When Should You Take Your Child to The Pediatrician For The First Time?
It is generally advised that a baby’s first appointment with a pediatrician doctor should be scheduled within 3-5 days after birth. The best time to make an appointment with a pediatrician doctor would be during the least busy part of his/her day. You can inquire if they have specific time slots for newborns.
To ensure that you take your newborn to the doctor at the right time after birth, it is a good idea to start looking for a doctor about three months before your baby is due. You can ask friends, relatives, coworkers, and other doctors for recommendations. You can also look at online reviews of the doctor’s services as well as ratings from actual patients.
Ideally, both parents should attend the first appointment and the following appointments with the pediatrician doctor. These visits give you and your pediatrician the opportunity to get to know each other better and exchange questions and answers pertaining to medical care and newborn baby care. If only one parent can attend, try to get a friend or relative to join the other parent.
As a new parent, don’t limit yourself on what topics of conversation you can bring up. Your pediatrician doctor is also knowledgeable about general child-rearing issues and newborn baby care and can provide valuable insights and resources if needed. It is always a good idea to have a list of questions before every appointment, so you do not forget to ask about something important.
By having early doctor visits with the pediatrician doctor, you can make sure your child is thriving both physically and mentally. These checkups help identify any potential health problems so that they may be attended to promptly.
The pediatrician doctor will look into the following areas in the initial check-ups with your newborn:
1. Growth
This is an important process that you will be asked to participate in during your baby’s first few months. The pediatrician doctor or the nurse might ask you to undress your child, and then place her/him on a special infant scale. His/her length may also be measured lying flat on a table with legs stretched out straight. A tape measure can also be used to determine the size of her head. All these measurements will be plotted onto a graph in order to chart your baby’s growth over time. This information can help you understand how he/she is growing relative to other infants of similar age and provide valuable insights into his/her development trajectory overall.
2. Head
During the first few months after your baby’s birth, the fontanelles (soft spots on their heads) should be open and slightly raised. By around two to three months old, the soft spot located at the back of their head will close. The front soft spot usually does not close until around eighteen months of age. The pediatrician doctor will check these in the first and following appointments.
3. Ears
The doctor will inspect both of the child’s ears using an otoscope. This tool allows him to see if there is any fluid or infection in the ear canal and eardrum. He may also ask about how well the child responds to sound, as formal hearing tests are performed during infancy and later when there is suspicion that a problem exists.
4. Mouth
The pediatrician doctor will check the mouth for signs of infection and, if necessary, treat it. This includes checking for tooth growth and assessing the gums to determine whether they are red or swollen.
5. Heart & Lungs
The pediatrician doctor will use a stethoscope to listen to your child’s heart and lungs in order to rule out any abnormalities. This checkup can determine whether there are any abnormal heart rhythms, noises, or breathing difficulties.
6. Eyes
The doctor will use a bright object or flashlight to catch your baby’s attention and track his/her eye movements. He/She also may look inside the baby’s eyes with a lighted instrument called an ophthalmoscope. This can help detect cataracts.
7. Genitalia
During the first appointment and the appointments following that, the pediatrician doctor inspects the genitalia of both boys and girls for any abnormalities. Pediatricians additionally check to make sure that both testes are descending below the scrotum in newborn males.
8. Abdomen
The pediatrician doctor inspects the child’s abdomen to make sure there are no abnormalities or tenderness in any of the organs.
9. Hip Joints
One of the ways a pediatrician checks for problems with a baby’s hip joints is by moving the baby’s legs. This is done in order to detect dislocation or dysplasia of the joint. Later on, when your child starts walking, the doctor will watch his/her take several steps in order to make sure that his/her feet and legs are properly aligned and working correctly together.
10. Developmental Milestones
In addition to asking about the health of the baby, a pediatrician doctor will also inquire about his or her developmental milestones in the following appointments. This includes observing and discussing when the infant starts to smile, crawl, sit up, and walk; as well as assessing their motor skills and tone throughout different body parts. Along with this, the doctor will also check the baby’s reflexes in order to get a general idea of muscle strength development.
