A step-by-step guide for your newborn's first pediatrician visit, covering what to bring, what the doctor measures, feeding assessments, and the follow-up schedule for the first year.
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Timing and Scheduling
Schedule the first visit 3-5 days after hospital discharge
Most pediatricians want to see newborns within 48-72 hours of leaving the hospital. If your baby was jaundiced or had a low birth weight, the doctor may want a visit within 24 hours.
Confirm your pediatrician accepts your insurance and is taking new patients
Call the office at least 4 weeks before your due date. Some popular practices have waitlists of 2-3 months, so early registration during the third trimester is worth the effort.
Request the first appointment slot of the day to minimize waiting room exposure
Newborns have immature immune systems. An early slot means fewer sick patients in the waiting area. Ask if the office has separate well-child and sick-child entrances.
What to Bring
Hospital discharge papers and birth records
These include birth weight, length, Apgar scores, and any medications or tests given at the hospital. The pediatrician uses these as the baseline for all future measurements.
Insurance card and completed new patient forms
Most offices email registration forms ahead of time. Fill them out at home rather than in the office, since you will be holding a newborn. Arrive 15 minutes early for any remaining paperwork.
A written list of questions and concerns
New parents typically have 5-10 questions but forget half of them in the moment. Write them down on your phone or paper. Common first-visit questions include feeding frequency, umbilical cord care, and sleep positioning.
Diaper bag with extra diapers, wipes, a change of clothes, and a feeding supply
Expect the visit to last 30-60 minutes. Bring at least 3 diapers since newborns often go through one during the exam. If bottle feeding, bring a pre-made bottle ready to use.
A feeding log from the past 24-48 hours
Track feeding times, duration (if breastfeeding), or ounces (if bottle feeding), plus wet and dirty diapers. Newborns should have 6-8 wet diapers and 3-4 stools per day by day 4.
Measurements and Physical Exam
Weight measurement and comparison to birth weight
Newborns typically lose 5-7% of birth weight in the first few days, then regain it by day 10-14. A loss over 10% may prompt the doctor to adjust the feeding plan.
Length and head circumference measurements
Average newborn length is 19-21 inches and head circumference is 13-14 inches. The doctor plots these on a growth chart to establish your baby's individual growth curve for future tracking.
Heart and lung examination with a stethoscope
The doctor listens for heart murmurs, which are found in about 1 in 100 newborns. Most are harmless and resolve on their own, but some require an echocardiogram for further evaluation.
Hip stability check and reflexes assessment
The doctor performs the Barlow and Ortolani maneuvers to check for hip dysplasia, which affects about 1 in 1,000 babies. They also test the Moro, rooting, and grasp reflexes to assess neurological function.
Feeding Assessment
Discuss breastfeeding latch, frequency, and any pain or difficulty
Newborns should feed 8-12 times per day in the first weeks. If latching is painful after the first 30 seconds, ask for a lactation consultant referral. Most insurance plans cover 6 visits per year.
Review formula type and amount if bottle feeding
Newborns take about 1.5-3 ounces per feeding in the first two weeks, increasing to 4 ounces by one month. The doctor can recommend a formula type based on any digestive issues or family allergy history.
Ask about vitamin D supplementation
Breastfed babies need 400 IU of vitamin D drops daily starting in the first few days of life. Formula-fed babies who drink less than 32 ounces per day also need supplementation.
Screenings and Tests
Confirm newborn hearing screening results from the hospital
About 1-3 per 1,000 babies are born with hearing loss. If the hospital screening was inconclusive or not done, the pediatrician will refer you for a follow-up test within the first month.
Jaundice assessment via skin color check or bilirubin test
About 60% of newborns develop some jaundice in the first week. Mild cases resolve on their own with frequent feeding. If bilirubin levels exceed 15-20 mg/dL, phototherapy treatment may be needed.
Review newborn metabolic screening results
The heel-prick blood test done at the hospital screens for 30-50 conditions depending on your state. Results usually take 1-2 weeks. The pediatrician will contact you only if further testing is needed.
Discuss the Hepatitis B vaccine second dose timeline
The first dose is given at the hospital within 24 hours of birth. The second dose is due at 1 month of age. If your baby missed the first dose, the pediatrician will administer it at this visit.
Follow-Up Schedule
Schedule the 2-week well-baby visit before leaving the office
The 2-week visit focuses on weight gain and feeding progress. Babies should be gaining about 0.5-1 ounce per day at this stage. Early booking ensures you get a convenient time slot.
Note the first-year visit schedule: 1, 2, 4, 6, 9, and 12 months
Well-baby visits are more frequent in the first year because growth and development change rapidly. Each visit includes vaccinations, developmental milestone checks, and growth tracking.
Save the pediatrician's after-hours phone number in your contacts
Most practices have a nurse advice line for evenings and weekends. Call if your newborn has a fever over 100.4°F, is refusing to eat for two or more consecutive feedings, or seems unusually lethargic.
Frequently Asked Questions
When should a newborn have their first doctor visit after birth?
The first pediatrician visit should happen 3-5 days after birth, or within 48 hours of hospital discharge if the baby leaves early. This visit checks for jaundice (which peaks at days 3-5), confirms adequate feeding and weight gain, and examines the umbilical cord stump. Babies typically lose 5-10% of their birth weight in the first few days — the pediatrician verifies they are starting to regain it.
What happens at a newborn's first well-baby checkup?
The doctor weighs and measures the baby (length and head circumference), checks the fontanelles (soft spots), listens to the heart and lungs, examines the hips for dysplasia, and inspects the umbilical cord stump. They will ask detailed questions about feeding patterns (how often, how long), diaper output (at least 6 wet diapers per day by day 5), and your mental health as a new parent. The visit typically lasts 20-30 minutes.
How often do babies need to see the doctor in the first year?
The standard well-baby visit schedule is: 3-5 days, 1 month, 2 months, 4 months, 6 months, 9 months, and 12 months — that is 7 scheduled visits in the first year. Each visit includes growth measurements, developmental screening, and vaccines on the CDC schedule. Sick visits happen separately and are additional. Most insurance plans cover all well-child visits at 100% with no copay as preventive care.
What vaccines does a baby get at the first few doctor visits?
At birth, babies receive the hepatitis B vaccine (dose 1 of 3). At the 2-month visit, they receive DTaP, IPV (polio), Hib, PCV13 (pneumococcal), and rotavirus — typically given as 2-3 shots plus an oral vaccine. At 4 months, the same set is repeated. These early vaccines protect against serious diseases during the period when infants are most vulnerable. Side effects are usually mild: fussiness, low-grade fever, and soreness at the injection site for 24-48 hours.
What should you bring to your baby's first doctor appointment?
Bring your insurance card, a photo ID, the hospital discharge paperwork (which includes birth weight, Apgar scores, and any newborn screening results), a list of questions you have written down (you will forget them otherwise), a diaper and change of clothes for the baby, and a feeding log if you have been tracking (times, durations, wet/dirty diapers). Arrive 15 minutes early to complete new-patient paperwork.