Now that you are home with your baby, you are probably making many phone calls to grandparents, neighbors, in-laws and more. Be sure to include calling the doctor to schedule the baby's first appointment.
When babies are born, they cannot easily fight off disease. Your baby needs protection against serious and life threatening diseases. By scheduling a visit to your baby's healthcare provider, he or she can recommend when immunizations (baby shots) are to start. These baby shots help your baby's body build antibodies to protect against specific diseases. Your baby receives each shot at a specific age, and there may be times when your baby gets more than one shot at a time. This is safe and done often. At your baby's first office or clinic visit, the healthcare provider can give you a recommended immunization schedule.
DPT: diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus
HIB: hemophilus influenza type B
OPV or IPV: oral polio vaccine or injectable polio vaccine
MMR: measles, mumps, rubella
Varicella (chickenpox)
Hep B: hepatitis B
Sample Check up schedule
Within the first month of age
Feeding and growth check
Questions about your infant's care
Hepatitis B immunization if needed
2 Months
Growth and development check
Immunizations as needed
4 Months
Growth and development check
Immunizations as needed
6 Months
Growth and development check
Immunizations as needed
8 to 10 Months
Growth and development check
Lab screening for: low blood iron (anemia)
and lead (if necessary)
12 months
Immunizations as needed
15 to 18 months
Growth and development check
Update immunizations if needed
2 years old
Growth and development check
Update immunizations if needed
