A visit with your pediatrician before your baby is born is important for first-time parents, those with high-risk pregnancies, and any other parent who wishes to discuss common issues such as feeding, circumcision, and general questions.
After your baby is born, the next visit should be 2-3 days after bringing the baby home (for breast-fed babies) or when the baby is 2-4 days old (for all babies who are released from a hospital before they are 2 days old). For experienced parents, some health care providers will delay the visit until the baby is 1-2 weeks old.
After that, visits should occur at the following ages:
- By 1 month
- 2 months
- 4 months
- 6 months
- 9 months
- 1 year
- 15 months
- 18 months
- 2 years
- Each year after that until age 21
In addition to these visits, you should call your pediatrician any time your baby or child seems ill or whenever you are worried about your baby’s health or development.