Newborn Checkups: What Parents Can Expect
You have just brought your baby home, and suddenly everything feels like a question. Is she feeding enough? Is that yellow tinge normal? When should we see the doctor, and what will they actually do?
Newborn checkups exist to answer exactly these questions. The first weeks are when feeding patterns are set, jaundice shows up, and small problems are easiest to catch. This guide explains what happens at each stage, which tests your baby may have, and when to call a doctor without waiting for the next appointment. (In India, 15 to 21 November is observed as Newborn Care Week, a good time to learn the basics.)
Why Newborn Checkups Matter
A newborn cannot tell you what is wrong. Doctors look for things you can’t easily see at home:
- Whether the baby is feeding well and gaining weight
- Jaundice that needs treatment
- Heart, hearing, hip, or other conditions that may not show symptoms in the first days
- Early signs of infection
- Whether your baby is growing and developing as expected
Equally important, checkups are a chance for you, the parents, to ask questions and get help with feeding and care.
The Newborn Checkup Timeline
Schedules vary by baby and by hospital, so treat this as a general guide. Your pediatrician will tell you your own.
| When | What usually happens |
|---|---|
| At birth | Apgar score at 1 and 5 minutes, warmth and skin-to-skin contact, first breastfeed, vitamin K, weight, length, and head size. Birth vaccines are usually given (see below). |
| First 24 to 72 hours, before discharge | A full head-to-toe examination by the pediatrician or neonatologist, a feeding check, a jaundice check, passing of urine and stool, and newborn screening tests |
| 2 to 3 days after discharge | First follow-up: weight, feeding, jaundice, cord, and urine and stool pattern. This is one of the most important visits. |
| Around 2 weeks | Most babies are back to their birth weight. The doctor checks feeding, growth, and answers your questions. |
| Around 6 weeks | Growth check, full examination, the first major round of vaccines, and a look at early milestones such as the social smile. Mothers usually have a postnatal check around this time too. |
| 10 and 14 weeks, then 6, 9, 12 months | Vaccines and growth and development checks, as per the immunisation schedule your pediatrician follows |
Premature babies, low birth weight babies, babies with jaundice, or those who needed NICU care usually need earlier and more frequent visits.
What Does the Doctor Check? A Head-to-Toe Look
| Area | What the doctor looks for |
|---|---|
| Weight, length, head size | Plotted on growth charts to track growth over time |
| Skin and colour | Jaundice, rashes, birthmarks, and colour of lips and skin |
| Head and soft spots | The shape of the head and the soft spots (fontanelles) |
| Eyes | Appearance, and the red reflex, which helps detect eye problems early |
| Ears, nose, mouth | The shape of the ears, an open nose, and the roof of the mouth (palate) |
| Heart and lungs | Heart rate, rhythm, murmurs, breathing rate and effort |
| Tummy and cord | The belly, the umbilical cord stump, and signs of infection |
| Hips and limbs | Hip stability, since hip problems may show no outward sign |
| Spine and genitals | A normal spine and normal genitals |
| Reflexes and tone | Sucking, grasping, startle (Moro) reflex, muscle tone, and activity |
Nothing here hurts, though your baby may cry. If anything looks unusual, the doctor will explain whether it is normal variation or needs follow-up.
Newborn Screening Tests
Some conditions have no obvious signs in the first days but are easy to treat if found early. Which tests are done depends on the hospital, so ask what is included and what you need to arrange. Common ones are:
- Hearing screening (OAE or ABR): Usually done before discharge or in the first weeks. If your baby does not pass, it is repeated, because it may be due to fluid in the ear. Early detection of hearing loss helps speech development.
- Heart screening (pulse oximetry): A painless sensor on the hand and foot checks oxygen levels to look for serious heart defects.
- Blood-spot (heel-prick) tests: A few drops of blood are tested for conditions such as underactive thyroid (congenital hypothyroidism). Some hospitals also test for other metabolic conditions.
- Jaundice (bilirubin) check: By eye, with a skin meter, or a blood test.
- Red reflex eye test: As part of the examination.
Growth and Feeding: How Do You Know Your Baby Is Getting Enough?
Weight
It is normal for babies to lose some weight in the first days, commonly up to about 10% of birth weight. Most babies return to birth weight by about 10 to 14 days and then gain steadily. The doctor weighs your baby at each visit.
