babies and Dr's

OK we are trying to get our insurance figured out, on average how often do you think a new baby goes to the Dr in one year? Are there certain check ups they have to have?

If I recall right:

1 week

4 weeks

8 weeks

4 months

6 months

1 year

18 months

then yearly check ups start. Just rember to add a few sick child visits in there.

My ped's schedule is slightly different than Jamie's.

2 weeks
4 weeks
2 mos
4 mos
6 mos
9 mos
12 mos
15 mos
18 mos
2 year
plus any sick visits

Yes, mine is the same as Karen's. And yes sick visits...and also flu shots, and for infants they are taken in two doses, so depending on how their appointments fall you can usually get the first round at an appointment, but sometimes you have to go back for the second. Also my DD had a reaction to her shots so we had to spread them out and make separate shot appointments for her.

Our insurance just changed on Jan 1, we don't have to pay a co-pay for Well Visits or shots. AMEN.

Ours is the same as Karen's as well. I just looked back at her baby journal and we had 19 doctor's visits (including well visits), 1 ER visit and 1 surgery (ear tubes). Yikes! Poor little kid!

Mine may not be right. I know it is up till 6 months, but after that I have no clue.

Basically, get ready to spend a lot of time at the doctors!

Yup be ready for it! It would be a good idea for workng parents to set all the apts up for the first year. My schedule is the same as Karens. Im sure Jamie forgot one in her ol pg age. It will help so you can coordinate work with the apts and get the times you need. My docts office runs about 6 mths for physicals. Its not always easy to get a convenient apt so i do book way ahead. The first set of apts are harder on the parents. The anticipation of shots is stressful.. speaking for myself. Its seems every apt up until the 15mth apt is all shots, 3 and 4 shots each time. Although we have posponed Grayson's MMR until his 2 yr apt. They typically give that one at 15mths. Anyway.. its alot of apts and alot of copayments.

This thread made me realize that I needed to contact a doctor for Jacob. He will be going to Pediatrics and I have an appt set up for next Wed at 12:30 to visit with them. This practice has been around forever. My husband and I went there when we were young. Plus my nephew goes there now. The original doctor just retired last month, thankfully his daughter has taken over.

Does anyone have any questions that I should ask? Since this is all new to me I am sure I am not thinking of something.

Questions I have so far:
Shots/check up visits schedule
Make sure he will have the same doctor each time
Get more info about them coming to the hospital when he is born


Well, thats as far as I have gotten....help me out ladies....


Dee

Here are a few questions I would ask:

1 - How do they handle sick appointments?

2 - Do they have a separate Sick Waiting room (you will likely be able to see on your own)

3 - When do they generally recommend starting on cereal/baby food?

4 - Do they recommend a specific formula (some do and some totally don't care)

That is all I can think of for now

I agree with LGT - the separate sick/well waiting rooms are a huge thing for us! The last thing you want to do is take your "well" child into a room full of "sick" kids when they're just there for shots. Also, how they handle sick appointments. You want a practice that's big enough to fit you in without having to wait days, but that's small enough that you get to know and are comfortable with all of the doctors. Also, if it's a small practice and they ARE good about squeezing people in for sick visits, that may translate into long wait times. The last thing you want is to have to sit in a waiting room for what seems like forever with a sick kid who's running a fever and throwing up.

Oh, and I don't know if you're planning on nursing or bottle feeding, but I'd ask them about that as well. It definetely helped me that one of the doctors in our practice was an expert on breastfeeding, even though it ended up not working out in the end and we switched to bottle.

Thanks ladies! I will add your questions to my list.

Dee

I think I have mentioned this before, but my GF's practice doesn't do sick appointments at all, she just has to go in and wait to see a Doc, during the winter and on Monday's (because they have modified hours on the weekend) for HOURS...I can't imagine having to entertain a sick toddler in a waiting room for hours. I called this morning at 8:53am to get an appointment and they saw me at 10am, another Ear Infection...and more meds for poor Olivia.

Oh yeah, and ask about weekend Appointments....you don't want to have to pay the ER Co-Pay if your practice is closed all weekend....most have modified hours....