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Well Child Visits

2 Week Visit

At this visit, your doctor will …

  • Check baby’s weight, length and head circumference.
  • Do a physical exam with your baby undressed while you are present. This will include an eye exam, listening to your baby’s heart and feeling pulses, examining the belly, and checking the hips.
  • Discuss baby’s development.
  • Address any concerns/questions you may have.
  • Baby will get 2nd PKU, heel stick (1st in hospital)

Feeding

  • Continue to feed baby when he/she seems hungry, and end when baby seems full.
  • Burp during natural feeding breaks.
  • Baby is typically feeding well when he/she has 6-8 wet diapers/day.
  • Do not feed solid foods, juice or water.
  • Make sure to discuss any feeding concerns with baby’s doctor.
  • If bottle feeding, do not prop bottle, and do not put baby to bed with a bottle.

Breast Feeding

  • Feed about every 1-3 hours.

Formula Feeding

  •  Formula fed babies will usually eat every 2-4 hours.

Sleeping

  • Sleep may begin to decrease to 14 to 17 hours per day through the first month.
  • Breastfed babies may wake more often to eat than bottle fed.

BACK-TO-SLEEP

(guidelines for reducing the risk of SIDS, Sudden Infant Death Syndrome)

  • Always place baby to sleep on his/her back
  • In your room in a bassinet or crib not in your bed
  • In crib which meets current safety standards: Bars should be no more than 2 3/8 inches apart. Allow no more than a width of 2 adult fingers between the crib mattress and frame. For full crib safety and standards visit www.cpsc.gov
  • Use a firm mattress without any bumpers, blankets, quilts, pillows, plush toys, ribbons or ties
  • Avoid overheating by keeping the room temperature comfortable
  • Consider putting your baby to sleep sucking on a pacifier

Routine Baby Care

Cord Care

  • The umbilical cord will typically fall off by 2 weeks of age
  • Fold the diaper down so the stump can dry and won’t become irritated
  • You may leave the cord alone or clean the cord area with alcohol and a cotton swab once/day

Circumcision Care

  • Do not wipe or rub penis
  • Put petroleum jelly on penis or diaper front at each diaper change

Bathing

  • Do not place baby in water until 24 hours after the cord has fallen off, or for boys, the circumcision has healed
  • Consider a sponge bath when needed (not often while infant)
  • Clean diaper area with warm wet wash cloth once per day if not bathing

General Care

  • Comfort baby by gently touching baby’s head, rocking, patting
  • Start routines for feeding, sleeping, an playing daily
  • Hold your baby and be attentive to his or her needs. You can’t spoil a newborn.
  • Sing, talk, and read to your baby. Babies learn best by interacting with people.
  • It’s normal for infants to have fussy periods, but for some, crying can be excessive, lasting several hours a day.
  • If a baby develops colic, it usually starts in an otherwise well baby around 3 weeks of age.
  • Use a rectal thermometer (see temp guidelines below)
  • Rashes are not uncommon in babies, call if you are concerned
  • Wash hands often, and ask others who will be touching baby to do the same
  • Avoid crowds
  • Keep baby out of the sun (sunscreen is not recommended before 6 months old)
  • Make a list of phone numbers for emergencies

Safety

Car Safety

  • Visit healthychildren.org for complete car seat guidelines provided by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).
  • Make sure car seat is installed correctly (the Fire Department will check car seats for correct installation)
  • Make sure seat is rear-facing in the back seat, and never in the front seat with a passenger side airbag
  • Never leave baby alone in the car
  • Always wear a seat belt, and do not drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs

Child Safety Seat Inspection:
1-866-SEATCHECK (732-2432) or www.seatcheck.org

General Safety

  • Do not smoke/vape or allow others to smoke/vape around baby
  • Do not leave baby unattended
  • Make sure your home’s water temperature is set to below 120º F
  • Do not carry or drink hot liquids while holding baby
  • Test baby’s formula temperature with your wrist

When to Call

Call 911 Now

  • Can’t wake up
  • Not moving or very weak
  • You think your child has a life-threatening emergency

Call Doctor or Seek Care Now

  • Age under 1 month old and looks or acts abnormal in any way
  • Feeding poorly (such as poor suck, does not finish)
  • Hard to wake up
  • Dehydration suspected. No urine in over 8 hours, dark urine, very dry mouth and no tears.
  • Fever: Rectal temperature below 96.8º or above 100.4º
  • CAUTION: Do not give fever medication before contacting your baby’s doctor

Call Doctor Within 24 Hours

  • High-risk baby for severe jaundice
  • Whites of the eyes (sclera) turn yellow
  • Jaundice spreads to stomach (belly)
  • You are worried about the amount of jaundice
  • You are worried your baby is not getting enough breastmilk
  • Yellow, seedy stools are less than 3 per day. Exception: breastfed and before 5 days of life.
  • Wet diapers are less than 6 per day. Exception: 3 wet diapers per day can be normal before 5 days of life if breastfed.
  • You think your child needs to be seen, but the problem is not urgent