What is your well baby visit schedule?

[fawnanddoe]

Since the well baby visits are based around immunizations I was trying to figure out how often and when we would go see the pediatrician since we are not vaccinating. How often do you go? What is your schedule like starting with newborn.

Thanks!

[Symbi]

Although we have had no vaccinations to this point, we have gone to all the "normal" visits. 2, 4, 6, 9, 12, and 15 months so far. My ped is extremely relaxed about vaccines, so I'm sure the fact that I never feel pressure to vax or even explain myself makes it easier for me to go. I like having a doctor who knows my little one, should he ever need more care than a well visit requires.

[Symbi]

I should mention we also did a newborn visit--and I'm glad we did. Found out my little one wasn't getting enough to eat and had lost too much after-birth weight. I kept him at the breast for the next 24 hrs. straight, and he continued to lose weight, so I hired a lactation consultant immediately who came to my house that very afternoon. Baby started gaining weight as soon as I got help and has been a very healthy child. I'm certain that breastfeeding for us wouldn't have been successful without her--and I didn't realize the baby was having problems getting enough until we took him in to the doctor. He appeared to be feeding well. I don't think he was even 48 hrs. old. I'm still breastfeeding 16 months later, so i'm so thankful we got that straightened out early . . . also my lo got an umbilical stump infection, which we just treated topically, but it could have been worse without the diagnosis, so these things make me happy we went to the doctor early.

[To-Fu]

We don't do well baby visits. I take my son to see his ND as need dictates.

[Gladiolus]

We go to a family doctor, which has been really good for us.
For my DD - we used the standard well-baby check until 18 months and then every year around her birthday we take her in. She LOVES seeing the doctor too so it's a total bonus to her!
It was INVALUABLE for us to do the well-baby checks because we got to develop a good relationship with our doctor. When my daughter had to be hospitalized at 20 months old the hospital was giving me crap (nursing a 20 month old -I was told I was keeping my daughter sick by nursing her! co-sleeping family - my daughter refused to sleep in the scary cage-looking bed, etc) my family doctor was there for us and told me what I was doing was great and told me the nursing staff was just wrong - and she spoke to them about it! I don't know if my family doctor would've been so helpful if we didn't have the relationship built up.
For my DS - we did Newborn, 2 months, 4 months, he had an accident at 7 months which required a visit, and then we went back in for 12, 18 months and 2 years old and will do once a year at this point now too.

[MyLilPwny]

I think that the newborn visit is important. We actually have an anti-vaccines pediatrician who is an MD (so her practice is like a naturopath). The doc recommends all the regular "well baby" visits, but I usually just bring my DD in to about every other one. The lead and anemia test at 12 months is probably also a good idea.

[rcr]

I wish I had a doc that will take us. All of the docs in our area have kicked us out because we don't vax, so we don't do WBV because we don't have a dr. I have tried all of the family practitioners, and they don't start to see kids until they are around 5.

[MammaV]

We don't do well baby checks. We see a traditional naturopath. We have seen an osteopath the one time that DS #1 slammed DS #2's thumb in a door and broke it. The DO works in a regular clinic and of course there wasn't anything that could be done for the broken thumb anyway.

[larkedyflarp]

We did the first ones because I think those are important because of the infection stuff after birth possibility etc. I think that was at 2 weeks or one month.

Then I did the 2 month one.

Then I skipped to the six month one and will go back when he's about a year. Cool thing is that my ped. knows we aren't vax'ing and she said just come back in 3-6 months or so and that's what I was planning already

[Magali]

I did a 6 week check up with my ds. That was the last time he has been to a doctor. He's 2 now. I don't see a point in going unless there is something specific I want to discuss or in an emergency of course.

[mommaof5]

We don't do well baby visits.

[mamakah]

my son sees an ND who asks to have a "checkup" once a year after they turn 1. He likes to see the babies for the "usual" wbv, just to watch and keep track of their growing. I don't really feel it is important to do the once a year checkups either, but figure it is smart to have on record.

[Scattershoot]

We don't do well-baby visits. No point. We do have 2 N.D.'s that are very knowledgeable who we visit if the need arises. We also have a chiropractor and an herbalist we trust.

[aniT]

We don't do them.

[Everrgreen]

DS saw the midwife until he was 6 weeks old. We haven't done any WBV's, however, we have early years centre's here (mom and baby groups) which have a nurse come once a month to check the weight and answer questions.

[Marnica]

I am taking my DS who is 13 months in for his 12 month WBV in a couple of weeks. This will be the last one we do. I wanted to establish a relationship with the ped and since we changed after our 6 month visit to a new one, he has only seen her once for the 9 month visit. Also his iron levels were low and I want them to recheck at this visit to see if they have come up as we chose not to supplement at that time.

[claddaghmom]

Originally Posted by fawnanddoe

Since the well baby visits are based around immunizations I was trying to figure out how often and when we would go see the pediatrician since we are not vaccinating. How often do you go? What is your schedule like starting with newborn.

Thanks!

We were going every three months...but now I am waiting until 1 year and then I will go once a year after that...for CYA reasons only.

[roxemama]

We went in the first visit, 1 mo, 6mo and 1 year. My other friend only goes in if there is a problem; I think that's our plan here on out.

:

[emma1325]

With our next, I think we'll go in at 2 months, 6 months, one year, and yearly after that.

[just_lily]

We went at one week and two months. It made me feel better knowing her heart and hips and whatnot were fine - things I wouldn't necessarily notice myself. We may go again at a year, but I don't really feel the need.

I also took her to a drop in at the public health clinic from time to time to get her weighed and measured, mainly for my own interest.