Quick answer
When should a newborn first see a pediatrician?
Most newborns are examined by a pediatrician before leaving the maternity hospital and are then seen again within the first week, often two to three days after discharge. This early visit checks feeding, weight and jaundice. Your pediatrician will then advise when the next visit is due. Come sooner if you have any concern.
What does newborn care cover?
The first four weeks are a period of rapid adjustment for a baby and for the family. Newborn care is a series of check-ups that confirm the baby is feeding well, regaining birth weight and adapting normally, and that give parents a chance to ask the many questions that come up at home.
A large part of each visit is conversation. Feeding positions, how many wet nappies to expect, safe sleep, bathing and what is and is not normal are all discussed, so that parents go home more confident than they arrived.
When do parents bring a newborn to the pediatrician?
- The first check-up after discharge from the maternity hospital
- Difficulty latching, short or very long feeds, or doubts about milk intake
- Yellowing of the skin or eyes
- Slow weight gain or fewer wet nappies than expected
- Questions about cord care, skin rashes, sleep or crying
- Vaccines due at birth and in the first weeks
Common newborn concerns we discuss
- Feeding
- Breastfeeding technique, feeding frequency, formula questions and burping.
- Weight
- Tracking weight against birth weight and the expected pattern of early loss and regain.
- Jaundice
- Clinical assessment of newborn jaundice and advice on whether testing or follow-up is needed.
- Sleep and soothing
- What newborn sleep usually looks like and how to set up a safe sleep space.
- Skin and cord
- Common newborn rashes, nappy-area care and keeping the cord stump clean and dry.
- Early vaccines
- Reviewing the doses given at birth and planning the next ones.
How GROW approaches newborn care
Newborn visits are kept calm and unhurried. The baby is examined gently, weighed on the same scale at each visit where possible, and findings are explained as they are made.
Parents are encouraged to bring written questions. No question is too small in the first month, and clear answers early on prevent a great deal of worry later.
What happens during a newborn check-up?
History
Birth details, feeding pattern, nappies, sleep and anything that is worrying you.
Measurements
Weight, length and head circumference are recorded.
Examination
A head-to-toe examination including skin colour, heart, breathing, tummy, hips and reflexes.
Feeding review
Feeding is discussed in detail and, where helpful, observed.
Plan
Advice for home, vaccines due and the date of the next visit.
Age groups
Newborns from birth to 28 days. Care continues seamlessly into infancy with the same pediatrician.
What to bring
- The discharge summary from the maternity hospital
- Birth weight and any test results given at discharge
- The vaccination card
- A record of feeds and wet or dirty nappies over the last day or two
When to seek urgent medical care
Do not wait for a routine appointment if your child has any of the following:
- Fever, or a baby who feels unusually cold
- Refusing feeds or feeding very poorly
- Fast, laboured or noisy breathing, or pauses in breathing
- Unusual sleepiness, floppiness or difficulty waking
- Jaundice that is spreading, deepening or appears in the first day of life
- Repeated vomiting, green vomit or a swollen tummy
Go to the nearest emergency department or call your local emergency number.
Newborn Care: frequently asked questions
When should a newborn first visit a pediatrician?
Usually within the first week of life, often two to three days after leaving the maternity hospital. Your pediatrician will advise the exact timing based on your baby's birth history, feeding and weight.
What happens during a newborn checkup?
The pediatrician asks about feeding, nappies and sleep, records weight, length and head circumference, examines the baby from head to toe and answers your questions. Vaccines that are due are also reviewed.
Can feeding and weight concerns be discussed?
Yes. Feeding and weight are the main focus of early visits. Bring a simple record of feeds and nappies if you can; it helps the pediatrician assess how feeding is going.
When should parents seek urgent medical attention for a newborn?
Seek urgent care for fever, poor feeding, breathing difficulty, unusual sleepiness or floppiness, worsening jaundice or repeated vomiting. Newborns can become unwell quickly, so do not wait for a routine appointment.
Further reading
General guidance on this page is consistent with information published by:
