Although you will see your child's doctor more frequently during your child's first year than at any other time, regular checkups will continue to be an essential part of keeping your child healthy throughout childhood and adolescence. These regular checkups, typically called ?well child visits?, give you a chance to get to know your doctor so you can work together more effectively to care for your child.

At each well-child visit during your child's first 5 years, your doctor will make sure your child is growing and developing properly, that he or she has no serious abnormalities or health problems, and that he or she has all the recommended vaccinations. The doctor will keep a record of all the vaccinations and any illnesses your child has. Both parents should try to attend these early visits. It is also important to be open and honest to the doctor regarding your child.

The first well-child checkup at 2 to 4 weeks (at 2 to 4 days if your baby was discharged from the hospital within 48 hours of birth or at 1 to 2 weeks if you are breast-feeding) will be a little different from the ones that follow, especially if it's the first meeting between you, the doctor, and your baby. If another doctor performed your baby's examination in the first 2 to 4 days after birth, make sure that your child's doctor has the medical records from that examination before your child's first visit.

At this visit, the doctor will ask about your pregnancy, your labor and delivery, and any complications you may have had. He or she will also want to know your baby's birth weight, the estimated length of your pregnancy, and about any problems the baby had after delivery. The first visit is a good time to ask the doctor about your baby's development, feeding, sleeping, or general care, and to discuss any concerns you have. Be open with your doctor if you are experiencing excessive stress or fatigue or are finding the baby extremely disruptive to your or your family's sleep patterns. It is important to safeguard your own health as well as your new baby's.

One of the most important indications that an infant is healthy and thriving is a steady weight gain from one checkup to the next. At the first checkup, the doctor will weigh your baby to make sure his or her weight is at or above the weight at birth. Remember that most babies lose weight during the first 7 to 10 days of life.

At each visit it is a great idea to develop a set of questions and concerns that you may express to the doctor concerning your child. These questions could range from your babies health, questions regarding your expectations of each visit and also concerns that you may have regarding your baby. The most important thing to remember when you go to see the doctor is that your doctor is there to support you and ensure that each and every one of your visits counts towards you having a healthy baby.