Feeding
- Newborns usually feed 8 to 12 times in 24 hours, including at night
- Feed on demand, watching for early hunger cues (rooting, sucking on hands, stirring) rather than waiting for crying
- Exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months is recommended. Don’t give water, honey, gripe water, or other feeds unless your doctor advises.
- If you have pain, a poor latch, or concerns about milk supply, ask for help early
Wet and dirty diapers: a simple guide
| Baby’s age | Wet diapers per day |
|---|---|
| Day 1 | At least 1 |
| Day 2 | At least 2 |
| Day 3 | At least 3 |
| Day 4 | At least 4 |
| Day 5 onwards | 6 or more |
Stools change too: black-green meconium in the first days, then green-brown, and by about day 4 or 5 they turn yellow and seedy in breastfed babies. Fewer wet diapers, or a baby who is hard to wake for feeds, needs a doctor’s check.
Newborn Jaundice
Yellowing of the skin and eyes is common in the first week and usually peaks around day 3 to 5. It happens because the baby’s liver is still maturing, and in most babies it is mild and settles on its own.
Call your doctor promptly if:
- Yellowing appears in the first 24 hours
- It spreads to the belly, legs, palms, or soles, or keeps deepening
- Your baby is very sleepy, feeds poorly, or has fewer wet diapers
- The jaundice lasts longer than 2 weeks
Keep feeding frequently, as this helps clear bilirubin. Do not rely on sunlight or home remedies. Only a bilirubin test can tell how high the level is, and your doctor will decide if treatment such as phototherapy is needed.
Cord Care and Everyday Basics
- Umbilical cord: Keep it clean and dry, and fold the diaper below the stump. It usually falls off within 1 to 2 weeks. Don’t apply powder, oil, ash, or other substances unless your doctor advises. Call the doctor for redness spreading on the belly, pus, a foul smell, or bleeding.
- Bathing: A gentle sponge bath until the cord falls off, or as your doctor advises
- Eyes: Don’t apply kajal or surma
- Keeping warm: Delhi NCR winters are cold, but avoid overwrapping. A baby should be warm but not sweaty. Skin-to-skin contact helps.
- Safe sleep: Place your baby on the back, on a firm, flat surface, with no pillows, loose blankets, or soft toys. Avoid sleeping with your baby on a sofa or armchair.
- Wash hands before handling the baby, and limit visitors who are unwell
Vaccines for Your Newborn
In India, babies commonly receive BCG, oral polio (zero dose), and hepatitis B vaccines soon after birth, followed by the first major round at about 6 weeks, then at 10 and 14 weeks and later. Your pediatrician will follow the schedule recommended by the Indian Academy of Pediatrics (IAP) and give you a vaccination card. Keep it safe, and bring it to every visit. Mayom Hospital offers vaccination and immunisation services.
A mild fever or fussiness for a day or two after vaccines can happen, but any fever in a baby under 3 months needs a doctor’s check. Read more in our guide to children’s fever.
Warning Signs: Don’t Wait for the Next Appointment
Go to a doctor or the emergency department right away if your newborn has:
- Fever of 38°C (100.4°F) or above, or feels unusually cold
- Poor feeding, or refuses to feed
- Very sleepy, hard to wake, limp, or unusually irritable
- Fast or difficult breathing (about 60 breaths a minute or more), grunting, or the chest pulling in
- Bluish lips or skin
- Fits (seizures)
- Yellow skin spreading to the legs, palms, or soles, or appearing in the first 24 hours
- Repeated vomiting, or green vomit
- Fewer wet diapers, or no stool in the first 48 hours
- Red, swollen, or smelly cord, or pus
- Many pus-filled spots on the skin
- A swollen belly or bleeding
If you are worried about something, trust your instinct. You will never be wasting the doctor’s time.
Premature or Low Birth Weight Babies
Babies born early or small need extra attention. Your doctor may advise closer weight checks, extra feeding support, and extra screening such as eye and hearing tests, along with developmental follow-up. Mayom Hospital’s Pediatric department includes Neonatology and a NICU, so families can get specialised newborn care when it is needed.
