NEWBORN CARE

NEWBORN CARE BEGINS FROM THE MOMENT YOUR BABY ARRIVES

Here at Kids First Pediatrics, we like to begin your newborn care as soon as you get home from the hospital and continue as an integral part of the comprehensive care provided by our professional team!

Our pediatricians understand the challenges of taking care of a newborn. They also provide the same gentle care they’d use for treating their family. If you’re pregnant, looking for a pediatrician, and you’d like to meet the team, or you need to schedule a newborn visit, call our office.

Newborn Care FAQs

  • When does my newborn have their first checkup?

    Your new baby has their first checkup within the first few days after leaving the hospital. During this newborn care visit, their pediatrician performs the required newborn screening tests in the office, so you don’t need to make a separate trip to the hospital for your baby’s testing.


    Your newborn’s checkup is a comprehensive exam to be sure they’re growing and developing normally. During the checkup, the pediatrician: 


    • Checks your baby’s weight, length, and head circumference
    • Evaluates your baby’s feeding, bowel, and sleeping habits
    • Does a physical examination, including an eye exam
    • Performs a developmental evaluation

    These visits also give parents time to ask questions about their baby, whether they’re not sure about how to bathe the baby, they have trouble with feeding, they’re worried about the baby’s sleep schedule, or any other concerns.

  • What screenings does newborn care include?

    Newborn Screening is performed on all babies before they leave the hospital. The goal is to identify and treat diseases early enough to prevent serious complications such as growth problems, developmental delays, intellectual disabilities, blindness, deafness, and seizures. If your baby did not get a newborn screen or needs a repeat done, we can do that.


    Within the first 48 hours after delivery, your newborn has a hearing screening, and blood is drawn from their heel to run the routine screening tests. 

  • What are well-child visits?

    Well-child visits are ongoing checkups for children that follow a specific schedule. After the two-week newborn care visit, your newborn should see the pediatrician at two months and then at regular intervals.


    During each visit, their pediatrician will evaluate their growth, developmental milestones, and behaviors. If your baby needs routine blood draws, they can also be done in the office. Just like the two-week newborn care visit, every well-child checkup is an opportunity to talk with the pediatrician about baby care and your baby’s health and safety.


    Your pediatrician also gives immunizations at the two-month visit to protect your baby from:


    • Polio
    • Hepatitis B
    • Rotavirus
    • Diphtheria
    • Haemophilus Influenzae
    • Pneumococcus

    Small doses of the same immunizations are repeated several times over the first 18 months to be sure your infant is fully immunized against contagious diseases.

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