Baby's First Doctor Visit: What Does That Mean?

Pediatricians explain just what they're doing when they examine your baby.

By Melody Warnick

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Now It's Baby's Turn

For you, going to the doctor is old hat. During pregnancy, you visited the ob-gyn so often that you were on a first-name basis with everyone on staff. Now, it's your infant's turn to become a doctor's-office regular. The lineup of well-baby checkups during the first year includes at least a half dozen pediatrician visits: usually at 3 to 5 days, 1 month, 2 months, 4 months, 6 months, 9 months, and 12 months. Before you cry overkill, keep in mind that frequent appointments with your baby's doctor are the best way to get expert answers to your questions and to make sure your child's on track both physically and developmentally. While the star attraction of a well-baby visit is the weigh-in, and the vaccine is the price of admission, there are other parts of the exam that aren't so easy to figure out. We asked pediatricians for the scoop.

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