Benefits of taking your newborn to a Pediatrician
1. Advanced protection
Make your newborn’s baby care easy through the use of FRH’s childcare services. From protecting your baby against any infections to caring for its hygiene, FRH’s pediatricians are there for you and your newborn at every step of your journey.
2. Expert-led solutions
FRH’s pediatricians are there for your newborn’s baby care by helping you out with various baby care activities. This can include various massaging techniques which your baby can use while bathing. Encourage muscle and bone development of your baby through the use of our expert-led baby care solutions.
3. Accurate health monitoring
Get accurate data about your baby’s health through our expert-led newborn care solutions. The first few weeks form an important part of your baby’s checkup, so finding an expert pediatrician who would provide good newborn care becomes quite crucial. Supervise your baby’s health and see if there are any issues related to your baby’s hair, skin, or any other part through the use of our baby care solutions.
4. Proper guidance and resources
Know the correct way of taking care of your baby through the use of several resources at your disposal. Get knowledge related to several tips that you can use for your newborn through our baby care solutions. With quick query solving you can be sure to get all your baby care queries solved in a matter of minutes. Get trained baby care professionals at your disposal through FRH’s services today.
What Questions Should You Ask The Pediatrician Doctor?
Here are some things to consider when deciding if the pediatrician doctor is right for your family.
- Office hours vary depending on the doctor. Some may offer weekday morning and afternoon appointments, while others might have evening or weekend hours available. You should make sure the schedule works for you in order to find a doctor who offers convenient times.
- Is the doctor working alone, or as part of a team? If it’s a solo practice, how will your child be able to receive care when the doctor is unavailable? If it’s a group practice, who will be responsible for seeing your child if the doctor is not available?
- Is there a pediatric hospital close by? If so, is the doctor affiliated with it in any way?
- How does the office handle phone calls? Is it possible to call in with questions for my doctor during office hours? Many pediatric practices have a nurse on staff who can answer any inquiries.
- What is the average wait time for a doctor or nurse to return your call after hours? Is the practice able to offer telemedicine where you can video visit with a pediatrician or nurse?
- If your child experiences an emergency, will the doctor treat it or refer them to a hospital nearby?
- How much do services cost? Are there any fees associated with the visit, or can you pay for them over time?
- Can the doctor provide vaccination to my child? If yes, what are the vaccination policies?
Visiting a pediatrician’s clinic or hospital is a great opportunity to observe its operations. Is the waiting area clean and inviting? Are the staff members courteous and helpful when patients are in the waiting room or on phone calls? While you’re waiting, it can also be beneficial to chat with the other parents. Ask them what they like best about the doctor’s practice and why they feel confident in the care he/she provides.
Find A Pediatrician In Dubai | First Response Healthcare
With First Response Healthcare (FRH), you no longer need to look for services for quality pediatric care and newborn baby care. FRH provides medical services from some of the best pediatricians, and they can come directly to your home. You can find a pediatrician in Dubai at any time through FRH since our doctors provide their services even on weekends and public holidays.
First Response Healthcare (FRH) has been awarded the Gold Seal of Approval by the Joint Commission International Standards for Home Healthcare, which is a reflection of our commitment to providing high-quality service standards in Dubai. Our team of pediatricians is DHA licensed and highly qualified; they can provide diagnosis and treatment for a variety of medical issues and difficulties for your newborn. Our team of pediatrician doctors strives to provide high-quality care for your children. They are compassionate and caring towards children. We also have a team of highly trained and experienced nurses who can also assist you with newborn baby care.
Through FRH, you can avail of the following healthcare services:
- Pediatrician On Call is a service that allows our doctors to reach your homes within 30 minutes of making an appointment. We can also visit patients in their residences, hotels, or offices throughout the Emirate of Dubai and Ras Al Khaimah. Through FRH, find a pediatrician and take care of your newborn quite easily.
- We offer health checkups for children, and we can come to your home or place of work to do them.
- We offer a variety of diagnostic services, such as blood testing and urine collection. We can come to your home in order to collect samples from your child, we can do that too!
To find an experienced and reliable pediatrician in Dubai, all you need to do is call 0505050387 or 800DIALDOC to book an appointment. You can also book an appointment online by visiting https://firstresponsehealthcare.com/ae/dubai
