1 month checkup
The 1-month checkup: what to expect and what to ask
The first visit where the emergency of the newborn weeks has eased slightly and you can actually think of a question.
Most of this appointment is weight, feeding and reassurance — and the reassurance is the point, not a filler.
What this visit usually covers
- Weight, length and head circumference, plotted rather than judged as a single number — the curve matters more than the point.
- Feeding: how often, how long, and whether it is going well for both of you.
- A physical exam including hips, eyes, heart and the soft spot.
- Sleep, and where the baby sleeps — expect safe-sleep questions rather than a lecture.
Worth asking
Take this in with you. The appointment moves faster than you expect, and the specific question gets a specific answer.
- Is the weight gain where you want it? Ask for the number and the trend, not just "fine".
- Anything about feeding you are quietly worried about — pain, supply, a bottle refusing baby. This is the appointment for it.
- What temperature would mean calling you rather than waiting? Get the number said out loud.
- How am I doing? Postpartum mood is part of this visit and it is easy to leave unmentioned by everyone in the room.
Under three months, a rectal temperature of 100.4°F (38°C) is a same-day call, always — not a wait-and-see. It is worth hearing your own pediatrician say it before you need it.
Where this comes from
Schedules vary by practice and by country, and yours may cover more or less than this. It is a companion for the appointment, not a substitute for it — the person in the room can see your child, and this page can't.