Health Supervision

You will have many questions about your baby that can best be answered by a medically trained person. Your baby should be checked from time to time for normal growth and development and for problems which you may not notice. Every child needs certain tests and "shots" or immunizations to avoid certain illnesses. For these reasons your baby should be seen by a doctor (or a nurse or physician's assistant specially trained in infant care) several times during the first year of life.

Choosing a Doctor or Clinic

You will want to choose a doctor or clinic whose office is convenient, whom you trust, who is likely to be available by telephone when you want advice, and who can take care of your child both when well and when sick. Neighbors and friends will often have suggestions. The doctor who delivers your baby and the hospital nurses can be helpful. If you have other children, you will certainly want to use the same doctor for all your children.

Using the "Doctor"

If possible, choose your baby's doctor before the baby is born. Let the doctor know when you expect to have your baby and ask him or her to visit you and the baby in the hospital and to care for the newborn later. Some doctors will suggest a visit before the baby is born to get to know you and to discuss your plans for caring for the new baby.

Be sure to talk with the doctor who examines your baby in the hospital to find out if all is well. Ask questions and get answers!

Especially with a first baby, you will have more questions in the first days after you and the baby come home from the hospital than any other time. Check this booklet and experienced and trusted friends first, but don't hesitate to call the doctor, clinic or hospital.

Most doctors and clinics will schedule the first checkup when baby is about 1 month old, and then plan further visits every 4 to 8 weeks for 3 or 4 visits and less frequently after that.

Your conversation with the doctor is the most important part of each visit. The doctor may actually examine the child only 3 or 4 times during the first year, but he or she will always want to know how your baby is growing, learning and developing, and whether you have noticed any problems. Write down your questions and observations so you can be sure to remember them.

Keeping Your Own Records

You may have to change doctors, or you may have to get medical care when your doctor is not available. A busy clinic or doctor may lose your child's records. If you keep your own record and take it with you whenever you visit a doctor or clinic, you will probably save time and trouble.

When Doctors Disagree

Don't be surprised if one doctor doesn't give you the same advice as another, or even if they actually disagree with each other or with what you read in this article.

For many problems, there are many successful treatments, and this article only mentions one. For some other problems, such as colds, each doctor may have a favorite medicine, none of which makes much difference. For still other problems (whether boys should be circumcised, for example) there are real differences of opinion. When two doctors give you directly conflicting advice you should ask for an explanation. If the explanation is convincing, fine. If not, you will have to get a third opinion or make up your own mind.