A Parent's Guide to Well-Baby Visits in the First Year

In your baby's first year, you'll visit the pediatrician roughly seven times for well-child checkups — plus however many sick visits life throws at you. These "well visits" aren't just routine. They're the structured opportunities your pediatrician uses to track growth, catch problems early, deliver vaccines on schedule, and answer the questions you've been saving up at 2 a.m.

Here's what happens at each visit, what to bring, and what to ask.

The standard well-visit schedule

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends well-child visits at these ages in the first year:

• 3–5 days after birth
• 1 month
• 2 months
• 4 months
• 6 months
• 9 months
• 12 months

Some practices consolidate or add visits (a 15-month visit, for example). If your baby is premature, has a chronic condition, or was born with concerns, the schedule may be denser.

The first visit: 3–5 days old

This is typically the most important single visit of the first year. Your pediatrician is looking for:

• Weight. Most newborns lose 5–10% of birth weight in the first few days, then regain it by 2 weeks. Weight loss beyond that range can signal a feeding problem.
• Jaundice. Elevated bilirubin levels peak in the first week and can require treatment with phototherapy.
• Feeding. Latch issues, milk supply, formula tolerance, and hydration status.
• The umbilical cord stump. Is it drying normally?
• Circumcision healing (if applicable).
• Sleep and state regulation. Is the baby rousable and alert when awake?

What to bring: diaper count log (wet and dirty), feeding log, any hospital discharge paperwork, and a list of your own questions.

Vaccines: Hepatitis B, if not given in the hospital.

1-month visit

Growth is the big focus: has your baby regained birth weight and started gaining? A 1-month-old typically gains an ounce a day.

The pediatrician will check:

• Weight, length, head circumference (plotted on growth curves)
• Reflexes (Moro startle, grasp, rooting)
• Heart and lung sounds
• Hip stability (to rule out developmental hip dysplasia)
• Red reflex in the eyes (to screen for congenital cataracts and other eye issues)

Common questions at this visit: spit-up vs. reflux, sleep patterns, gas and fussiness, tummy time, when to start bath routines.

2-month visit

The 2-month visit is the first "big vaccine" visit. Your baby will typically receive:

• DTaP (diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis)
• Hib (Haemophilus influenzae type B)
• PCV13 or PCV15 (pneumococcal)
• IPV (polio)
• Rotavirus (oral)
• Hepatitis B (if following standard schedule)

For context on why the schedule looks the way it does, see understanding the CDC childhood vaccine schedule.

The pediatrician will also check:

• Social smiling (typically emerges around 6–8 weeks)
• Ability to lift head during tummy time
• Visual tracking
• Cooing and vocalization

Tips for the visit: Bring a blanket for warmth after undressing, schedule a feeding right before or after to calm the baby, and plan a quiet afternoon at home. Some babies are fussy or sleepy for 24 hours after vaccines; low-grade fever is common and expected.

4-month visit

By now you're in a rhythm. The 4-month visit mirrors the 2-month visit in vaccines (second doses of DTaP, Hib, PCV, IPV, rotavirus) and adds new developmental checks:

• Rolling over (often emerging around 4 months)
• Laughing and babbling
• Reaching for objects
• Better head control

Common questions: starting solids (AAP now recommends around 6 months for most babies, though some pediatricians introduce at 4 months), sleep regression, increased drooling (not always teething), and routines.

6-month visit

A major transition point. At 6 months, most babies are ready for solid foods, sitting with support, and showing clearer personality.

Vaccines: Third doses of DTaP, Hib (if a third dose is indicated), PCV, IPV, rotavirus (if not complete), plus the first dose of the annual flu vaccine if it's flu season. Hepatitis B third dose may be given here.

Developmental checks:

• Sitting with support
• Transferring objects between hands
• Responding to their name
• Babbling with consonants (ba, da, ga)
• Recognizing familiar faces

Introduce solids: The AAP recommends starting iron-rich foods (fortified cereal, pureed meat, pureed beans) first. Early introduction of peanut-containing foods (in appropriate forms) between 4 and 6 months may reduce peanut allergy risk for high-risk infants. Ask your pediatrician for specific guidance.

9-month visit

This is the first visit to include structured developmental screening using a validated tool like the ASQ-3 (Ages and Stages Questionnaire). You'll fill out a form before or during the visit.

The pediatrician will check:

• Sitting independently
• Crawling or scooting
• Pulling to stand
• Pincer grasp (picking up small objects with thumb and forefinger)
• Stranger anxiety (a good sign of social development)
• Object permanence

Vaccines are typically minimal at this visit — maybe just a flu shot. Some practices check hemoglobin and lead levels at 9 or 12 months.

12-month visit

Your baby's first birthday visit is a big one. By now, your baby is likely:

• Pulling to stand, cruising, or walking
• Saying one or two words ("mama," "dada")
• Waving, clapping, pointing
• Eating a variety of table foods
• Transitioning from breast milk or formula to whole cow's milk (if following standard guidance)

Vaccines at 12 months typically include:

• MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) — first dose
• Varicella (chickenpox) — first dose
• Hepatitis A — first dose
• PCV final dose
• Hib final dose (if on that schedule)

Some practices split these across the 12-month and 15-month visits to reduce the number of shots per appointment. Both approaches are AAP-compatible.

The 12-month visit also typically includes:

• Lead level blood test (if not done earlier)
• Hemoglobin check for iron deficiency
• Dental referral — a first dental visit is recommended by age 1

Preparing for well visits

Over time, you'll develop a rhythm. To get the most out of each visit:

• Write questions down as they occur to you. Keep a running note on your phone. By visit day, you'll have 5–10 questions and you won't forget any.
• Bring a feeding/sleep log for the first few visits.
• Log growth and developmental changes so you can describe patterns rather than isolated observations.
• Be honest about struggles. Pediatricians have heard everything. Postpartum depression, feeding frustrations, relationship strain — your pediatrician can help connect you with resources.

When to skip the wait and call sooner

Well visits don't replace sick visits. Between visits, call the pediatrician if you notice anything from our guide on when to call the pediatrician vs. go to the ER — fever patterns, breathing changes, poor feeding, or concerning behaviors.

Well-child visits build a long relationship between your family and your pediatrician. The more honest and prepared you are at each one, the more value you'll get from the next 17 years of care.

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