Looking After Yourself Too
The newborn period is also hard on parents. Sleep loss, soreness, and mood changes are common. “Baby blues” in the first two weeks are normal, but feeling persistently sad, anxious, hopeless, or unable to cope is not something to push through. Talk to your doctor. Don’t skip your own postnatal checkup, and accept help from family and friends.
What to Bring to the Checkup
- The discharge summary and birth records
- The vaccination card
- Notes on feeds, wet and dirty diapers, and sleep
- Your questions, written down. Sleep-deprived parents forget easily!
Questions worth asking
- Is my baby gaining weight as expected?
- Which screening tests were done, and which are still due?
- Does my baby need vitamin D drops or any supplements?
- When is the next visit and the next vaccines?
- How do I recognise jaundice or an infection at home?
- Who should I call in the middle of the night?
Newborn and Pediatric Care at Mayom Hospital, Gurgaon
The Pediatric department at Mayom Hospital, D-Block, South City 1, Gurgaon, includes:
- General Paediatrics
- Neonatology and NICU care for newborns who need specialised support
- Vaccination & Immunisation Services
- Pediatric Nutrition & Growth Monitoring
- Pediatric Emergency Care, and a PICU
You can consult Dr. Deepa Aggarwal, Pediatrician, for newborn checkups, feeding concerns, growth monitoring, and vaccinations. The hospital also has 24×7 emergency services.
? Book an appointment: +91 9999469769
? Address: Mayom Hospital, D-Block, South City 1, Gurgaon
? Emergency (24×7): 0124-4212500
? Pediatric OPD: Mon to Fri, 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM and 6:00 PM to 7:30 PM (Saturday timings vary, so please confirm before visiting)
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. When should my newborn have the first checkup after discharge?
Usually within 2 to 3 days of going home. This visit checks weight, feeding, jaundice, and the cord, and is one of the most important in the first month. Your hospital or pediatrician will tell you the exact date.
2. What happens at a newborn checkup?
The doctor weighs and measures your baby, examines them from head to toe, checks feeding, jaundice, the cord, and hips, reviews screening tests and vaccines, and answers your questions.
3. Is weight loss normal in a newborn?
Yes. Many babies lose up to about 10% of their birth weight in the first days and then regain it by about 10 to 14 days. Your pediatrician will tell you if your baby’s weight needs closer watching.
4. How do I know if my baby is getting enough milk?
Look for 8 to 12 feeds a day, a baby who is alert and settles after feeds, the expected number of wet diapers (6 or more a day from about day 5), yellow stools, and steady weight gain at checkups.
5. Is newborn jaundice dangerous?
Mild jaundice is common and usually settles on its own. It needs prompt attention if it appears in the first 24 hours, spreads to the legs or soles, keeps deepening, or comes with poor feeding or sleepiness. Only a bilirubin test can tell how high the level is.
6. Which screening tests do newborns need?
Commonly a hearing screen, a heart (pulse oximetry) screen, a blood-spot test for conditions such as an underactive thyroid, a jaundice check, and an eye red reflex check. Which tests are done depends on the hospital, so ask what is included.
7. Which vaccines does a newborn get?
In India, babies commonly receive BCG, oral polio (zero dose), and hepatitis B vaccines soon after birth, followed by the first major round at about 6 weeks. Your pediatrician will follow the IAP schedule and give you a vaccination card.
8. When should I worry and call the doctor?
Fever of 38°C or above, poor feeding, unusual sleepiness, fast or difficult breathing, bluish skin, seizures, spreading jaundice, repeated vomiting, fewer wet diapers, or a red or smelly cord all need immediate medical attention.
9. Do premature or low birth weight babies need extra checkups?
Yes. They usually need earlier and more frequent visits, closer weight and feeding checks, and extra screening, which your pediatrician or neonatologist will plan.
10. Which pediatrician should I see for newborn care in Gurgaon?
You can book a consultation at Mayom Hospital, South City 1, Gurgaon, by calling +91 9999469769. For emergencies, call 0124-4212500 or go to the emergency department.
Final Thoughts
The first month with a newborn is full of firsts, and it is normal to feel unsure. Regular checkups give you reassurance, catch small problems early, and give you a trusted person to ask. Keep your appointments, keep a record of feeds and diapers, and call the doctor whenever something feels wrong.