Pediatric Primary Care

Your baby is here! This exciting time is fun, and can also be exhausting. You may have lots of friends and family interested in meeting your new addition, so please be sure to make all visitors wash their hands well before coming over. 

Your baby’s first visit usually occurs 1 to 2 days after you are discharged from the hospital. During this first visit, we will:

• Check your baby’s weight
• Check how your baby is feeding
• Answer any and all questions
• Immunizations: Hep B #1, if not given in the hospital
• Tests/Screens: Follow-up on anything done in the hospital

At this visit, we will:

• Check your baby’s weight
• Check how they are feeding and sleeping
• Track growth and development
• Answer any and all questions
• Tests/Screens: Postpartum Depression Assessment, Follow-up on the Newborn Metabolic Screen done in the hospital 

You may be seeing smiles and bits of personality from your baby, and please bring any concerns, including those about bowel habits, sleeping, or feeding up with your pediatrician.

Welcome to the age of possible fussiness and colic. Some parents can find this period stressful –if fussiness is getting on your nerves, place your baby on their back in a safe space and take a few minutes to calm down.

At this visit, we will cover a lot of ground, including:

• Measure baby’s weight, length, and head size and record on the growth curve
• Give the first set of immunizations–which are safe, effective, and keep your baby, family, and our community safe
• Immunizations: DTap #1, HIB #1, PCV #1, IPV #1, Rotavirus #1, Hep B #2
• Test/Screens: Postpartum Depression Assessment

Babies are quite active at 4 months old, and can also be very verbal. Don’t leave your baby unattended, especially on a couch, counter, or bed–they move much more quickly than you may think!

At this visit we may go over when to start introducing solid foods, and we will also:

• Measure baby’s weight, length, and head size and record on the growth curve
• Immunizations: DTap #2, HIB #2, PCV #2, IPV #2, Rotavirus #2
• Test/Screens: Postpartum Depression Assessment

Bring on the baby proofing! At six months, your baby may be moving more and sitting up independently for short periods of time. 

At the six-month visit, we will:

• Measure baby’s weight, length, and head size and record on the growth curve
• Talk about brushing your baby’s teeth, and ensuring they are getting fluoridated water to develop strong, healthy teeth
• Immunizations: DTap #3, HIB #3, PCV #3, IPV #3, Rotavirus #3, Hep B #3
• Test/Screens: Postpartum Depression Assessment, Lead, Oral Health Surveillances, and Fluoride varnish

Your baby may now be upwardly mobile and crawling, standing, and moving along with the help of furniture. Remember that babies learn by touching things–this may be a messy time!

At the nine-month visit, we will:

• Measure baby’s weight, length, and head size and record it on the growth curve
• Talk about dental care– ideally your baby should start seeing a dentist at 1 year old. You should already be brushing your child’s teeth with an infant toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste.
• Immunizations: Catch up if indicated
• Test/Screens: SWYC developmental, Oral Health Surveillance, Fluoride Varnish

Congratulations on one year with your baby! Most babies need 3 meals and 2-3 snacks per day at this age. They will be able to eat most of the foods you eat, but be sure to avoid small, hard foods that can cause choking.

Your baby may be close to outgrowing their infant carrier car seat, but you should continue to have your baby in a rear-facing car seat until they are 2.

At this visit, we will:

• Measure baby’s weight, length, and head size
• Talk about dental health and apply fluoride varnish
• Screen your baby for a lazy eye
• Immunizations: PCV #4, MMR #1, Var #1, Hep A #1
• Tests/Screens: Lead Test, Hemoglobin Test, Oral Health surveillance, Fluoride varnish

It’s time to safety-proof your home! 15-month-olds are upwardly mobile, and their climbing and running means you may be keeping an extra watchful eye on your little one. Remember that Poison Control is available 24/7, in case they get into something they shouldn’t.

We’ll take the typical measurements (weight, length, and head size) and provide the following immunizations and tests/screens at this visit:

• Immunizations: DTaP #4, Hib #4, catch up as indicated
• Tests/Screens: Fluoride Varnish

Children are able to understand a lot at 18 months. Be sure to read, sing, and speak to your child often, explaining things and their feelings so they can absorb all the information.

At this visit, we will take the typical measurements (weight, length, and head size) and provide the following immunizations and tests/screens at this visit:

• Immunizations: Hep A #2, catch up if indicated
• Tests/Screens: SWYC developmental, POSI or M-CHAT autism questionnaire, Oral Health Surveillance, Fluoride Varnish

You have a toddler! We will continue to measure weight, length, head size, and body mass at these visits. We will review your child’s development, screen for autism, test for lead exposure, screen for vision abnormalities, talk about dental development, and discuss toilet training and time outs, just to name a few things. 

Most children do not receive immunizations at these visits, unless they are behind on their shots. We will be able to provide flu shots, though, in preparation for flu season!

The years are flying by! Your child may be interested in brushing their own teeth, but we suggest that you continue to help to make sure you’re getting every tooth.

At this visit, we will take the typical measurements (weight, length, and head size) and provide the following immunizations and tests/screens at this visit:

• MMR #2, VAR#2, DTaP #5, IPV#4
• SWYC development, Anemia, Lead, and Oral Health Surveillance, Oral Health, Fluoride Varnish, Dyslipidemia Surveillance

It’s the time of independence and limits - a consistent routine is great for a five-year-old, as is being a solid role model interested in what they are learning and absorbing.

At this visit we will:

• Measure your child’s height, weight, and BMI
• Look at speech and development
• Talk about exercise and nutrition
• Talk about Kindergarten
• Discuss dental health
• Immunizations: DTaP #5, IPV #4, MMR #2, VAR#2 (if not received at 4 Year Visit)
• Tests/Screens: Anemia, Lead, Oral Health Surveillance, Fluoride Varnish, Vision & Hearing Tests

We will see you once a year, unless you and your child have concerns or something we need to monitor more closely. At our visits, we will continue measuring height, weight, and BMI, screening vision and hearing, and reviewing your child’s development and school performance. We’ll also talk through all concerns, exercise and nutrition, and discuss safety issues.

As your child continues to grow and head towards their pre-teen years, we’ll also discuss puberty changes to expect and/or talk through those that have already begun to occur.

At this visit, we will measure height, weight, and BMI, provide the MCV #1, Tdap #1, and HPV #1 vaccines, screen for anemia and dyslipidemia, and continue discussing exercise, nutrition, and puberty.

The teen years are here! We recommend receiving and completing the HPV vaccine series (2 if started before 15^th birthday, 3 if started after) and completing your COVID vaccine series.  After age 16, they’ll receive the MCV #2 and Men B vaccines.

At each visit, we will measure height, weight, and BMI, review your teen’s school performance, perform all recommended yearly screening tests, and complete sports physicals if your teen is participating in sports.

Well-care visits are very important, and are one of the best ways you can keep your child healthy. These preventive visits promote and track healthy growth and development, and also give parents an excellent opportunity to address questions or concerns with their pediatrician. We can continue seeing your young adult until age 21, but many adults have their own doctor at college by that time. It is our absolute pleasure to watch your child grow into the adult they will become, and we’re so thankful you’ve chosen our teams to be along for the ride!