When your baby arrives, your life will be focused on their well-being around the clock. However, their care isn’t up to you alone—regular visits with a pediatrician are also essential to their health. In fact, doctors will check your infant for particular signs of healthy physical and mental development during an in-person visit. To learn more about when to make appointments and what they will cover, keep the following in mind.

How Often Does Your Baby Need a Checkup?

If you’re not still in the hospital, you’ll need to see your pediatrician about three to five days after the birth for your baby’s first well visit. After this, the doctor will probably request that you come in every one to two weeks for the next couple of months.

Next, your checkups may be reduced to every two to three months. After two or three years, you’ll only need to head to the doctor’s office for an annual checkup.

What Will the Doctor Look For?

During the checkup, the pediatrician will ask you a series of questions about the baby’s life at home, such as how they’re feeding, using the restroom, and if there’s been anything unusual about their behavior. Then, they’ll perform a full physical exam to see how your baby is growing and developing.

In the weeks after birth, the doctor will want to make sure that your baby’s head is reforming properly, so there are no remaining depressions, soft spots, or extrusions caused by the pressure of the birth canal. They’ll also check the hip joints for dislocation issues, which can cause difficulties with crawling and walking later on. 

To test your baby’s nervous system, the pediatrician will check their reflexes. After pulling their arms up and letting them go, your baby should straighten their arms out quickly, as if to hold onto something. This demonstrates a healthy link between the brain and the nerves throughout the body.

While this is only an overview of the examination points and milestones a doctor will look for, you can learn more by contacting Mante Pediatrics of Rock Hill, SC. The compassionate staff is happy to take care of your children from infancy to adolescence, whether they’re dealing with challenges in growth and development or the common cold. To learn more about their trusted pediatricians, visit the website. Call (803) 980-5700 to schedule an appointment for your little one.