Well-Baby Checkups and Immunizations
“Well-baby” visits need to be scheduled at one, two, four, six, nine, 12, 15, 18, and 24 months, and here the doctor will cover everything from a brief physical to a discussion of baby's particular growth stage to track his physical, emotional, and motor development. You will constantly be talking about baby's eating habits. After two years of age, your child will need only an annual checkup.
Immunizations should occur at two, four, six, 12, 15, 18, and 24 months. These immunizations protect against the following diseases: diphtheria, pertussis (whooping cough), mumps, measles, tetanus, rubella, hepatitis A and B, prevnar, chicken pox, rotavirus, and haemophilus influenzae type B.
Hepatitis B Vaccine
This vaccine, which helps protect infants at risk of developing the disease from infection passed by the mother, is often given to babies first at birth and then at two and six months. Some babies, albeit a small percentage, develop minor, temporary side effects such as a rash. This is nothing to worry about and will go away on its own within a few days.
Polio Vaccine
Your baby will need to have the inactive polio virus immunization, and this vaccine is given at two, four, and 18 months. Babies used to get the active virus version, but since there was a 1 in 750,000 chance of contracting the disease with the first dose, many physicians felt that was too risky. In concordance with these fears, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) made a new recommendation for U.S. polio immunization, so the enhanced inactivated polio vaccine (eIPV) is now the only option.
Fact
Perhaps the best news of all is that there are now combination shots for some immunizations. These shots eliminate the need for three injections at one time — something that all babies (and some weak-stomached parents) will definitely appreciate.
DTP Vaccine
This is the combination diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis vaccine, given at two, four, six, and eighteen months. The good news is that there is a newer-class version of this vaccine (acellular DTP, or DtaP) with fewer side effects than the old one. However, there is still a chance baby will have a minor adverse reaction within hours of the shot. Watch baby carefully for signs of discomfort.
Hib Vaccine
Given at two, four, six, and 15 months, this shot protects baby from haemophilus influenzae type B. Some babies show signs of discomfort afterward; report any unusually high-pitched crying or redness and swelling to the pediatrician.
MMR Vaccine
This is the measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine, which baby doesn't get until he is 15 months old, when the immune system is even stronger. Up to 15 percent of babies show adverse reactions, not immediately after the shot but within two weeks of immunization. Symptoms such as rash, fever, or swollen lymph glands could indicate a reaction; and it is best to notify your pediatrician immediately if you notice such reactions.
