During the appointment, your doctor will certainly do the following things:
- Weigh and measure your baby to complete the growth curve.
- This will allow you to understand the development, temperament, and behavior of your baby.
- Give you ideas to teach your baby to sleep soundly at night, if not yet. At this age, he may start waking up again.
What your doctor will want to know
- Has your baby seen other health professionals since the last visit? If so, why? What were the results of this visit? Have drugs or treatments been prescribed?
- Is your baby able to sit properly without any help? Can he turn from a stable sitting position? Is he able to sit easily?
- Is he already on all fours or is he starting? Creeping, pushing or letting go are ways of moving.
- Is he able to get up by pushing on his hands?
- Is he able to do the forceps to take small objects?
- Is he able to take food with his fingers?
- Does he show things with a finger?
- Is he stressed when he sees strangers?
- Does he already say “mom” or “dad”?
- What games does he know (say hello, clap your hands, say goodbye to your hand, etc.)? What are his favorite toys and how does he play with them? Does he shake, hit, drop or throw them?
- Is his first tooth already out? Babies of this age may already have their lower and upper incisors.
- Does he answer when called by name?
- Does he understand a few words?
Talk it over
Here are some problems you should talk to your doctor about during this visit:
- Nutrition
What foods does your baby eat? Give the example of the one-day menu. Does he eat with his fingers? Is he able to drink in a glass? Tell him what milk he drinks. At this point, he should drink either breast milk or artificial milk. - Vitamins and/or iron supplements
Talk about vitamins with your doctor before giving them to your baby. Tell your doctor if your family has a particular diet. - Follow-up exams
If your baby has had an eye or ear exam before because of special concerns, remind your doctor about this visit. This may be the right time to conduct follow-up tests. If your child has been affected by many ear infections, ask your pediatrician if he needs to perform an ear exam during this visit. - Contagious Disease
If a family member or other person who has frequent contact with your child has tuberculosis, hepatitis or meningitis, tell your doctor. Your baby may need to be examined. - Recent illnesses, medications or emergencies
If your child is taking medication or has been in hospital emergencies for any reason since the last visit, talk to your doctor. Bring the records and medications with you. - Discipline
It is best to get advice now before your baby becomes a toddler able to express his / her own point of view. Talk now about setting limits. - Safety
The time has come to carefully evaluate the security of your home. Talk about the safety measures you have put in place in your home and find out about the facility to contact in case of accidental ingestion or emergency. - Sleep Problems Sleep
problems are common at this age. Your doctor can help you with this. Record your baby’s sleep cycles over three days and bring your notes on the day of the visit.
Talk it over!
If your baby has the following symptoms, your pediatrician should know:
- He does not emit sounds or his sounds have diminished.
- He does not turn around when words he knows are pronounced, especially his name.
- He chokes, has problems with solid foods and cannot drink by the glass.
- He has no balance when he moves his arms and legs / he uses one side more than the other.
- He’s not moving.
- He does not turn around when he hears sounds.
- He does not show affection towards you or other members of the family and does not pay attention or distrust to strangers.
- He can not stand his weight while standing.
- He can not get up with his hands when lying on his stomach.
Remember that all babies are different and grow and grow at their own pace. This visit is an opportunity for you to share your concerns with your doctor and make sure your child is growing normally.
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