Welcoming a new baby into your family can be both joyous and overwhelming. Parents and caregivers are often juggling careers, household demands, and constant streams of advice from friends and social media.
Routine newborn checkups anchor your child’s first year with structure and reassurance. These visits — guided by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) well‑child visit schedule — are more than medical appointments. They are opportunities to build a partnership with your pediatrician, track your baby’s development, and lay the foundation for a healthy future.
Giving your child a healthy start goes beyond routine visits. The right pediatrician will partner with you for personalized care tailored to your family. As pediatrician Melissa Knisley, MD, says, “I tell them that the door is open, and we can touch base about any new parent questions and concerns as often as they need — especially in those first few days and weeks.”
Below you’ll find an easy‑to‑follow overview of the typical newborn checkup schedule, what happens at each visit, and why they matter.
The AAP’s preventive care guidelines outline recommended visits and screenings from infancy through adolescence. During infancy, checkups are more frequent because babies change rapidly and need timely vaccinations.
The AAP well-child visit schedule lists visits at newborn (3–5 days after birth), one month, two months, four months, six months, nine months, 12 months and on. Each visit focuses on:
Most healthy, full‑term babies go home within a couple of days. Your first pediatrician visit is usually when your baby is 3–5 days old. Your clinician will confirm details about the pregnancy and delivery, review hospital records and establish a baseline of health for your baby. Here’s what you can expect during this visit:
Hepatitis B vaccination: Babies who didn’t get their first Hepatitis B vaccine in the hospital should receive it at this appointment. The Hepatitis B series is three doses given at birth, 1–2 months and 6–18 months.
Screenings: Pediatricians review results of newborn hearing and blood tests. If there were concerns in the hospital, they may repeat or schedule follow‑ups.
Growth and feeding check: Weight and head circumference are measured, and families are asked about their baby’s feeding, peeing and pooping.
Feeding support: Whether your baby is breastfed or formula‑fed, your pediatrician will check that your baby is getting enough to eat. They can also connect you with support for feeding, such as a lactation consultant.
Questions and concerns: Newborns make strange noises and display reflexes like the startle or “Moro” reflex. “There’s a huge variation of what’s normal,” says Dr. Knisley. She also reassures parents that it’s normal for newborns to get some rashes that look alarming but are harmless. She encourages parents to take videos of unusual sounds or photos of rashes to show at the visit.
Early checkups can catch issues early and prevent problems from escalating. Jaundice, feeding difficulties and dehydration can develop quickly in newborns. Addressing these issues quickly supports your baby’s health. This first visit also begins the relationship with your child’s pediatrician, who can become a trusted ally in your parenting journey.
The second visit usually takes place at around two weeks. This appointment focuses on weight gain and feeding. “We expect babies to lose weight initially and gain it back by about two weeks of age, sometimes sooner,” says Dr. Knisley.
If your baby hasn’t gotten back up to their birth weight by two weeks, your pediatrician might weigh them before and after a feeding to assess how much they’re eating.
Parents often worry about bowel movements, but there is a wide range of what’s normal. Most shades of yellow, green or brown are fine. If your baby’s stools are red, black or chalk white, tell your pediatrician. Babies might poop every feeding or only once a week; growth and behavior are better indicators of health at this age.
You might also discuss feeding emotions. Families often feel stress and guilt about breastfeeding versus formula. Dr. Knisley reminds parents that a fed baby is a happy baby. “It’s about working together to find the right feeding structure that works for parent and baby in a way that helps them grow while meeting the goals of the family.”
She may refer families to lactation consultants and reassure them that tongue‑tie concerns require an in‑office exam — seeing the frenulum under the tongue doesn’t mean there’s a problem.
By one month, parents and babies are adjusting to new rhythms. During the one‑month checkup, the pediatrician continues to monitor growth and development. The second dose of Hepatitis B can be given at this visit or at two months. Typical topics include:
Dr. Knisley encourages families to bring a list of questions — typed on a phone or scribbled on paper at 3 a.m. — because sleep deprivation makes it hard to remember them later.
The two‑month visit is famous for vaccines, per the vaccination schedule. These immunizations give your baby’s developing immune system a major boost when it needs it most.
Most babies receive seven or eight vaccines at this appointment:
Some parents worry about the number of shots, but they’ve been carefully studied and proven to work best according to this schedule. However, never hesitate to ask your pediatrician questions about vaccines. They’ll keep you up-to-date on the latest research so your child has the best protection against serious illnesses.
Other highlights of the two‑month visit include:
Dr. Knisley adds that around one to two months, babies may experience infant dyschezia — they look constipated and strain when learning to coordinate muscles for bowel movements. Parents often worry, but it’s a normal developmental phase.
At four months, your baby is more interactive — cooing, laughing and maybe rolling. The four‑month checkup provides the second doses of many vaccines: Rotavirus, DTaP, Hib, PCV and IPV. Postpartum depression screening continues, and if your baby was preterm or low birth weight, the doctor may check hemoglobin levels for anemia. Other topics:
The six‑month visit is packed with transitions. By now most babies have doubled their birth weight. It’s time for the third doses of the vaccines given at two and four months — Rotavirus, DTaP, Hib, PCV and IPV — plus the Hepatitis B third dose. The CDC and AAP also recommend the influenza vaccine for all children 6 months and older.
Other highlights:
Around nine months, babies are on the move — crawling, pulling up and exploring. Here’s what to expect during the nine‑month visit:
The 12‑month visit celebrates your baby’s first year and transition toward toddlerhood. Your child may receive MMR (measles, mumps and rubella), Hepatitis A, and Varicella vaccines. Booster doses of earlier vaccines may also be given, and the flu shot is recommended if in season. The checkup includes:
By fifteen months, you likely now have a toddler running circles around you. The 15‑month checkup continues to build on the first year:
Dr. Knisley sees some families carefully logging every diaper and feeding, while others find that level of detail anxiety‑provoking. Apps can be useful if your pediatrician has concerns about weight gain or feeding, but parents shouldn’t feel obligated to track forever. Jot down observations or questions as they occur so you can discuss them at your appointment.
Bring hospital discharge summaries, vaccine records and any specialist notes to each visit. Write down your top three to five questions and ask them at the start of the visit. Whether you wonder about bowel movements, rashes, infant noises or your own mood, your pediatrician is there to listen.
Postpartum depression and anxiety are common. Screening questionnaires help catch these conditions early. Dr. Knisley emphasizes that there is nothing wrong with seeking help: “Taking care of yourself is part of taking care of your baby.”
The vaccination schedule for infants and toddlers is carefully designed to offer them the most protection. Staying on schedule protects not only your baby but also vulnerable family members and community members. Delaying vaccines increases the risk of your baby getting preventable diseases — and long-term complications that can come with them.
The internet is full of conflicting advice. Stick with reliable resources like HealthyChildren.org (by the AAP) and your pediatrician. Dr. Knisley reminds parents not to compare themselves to others on social media. Every baby is unique, and what works for one family may not be right for another.
The first year of your baby’s life is a whirlwind of changes, with frequent well‑child visits to match. While it may feel like yet another commitment on your calendar, these checkups are essential touchpoints for monitoring growth, receiving vaccines, addressing feeding and sleep concerns, and getting support for your own wellbeing. Consider each visit an investment in your child’s future health and a chance to ask questions and build trust with your pediatrician.
As Dr. Knisley puts it, “there’s not a one‑size‑fits‑all approach; every baby and family is unique.” Find a pediatrician who will give your baby the best start in life with personalized advice for their unique needs.