THE DOCTOR WILL...
- weigh and measure your baby to make sure he's growing at a healthy, steady rate.
- give your baby his first big round of immunizations (he'll probably get vaccines for hepatitis B, pneumococcal vaccine, DTaP, Hib, and polio).
- address any health concerns that she notices (cradle cap, baby acne, and diaper rash are common in babies this age).
- answer any questions you may have about breastfeeding or making the transition to going back to work.
- give some insight into your baby's development, temperament, and behavior.
- check your baby's eyesight.
- check your baby's hearing.
QUESTIONS THE DOCTOR MAY ASK
Read this worksheet all the way through — it links to more detailed information. Then click here to print a clean worksheet you can fill out and take to your doctor.
1. How is your baby sleeping? (At this age, many babies are starting to sleep a little longer at night and less during the day. The average is about nine to ten hours per night — though not all at once — and five or six during the day, broken up into two or three naps.)
2. When, how, and how often is your baby eating? (Most babies still eat every two or three hours at this age, though the frequency may begin to diminish slightly later this month. The doctor asks feeding questions to determine whether your baby is getting enough breast milk or formula to thrive.)
3. What are your baby's bowel movements like? (Soft feces are best, color can vary. Dry or pellet-like stools may be a sign of dehydration or constipation in a formula-fed infant. Tell your doctor if you notice any.)
4. What is your baby's crying pattern like? (If your baby is particularly fussy, the doctor may suggest ways you can soothe her.) Have you noticed a change? Many babies begin to "settle" at about 6 to 8 weeks.
5. How is your baby's head control developing? (Head control is an important developmental milestone. By now your baby should be able to hold his head up when he's on his stomach.)
6. Can your baby push up on his forearms? (This development in your baby's strength and coordination, which could happen this month or next, is the precursor to the mini-pushup he'll master at about 4 months.)
7. How does your baby respond when you talk to him? (At this age your baby should be cooing on his own and at you — it's one of the first steps in his language development.)
8. Does your baby smile on his own? (Most babies are smiling voluntarily by this age — it's one of their earliest social behaviors.)
9. Have you noticed anything unusual about your baby's eyes or the way he looks at things? (Check our eye examinations article to learn how to spot potential problems.)
10. How is your baby's hearing? (Your baby's hearing is mature from birth, so if he's not turning toward voices, especially familiar ones, you should tell the doctor.)
11. What is your baby's posture like? (By now your baby should have relaxed a bit from the scrunched-up fetal position; his legs should come down when he's lying on his back. But if he's overly limp — he feels like he'll slip out of your arms — or has uneven movements, tell your doctor.)
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