By ensuring that your child receives all of her vaccinations on schedule, you can help to keep things like polio in the past. Address your concerns about vaccines with your child’s doctor. Hopefully, you will be given the latest information to help put your mind at ease. New research has recently debunked some of the more frightening tales be circulated about vaccines, and your doctor can also share with you what the real risks of immunizations are so that you can avoid misinformation.

As a parent, you want to make the best decisions possible for your child’s health and well being, and sometimes that can be difficult. Remember that your baby’s doctor is your partner on the path to health, and is there to answer your questions and provide you with information to make it easier. Seeing your baby’s doctor regularly will ensure that your baby has the best possible chance of staying healthy and avoiding illness.

Protecting your Baby’s Health around Other People

Protecting your Baby’s Health around Other People

April 24th, 2010 by admin  |  No Comments

Babies, especially in the first few months of life, are susceptible to illness because their immune systems are not yet developed. When your baby has visitors or goes out in public, take precautions to make sure he doesn’t get sick. Even a simple cold can be devastating to a newborn, so keep your guard up at all times.

Clean Hands are Healthy Hands

Whenever someone comes to visit your new baby, be sure to ask them to wash their hands or use hand sanitizer prior to touching the baby. Don’t worry about coming off as rude or over-protective. Anyone who isn’t willing to clean their hands before touching the baby is probably not someone you want around your precious little one anyway! Keep hand sanitizer readily available, and remind visitors to use it regularly throughout the visit, especially if they have touched their eyes, mouth or nose, or have been petting your dog or cat. Be an example for others by making sure that you are just as fastidious about hand cleanliness.

When you take baby out, it’s best to simply ask strangers not to touch him at all. This might seem like common sense, but it’s surprising how many people think it’s ok to touch a baby they don’t know in public places like grocery stores and shopping centers. Be on your guard! It can be difficult to tell that well-meaning grandmotherly type to keep her hands off, but your baby’s health is more important than a stranger’s feelings. If you get tired of telling people not to touch, keep baby covered up by draping a blanket over her carrier. Some parents even put a sign on the stroller or car seat asking people not to touch the baby.

Keep Sick People Away

Again, it seems like common sense, but many people don’t realize the impact their little case of the sniffles or scratchy throat can have on a newborn baby. RSV, a very serious respiratory disease in infants, can appear as a mild cold in adults. A newborn can wind up in the hospital or worse over that “mild cold”, so it’s best to just keep sick people away from your baby altogether until they are completely symptom free.

It’s very hard to prevent any contact with someone who might be sick, especially if you have to return to work and your baby is cared for by someone else either at home or in a day care environment. You can’t always stay home to avoid sending baby to a sick grandma’s house. When your baby must be around someone who is ill, ask them to take extra precautions. Hand washing or sanitizing is even more vital in this situation. Caregivers should also take care not to leave used tissues lying around, and not to cough or sneeze too close to baby. In warm weather, spending time outdoors is a good idea to keep baby from being cooped up in a germ-laden environment. And if the caregiver is a family member, remind them not to give baby any kisses until they are feeling better.

You can’t protect your baby from every possible illness, but by making sure the people around her both at home and in public are as careful as you are, you can lower the risk considerably. Speak up for your baby, and insist on safe habits at all times.