If you've recently had a baby, one of the many things that you'll have to do is schedule regular checkups for your lovebug with a pediatrician. In fact, the American Academy of Pediatrics says that parents should take their newborn to the doctor at least nine times from birth to 18 months.
Although this may seem like a bit much, you can rest assured that it certainly is not. After all, how else are you supposed to know whether your infant is developing normally or if he or she is healthy? Although baby books are informative, they can't tell you absolutely everything you need to understand about your bundle of joy's progress.
However, what is equally important as taking your baby to the doctor is making sure that you as a parent make the most of the appointment. That means following the tips below:
1) Go when it is less likely to be crowded
If you're like the majority of moms and dads out there, you probably don't have lots of time to sit around a waiting room before the doctor sees you. To avoid this, take your newborn to the pediatrician when it is less likely to be crowded so that you'll be in and out in a flash. In most cases, that means booking a checkup for Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday.
2) Come prepared
You know how fussy infants can get. If you don't want them throwing a fit, then make sure you bring plenty of items ranging from a teething toy to snacks to books. Keep in mind that a busy lovebug is a happy lovebug.
The pediatrician is probably going to to ask you to take off some of your infant's clothes so he or she can check things like your baby's heartbeat and breathing. That means you'll want to dress your son or daughter in pieces that are easy to remove quickly. The more time you spend trying to unfasten buttons and undo snaps, the more upset your bundle of joy is likely to be. You may consider magnetic clothing like this.