What is a Well Baby Visit?

Question

I keep coming across more and more things I've never heard of! I asked a question about weight and someone said that their baby has it's head measured...I'd never heard of that! So I ask a question about that and someone says they have it done at Well Baby Visits...I've never heard of that either!!

My 8 month old has never had to go the the doctors, she's never (touch wood) been unwell....

So what is a Well Baby Visit?

To answer all the people who find this seemingly upsetting, I live in the UK. HERE Paediatricians work in hospitals and only see sick children. I would be referred to one by my General Practioner if something were wrong. There is no reason for a well baby to see a doctor. She has had her immunisations, they were performed without any other examination by a NURSE. She wasn't seen by a doctor when she was born, she was seen by a midwife, because she was born at home. Homebirth is an option for all low risk women in the UK.

To sum up, in the UK we do not regularly see a doctor unless there is something wrong with us, and that includes babies!!!!!!

Answer 1

Pediatric well-baby visits are a critical part of childhood care. The examination is intended to assess the infant or young child's growth and development, recognize problems early and supply appropriate intervention, provide immunizations, instruct and educate the parents, and provide treatment for existing problems.

Preventive medicine is extremely important in childhood because it sets the stage for improved health and reduced disease risk as an adult. The typical well-baby visit will provide information about normal development, diet, general care, immunizations, the latest infectious diseases that are "going around," and other important advice information for parents.

There are several schedules for routine well baby visits. Two schedules are given below, a full schedule and an abbreviated schedule. Both are satisfactory in terms of well-baby care. Other variations exist.

Recommended Full Schedule
At two weeks of life
1 month
2 months
3 months
4 months
5 months
6 months
9 months
1 year
18 months
2 years
2 1/2 years
3 years
Each year after that throughout childhood
Abbreviated Schedule
At two weeks of life
6 weeks
3 months
6 months
9 months
1 year
18 months
2 years
2 1/2 years
3 years
Each year after that throughout childhood
Of course, visits and phone calls to a health care provider should be made any time a baby seems ill or whenever the parent is concerned about a baby's health or development. A well-baby visit usually consists of questions for the parent about the infant's general health and development, followed by a physical examination. The examination includes measurements of length/height, weight and head circumference, vital signs, and a general physical examination.

Special attention is paid to whether the infant has met the normal developmental milestones. The height, weight and head circumference is recorded on a graph, which the health care provider keeps with the infant's chart. You may want to note the results of the well-baby examination in your own medical record for the baby. You also can keep your own records of the height, weight, and head circumference.

The well-baby examination is an ideal time to discuss concerns or questions with your health care provider. This may include special questions you have about immunizations, nutrition, growth and development, accident prevention and family related concerns. If you have important questions, it is a good idea to write them down before going for your well-baby visit - you will save time and won't forget any of the questions you wanted to discuss.

Answer 2

A well baby visit is a check up, plain and simple.

That you have an 8 month old infant who has never had a well baby visit is beyond shocking. Regardless of whether your baby seems well to you, she should be seen regularly by a pediatrician. It's at those well baby visits that pediatricians check a baby's growth -- weight, length, head circumference (yes, it's measured, and it's important); how a baby is doing with eating; how the baby's ears are (babies are notorious for ear infections, many time asymptomatic, incidentally), are their eyes tracking objects how and when they should, is there a head tilt to be dealt with, how is the baby's abdomen, spine, limb tone, etc. Newborns generally have a well baby visit every month (it can be more frequent at the start) for the first six months, then every three months until the baby is 18 months, then every six months. Well baby visits are also when your baby gets shots. Now, if you don't believe in immunizing your baby, well, that's a whole other debate and not one you asked to have, but, if you *are* planning to immunize, that's also a "well baby visit" activity that would have been going on already.

My babies were born early so they had more frequent well baby visits initially -- weekly, for a bit. They are important to monitor your baby's health, and, frankly, I think they are an invaluable opportunity to ask your pediatrician about any questions/concerns you may have.

