Newborn Care: Questions for Your Pediatrician

Welcoming a newborn into the family is such an exciting time, but it is also normal to worry about how to best care for your new little one. A pediatrician can answer all of your questions about newborn care, as well as help your baby enjoy better health and wellness. Dr. Anita Henley, the experienced and caring pediatrician at Royal Oak Pediatric Associates in Marion and Abingdon, VA, provides newborn care, including checkups, immunizations, and more.

Newborn Checkups

One question to ask your pediatrician is how often your newborn should visit the doctor. Regular checkups with the pediatrician are an important part of newborn care. Regular visits allow the doctor to monitor your child’s health, wellness, development, and growth. These appointments also provide an opportunity to ensure your little one is up to date with their immunizations.

While older children typically only need to see the doctor once a year for a checkup, babies should see the pediatrician every few weeks or months. Newborns are first seen by a pediatrician at the hospital within 24 hours of birth and are then seen every day until discharge. After leaving the hospital, newborns should see their pediatrician within a few days. The next appointment should be scheduled for about two weeks after that, followed by another checkup at two months of age. Visits then continue every few months.

Newborn Vaccinations and Immunizations

Another question to ask your newborn’s pediatrician is what vaccinations and immunizations are needed. Vaccinations protect children from various diseases and illnesses by helping their bodies build immunity. Immunization prevents kids from contracting certain illnesses and diseases, such as polio, measles, or whooping cough.

We follow the guidelines for vaccination and immunization that are recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). The guidelines outline the schedule of when each dose of all the recommended vaccines should be administered. We can ensure your little one stays up to date with the immunization schedule.

General Newborn Care

In addition to answering your questions about newborn checkups and immunizations, your little one’s pediatrician can also provide guidance in many other areas. The doctor can answer questions about breastfeeding and explain different nursing positions. You can also ask the pediatrician about your baby’s feeding and sleep schedule, as well as receive car seat recommendations. Dr. Henley is here to answer all of your questions about caring for your newborn.

A pediatrician is an excellent resource for finding out everything you need to know about caring for your new baby. Schedule an appointment with Dr. Henley to learn more about newborn care by calling Royal Oak Pediatric Associates in Marion, VA, at (276) 783-8183, and (276) 525-4603 for the office in Abingdon, VA.