Health and Well-Being Basics for Your Baby

Choose a pediatrician before the baby is born if you can. Your baby will have several well-baby visits in the first year, usually starting within a few days of coming home. These visits track growth, check development and keep vaccines on schedule.

Try to go to these appointments. You'll learn about your baby, build a relationship with the doctor and hear the advice firsthand. Write down questions in your phone between visits so you don't forget them.

For young babies, a rectal temperature is usually considered the most accurate. Ask your pediatrician how to take it and what number should prompt a call. In very young infants, a fever can be serious, so many pediatricians want to hear from you right away if a baby under 3 months has a fever.

Don't give any medicine to a newborn without talking to the doctor first, including over-the-counter fever reducers. HealthyChildren.org, run by the American Academy of Pediatrics, has clear explanations of fever and dosing questions to discuss with your doctor.

Vaccines protect your baby from serious illnesses. Your pediatrician will follow a recommended schedule and can answer questions about each one. Make sure caregivers and visitors are up to date on their own shots, too.

Safe sleep practices from the NIH Safe to Sleep campaign, a properly installed car seat and keeping small objects out of reach are among the most important health habits in the first year. Keep Poison Help (1-800-222-1222) in your phone.

Your baby's health depends on parents who are healthy enough to care for them. Eat, hydrate, sleep when you can and keep up with your own checkups. If you notice lasting sadness or anxiety in yourself or your partner, talk to a doctor. Read more on health and nutrition guides, family health and wellness clinics and the newborn care toolkit.