The minute that tiny little bundle of joy arrives, they engulf your entire world. You are worried for their health and safety. Do you worry about something going wrong after you take the baby back home? Don’t worry. You are not alone, and doctors insist on checking your baby regularly, to ensure they are safe and on the right track of development. In fact, a regular baby’s check-up schedule will become important for the first few months of a baby’s life despite the fact that they may be healthy.
So, how many baby check-ups will you need to go to? What do the doctors do during these check-ups? Is it okay to miss a check-up for your baby? Parents, especially new parents, will have several such questions. Read on to get answers to all your questions regarding your baby’s check-up schedule in the initial few months.
In This Article
What is Baby Check-Up?
A baby’s check-up is your scheduled appointment with your pediatrician where they will measure your baby’s height, and weight and do a simple physical examination. This helps ensure the baby is healthy and developing as per expectations and the growth chart.
The initial months are very crucial, and doctors keep a close watch on babies to ensure they are developing well, and also to be able to identify any health issues at the earliest.
A baby’s check-up schedule will cover and track the following.
1. Immunizations
Babies are born with an immature immune system. Immunizations are spread across the first few years of a baby’s life to provide them with steady protection from various pathogens.
2. Baby’s Progress
The first year is very crucial to understand a baby’s health and progress. The doctor will check their weight, height, and other developments, to ensure they are on track.
3. Follow Up Problems From Previous Check-Ups
Babies are prone to falling sick. Constant follow-ups help both you and the doctor to ensure your baby is healthy and recovering well from various illnesses if any.
4. Understanding of Any Hereditary Issues
Genetics does not limit the baby’s looks and mannerisms. We transfer more than that to the next generation. A baby’s health can be influenced by their parents or grandparents’ medical conditions.
Schedule For Monthly Baby Check-Up
It can be quite confusing and overwhelming to keep track of your baby’s doctor check-up schedule when you are trying to balance your life and a newborn child. Let’s break it down to make it easier for you to understand and keep track of all the baby’s check-up schedule. Remember, it can vary slightly from doctor to doctor or depending on the child’s medical condition.
After Birth Baby Check-Up
Immediately after a baby’s birth, the following will be covered:
1. Immunizations
Babies get their first dose of the Hepatitis B vaccine immediately after birth. This is vital to protect the baby from getting hepatitis B from the parents or others in the family.
2. Hearing Screening
Right after birth, the doctor checks various parameters and gives your baby a score out of 10. Hearing is one of the main parameters a doctor checks.
3. Metabolic Screening
In this screening, the pediatrician will measure 4 major substances in your baby’s blood, including glucose, bilirubin, calcium, protein, and more. If any of these levels are not within the determined range, it can indicate a serious health issue.
Baby Check-Up Between 3 to 5 Days
Within the first week of your child’s birth, you can expect the following:
1. Track Baby’s Weight
Babies lose a little of their birth weight and then slowly gain it back. This is because they have been in the amniotic fluid for all these months and the body retains water from this. As the water drains, the weight decreases. Your baby will gain it back in the next few days and this is what the doctor will track.
2. Screening Tests
Newborn screening helps identify any rare or serious health issue that you may not identify otherwise.
[Read : Neonatal Screening Tests in India]
3. Physical Check-Up For Babies
The Baby’s hearing, heart rate, sight, and other physical aspects are checked to ensure they are all working properly.
4. Vaccinations
Babies get their BCG vaccine and oral polio vaccine (OPV) within the first week following birth before they are sent home. BCH helps prevent TB, while OPV helps prevent polio.
First Month Baby Check-Up
Once your baby turns a month old, you can expect the following in their check-ups:
1. Physical Check-Up of Babies
The doctor will check the baby’s reflex actions, limb mobility, hearing, and sight. They will also check the umbilical cord to see if the stump has fallen off and if the spot has healed well.
[Read : When Will My Baby’s Umbilical Stump Fall Off?]
2. Track Baby’s Weight
They will check the current weight and compare it to the birth weight. Babies can gain close to a kilo in the first month.
3. Vaccinations
Your baby will get its 2nd dose of the Hepatitis B vaccine.
