What to Expect at Your Newborn’s First Visit to the Pediatrician

You and your baby are home and getting into the swing of your new life together, and now it’s time for that first appointment at the pediatrician's office. For many families, this appointment is their first outing with their new baby and can be overwhelming. Here are some tips to make baby’s first doctor’s visit easier.

• Give yourself plenty of time. Getting yourself and your baby ready for your appointment may take longer than you expect. Give yourself extra time to feed your baby before leaving for your appointment.
• Pack your diaper bag with essentials: extra diapers, wipes, a pacifier, and diaper cream. You may also want to bring an extra bottle. If you have feeding concerns, your pediatrician may want to observe your baby taking a bottle.
• Dress your baby in something easy to get off and on. You will be asked to remove your baby’s clothing and diaper at the beginning of your appointment so your baby can be weighed.
• Bring a blanket. Your baby will need to stay in their diaper during their exam and wrapping him or her in a blanket can help keep them happy and warm.
• Have a list of questions handy. Keep a running list on your phone of questions for your pediatrician as they come up in those first few days. Having a list will make the most of your time and help you not to forget anything.
• Find out your pediatrician’s office policy on after-hours questions or concerns. If they have an on-call phone line, store this number in your phone for easy access later.

Your baby’s first pediatrician appointment is an exciting milestone! We hope these tips are helpful. If you would like more information about our pediatric practices, or to schedule an appointment, please visit our locations page.