Hope that helps.

Answer 3

You dont already have a thousand things in mind??? Ok, first I'd say catch up on sleep as that is what most of us are lacking at this time. Then after you are nice and rested do all those things you wish you could do but cant now that you have a newborn. Go to the movies, a restaurant, a bike ride, go have a few drinks with friends.... You'll feel a little lost without your baby there but ENJOY this time. I've only gotten 1 weekend away from my daughter who will be 1 yr old in 2 wks, and you know what I did? I cleaned the apt as it was trashed. What a waste!!! If I had to do it over again I'd save up a little $ for a cleaner to come over and do it for me while I went to a spa or something.

Answer 4

Generally it's the thought that "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure"

Baby is brought to the Dr. to ensure that everything is going well. At these visits Dr will check weight, length, head circumfrence, ask about how much baby's eating, and how much is being put out (how many wet/dirty diapers) The Dr. will also keep an eye on GENERALLY how their development is going. (no, they won't berate if little Johnny isn't crawling by ___ months...but it serves as a history to be able to look back over if there are problems down the road)

This is also the time that new Moms can ask questions, and the Dr also has the ability at that time to "set expectations" things that you'll likely want to watch for, things that could come up.

For me they were helpful because it caught the speech delays in my oldest two sons early...but it was also nice to have a professional be able to stand there and say "Baby's doing well, keep up the good work, see you in ____ weeks"

Answer 5

A well baby visit is a standard, regular check up that babies have at regular intervals - just to check how the baby is growing, receive their vaccinations, etc. They usually happen at 10days - 2 weeks, 3 months, 6 months, 1 year, 2 years, etc. The doctor will usually weigh the baby, measure the baby's length and head circumference, ask about the baby's development (ie: have they hit certain developmental milestones) check their growth and development against growth charts and check their muscle tone and give whatever vaccinations are due. Because these are regular check ups, not a visit due to illness, they are referred to as "Well Baby Visits".

Answer 6

Well baby visits are check ups that usually done at 2 weeks, 1 month, 2 months, 4 months, 6 months, 9 months, 12 months, 15 months, 18 months, 24 months, and 3 years. They get their weight, height and head measured. They also get immunizations at most of these visits. I'm not sure where you live, but most states require immunizations before they can begin any kind of school, including preschool. Also, many day cares require it as well.

Answer 7

usually when your child is born they will explain to you well baby visits... If I remember right it goes, 1 week,2 months,6months,one year... At each visit the measure the child's height, weight, head so forth to make sure the growth is normal.... There are also shots that you need to keep up...

You might want to call your baby's doctor to get a check up make sure you are up on all the shots.... Each parent does what they feel is right...... It is not mandatory it is just a good process to make sure nothing is wrong and if something is not quit right it is caught early..

Hope this helps....

Answer 8

Umm the baby is suppose to go to the doctors at 2 weeks old, 2 months, 4 months, 6 months, 9 months, 1 year, 18 months, 2 years old, and every year after that. They check to make sure the baby is growing right, and to answer any questions you have and to Vaccine the baby.

Answer 9

Also at a couple of them they will check for other things. By state law here a blood test for Phenylketonuria is given at 2 weeks I think (or it might have been 1 month hard to remember for sure). Also just to be sure a lead test is given around 2 years. Here before you leave the hospital they get you an appointment with the ped of your choice for a 2 week visit.

Answer 10

Please tell me your little one has gotten his shots (they start at about 2 months). They are generally given at the well baby check ups (2 days, 2 weeks, 1-2 months, 4 months, 6 months, 9 month(maybe) and 1 year). The first one is to check for biliruben, the 2 week is to make sure baby is back up to birth weight, the 1-2 is when they will start the shots, 4 &6 are check-ups and more shots, 9 months is a catch up for shots, then year is check up and more shots.