Second Month Baby Check-Up
When your baby turns 2 months old, you can expect the following in your next doctor check-up:
1. Vaccinations
During this check-up, your baby will receive their pneumococcal, DTaP, Hib, and polio vaccines (mostly combined) and an oral Rotavirus vaccine. Yes, that is more than just one. Some doctors might shift one vaccine to a little later, to avoid giving too many injections. Even in that case, it could be 2 shots and one oral vaccine.
[Read : HiB Vaccine for Babies-Importance and Schedule]
2. Track Baby’s Weight & Growth
Your baby should’ve gained weight. If the weight gain is not satisfactory, the doctor will try to analyze their feeding, urination, and excretion frequencies.
3. Behavioral Observations
By this age, your baby’s sight, hearing, and response are better. The doctor will observe how your baby is responding to their funny faces and everything around them.
Fourth Month Baby Check-Up
At the 4-month check-up, you can expect the following:
1. Vaccinations
Most vaccines’ second dosage will be around at this time. Your doctor could give the first or the second dose of DTap, Hib, IPV, PCV13, and Rotavirus vaccines depending on what is still pending. Again, most doctors try to limit it to 2 shots.
2. Hemoglobin Screening to Check For Anemia
Iron content in the baby’s blood is crucial for health and brain development. Your doctor will check the baby’s skin and the inside of the eyes to check if there could be an iron deficiency. If needed, they may ask for a test.
3. Track Baby’s Weight & Growth
Babies should ideally be double their birth weight around 3 months of age. Some babies can be more and some can be less. If the variation is beyond average, the doctor might take more tests.
Sixth Month Baby Check-Up
Your baby is half a year old, and the doctor’s check-up will cover the following:
1. Vaccinations
At 6 months your baby will get their Hepatitis B third dose and oral polio vaccine second dose.
2. Track Baby’s Weight & Growth
Your baby must be more than double the birth weight by this stage. If the weight gain is poor, doctors will advise changing the diet. Babies are ready to start their solid food journey by this stage.
Ninth Month Baby Check-Up
At the 9-month check-up, you can expect the following:
1. Vaccinations
At 9 months, your baby is eligible for their OPV third dose and MMR first dose, if they have gotten it already. In the coming months, your doctor will also give your baby a thyroid vaccine.
[Read : MMR Vaccine for Babies]
2. Oral Check-Up For the Baby
Many babies start teething by this stage. This is why you will notice your baby trying to mouth everything. The doctor will check for teething and other infections or bruises that can happen due to mouthing odd objects.
3. Blood Tests
If your doctor has any worries about autoimmune disease, hereditary illness, or other serious infections or deficiencies, they might require a blood test.
Twelfth Month Baby Check-Up
When your baby turns a year old, you can expect the following in the doctor’s check-up:
1. Vaccinations
Your baby will most likely get its Hepatitis A vaccine. In the coming months, your doctor will give your baby a varicella vaccine too.
2. Oral Check-Up For the Baby
The doctor will check your baby’s gums for teething signs. They will also check for thrush (a yeast infection).
3. Track Baby’s Weight and Growth
Your baby must weigh close to three times the birth weight. A little more or a little less is not a cause for concern.
In most cases, your baby’s check-up will be more or less similar to the schedule above. In some cases, if the baby has some health issue, the doctor will check for other or more parameters. These check-ups are essential and help to ensure the baby is growing as per expectation.
FAQ’s
1. Can Baby Check-Up Help Identify Health Issues?
Yes, this is precisely why doctors check the baby monthly. It helps them identify issues at the earliest.
2. Can I Skip a Baby Check-Up in the First Year?
It is not advisable to skip them. If you miss a check-up, ensure you keep your doctor informed and get the vaccination in the next check-up.
3. Can We Give Vaccinations at a Different Time if We Miss a Baby Check-Up?
In most cases, you can. Doctors will check the vaccination record and advice when to take the missed vaccination dose. Ensure you keep track of all the vaccines, as some vaccines are ineffective if you give them after a particular age.
Read Also: The Baby’s First-Month Check-Up Checklist
