An important step you can take to promote optimal health and wellness for your baby is selecting a doctor who provides newborn care. A newborn doctor monitors your baby’s growth and development, conducts wellness checkups, and offers recommendations and support to help you best care for your little one. Dr. Gayatri Shanker, the board certified pediatrician and newborn doctor at Caring Pediatric Partners in Saginaw, MI, is here to help ensure your little one is healthy.
Newborn Wellness Checkups
One of the many benefits of having a newborn doctor is regular wellness checkups. Babies grow and develop so quickly. Wellness checkups allow the pediatrician to closely monitor your little one’s growth and development to ensure everything is on track. Some of the things covered during your baby’s wellness visit include:
- Weight
- Height/length
- Head circumference
- Developmental milestones
- Behavioral assessments
- Vision and hearing
- Vaccinations
Your newborn’s first visit with a pediatrician will take place at the hospital within 24 hours after your baby is born. A newborn doctor will then check on your baby daily while still in the hospital. Your baby’s next wellness checkup should be scheduled for about two weeks after leaving the hospital when your infant is between 2-3 weeks old. This appointment will be scheduled at the doctor’s office.
Babies will continue to have wellness visits every few weeks or months until the age of 18 months. During the time the doctor will continue monitoring growth and development, as well as ensure your little one is up to date with immunizations and vaccinations. Once your baby is 18 months old, the time between wellness checkups is extended and eventually only need to be scheduled once a year.
Newborn Vaccinations
Vaccinations are an important component of newborn wellness visits. The newborn doctor at our Saginaw, MI, pediatric practice can help you stay on schedule with all your child’s vaccinations.
Vaccines protect kids from the threat of serious illnesses and diseases, such as the measles and polio, as well as both hepatitis A and B. Vaccines have been rigorously tested and are an effective way to help infants and children develop immunity to a host of diseases. Some vaccines are given in two to three doses across several months or years. Our pediatric staff will keep you informed about when your little one is due for certain vaccinations.
Pediatric newborn doctors work with parents to ensure the health and wellbeing of infants from birth and throughout childhood. To schedule an appointment for your little one with Dr. Shanker, the newborn doctor at Caring Pediatric Partners in Saginaw, MI, call our office at (989) 793-1095.