Newborns

Welcoming a new baby into the family is an exciting time, but it can also be stressful for new parents. Caring for newborns is an area of specialty for James Atkins, MD, FAAP, of SEARK Children's Clinic in Monticello, Arkansas. If you’re searching for outstanding newborn care, book a consultation online in just moments, or call the office during normal business hours. 

Why do newborns need to come in so frequently?

Babies go through an astounding range of growth and developmental changes in the first years of life. Frequent newborn care visits, also called well baby exams, provide an opportunity for Dr. Atkins to keep an eye on your child’s developmental progress during this dynamic time. 

At SEARK Children’s Clinic, Dr. Atkins and his team adhere to the scheduling guidelines laid out by the American Academy of Pediatrics. These visits begin just days after you bring your baby home from the hospital. You’ll return as your little one reaches the 1st, 2nd, 4th, 6th, 9th, and 12th-month milestones. 

This schedule ensures any potential issues are detected in the earliest possible stages. In many cases, treatment is most effective when it starts as soon as possible. 

What happens during newborn care visits?

During the first portion of the visit, Dr. Atkins gathers some basic information about your child’s development, including their length, weight, and head circumference. He compares these to statistics gathered from other babies around the nation who share your child’s age and sex. 

This process of comparison helps Dr. Atkins determine where your child falls along the developmental scale. Kids can grow and develop at different rates, so there’s usually no cause for concern if your baby sits at one end of the range or the other. 

A quick exam checks your baby’s vision, reflexes, strength, and responsiveness. All of this information goes into their personal medical record, which becomes a valuable resource over time. 

For breastfed infants, a well baby exam should take place within 48-72 hours of leaving the hospital to check that little ones are feeding properly and gaining weight at a healthy rate. Screening for jaundice is also part of the visit, and the practice can assess bilirubin levels in-house. 

Vaccines are also an important part of well baby exams. Your child will receive the vaccines recommended by the nation’s top health experts in an effort to develop full immunization. If you have any questions regarding the vaccine schedule or the overall safety of immunization, Dr. Atkins is happy to provide more insight into the importance of vaccines.  

What kinds of questions can I ask during newborn care visits?

There’s always time built in to answer any questions you have about newborn care. If you have any areas of concern, feel free to broach those topics during the visit. Dr. Atkins is passionate about the role that patient and parent education plays in pediatric care. 

Sleep schedules, nutrition, babyproofing, and socialization are common areas of focus for new parents. To book a well baby exam, call the office or spend a few moments on the online scheduling page, which is available 24 hours a day.