What Should I Ask at My First Pediatrician Appointment?

How your pediatricians in Lithonia, Clarkston, and Smyrna, GA, can help with newborn care

When you are going to have a baby, it’s only natural to have a lot of questions. You want to know about your pediatrician, and you want to know more about newborn care. Your pediatrician has the expertise and experience you need to care for your baby. The pediatricians at Decatur Pediatric Group in Lithonia, Clarkston, and Smyrna, GA, offer comprehensive pediatric services, including newborn care.

You will make frequent visits to your pediatrician after your baby is born. Some of the reasons for frequent visits include:

• Routine wellness visits
• Routine vaccinations
• Acute illnesses or injuries

You need to make sure your pediatrician is in a convenient location, close to your home or work. You also need to ask:

• How can I reach you if my child has an emergency or needs after-hours care?
• Do you take my insurance?
• Do you offer payment plans?

After you have your baby, you will see the pediatrician within 2 to 5 days of birth. During this visit, your pediatrician will perform a physical examination and take measurements of length, weight, and other factors to use as a baseline for future monitoring. Your pediatrician may also administer the first dose of recommended vaccinations.

During this visit, you may want to ask:

• How often do I need to feed my baby?
• How often do I need to change my baby?
• How much will my baby need to sleep?
• How often should I bathe my baby?
• How often should I schedule a pediatric visit if my baby is healthy?

Your child may need to see the pediatrician for an acute illness or injury. If so, you may want to ask:

• What do I need to do to care for my child at home?
• How long will it take for my child to recover?
• How can I make my child more comfortable at home?

Your child may have a chronic illness or disease like asthma or allergies and need to see the pediatrician. You may want to ask:

• What do I need to do to care for my child at home?
• What services are available to treat my child?
• How can I make my child more comfortable at home?

Knowing the right questions to ask can help you gain the information you need to care for your child. To learn more about what questions to ask when you first meet your pediatrician, and how your pediatrician can help with newborn care, call the pediatricians at Decatur Pediatric Group in Lithonia, Clarkston, and Smyrna, GA, now. Call (404) 296-7133 today.