Parents
Taking your new baby to see the pediatrician can be one of the most rewarding experiences as a new parent. It is a time when you can show off how your beautiful new baby is thriving due to your care and nurturing.
During each office visit the doctor and nurse will examine your baby to determine if he or she is developing properly. They will give you advice on how to feed and care for your baby and how to keep your baby safe.
Immunizations are a routine part of your baby’s office visits and will be given to your baby every two months or so until they are fully vaccinated. You and your family should also receive an annual influenza vaccine.
It is so important to immunize your child on time, every time. Vaccines have saved millions of lives over the years and prevented hundreds of millions of cases of diseases. Because diseases still exist in this country and can be imported from foreign countries, unimmunized people are at great risk of getting sick. Babies are most vulnerable to diseases because their immune systems are not yet fully developed. Therefore babies begin to receive vaccines at the earliest opportunity so that they will not become ill, or worse, die from vaccine-preventable diseases.
These visits are also the time to have your questions answered as your baby reaches each developmental stage. You should feel comfortable asking your provider or nurse any questions you may have. Preparing a list of questions is helpful so that no matter how cooperative your baby is feeling at the time, you won’t forget to have your important questions answered.