Early Disease Detection - Screening, Birth to 12 Months
It's important for your baby to have regularly scheduled checkups, often called well-baby visits, starting shortly after birth. During these visits, the doctor examines your baby for possible problems and asks you questions about your baby's growth and development.
At each well-baby visit, the doctor or nurse will check your baby's:
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- Vision, if he or she feels that it is necessary.
- Length, weight, and head circumference.
- Hip growth, to check for developmental dysplasia of the hip.
It's also recommended that your baby have developmental delay screening and a blood test for iron-deficiency anemia.
All states require newborn screening, although the tests required vary from state to state. These tests can help detect serious problems that could affect your baby's long-term health. They may include:
- Galactosemia test.
- Hearing tests.
- Phenylketonuria (PKU) screen.
- Sickle cell disease test.
- Thyroid hormone tests (for congenital hypothyroidism).
A hematocrit test may be done if your doctor is concerned about your baby's red blood cell count.
If the doctor is concerned that your child has been exposed to certain substances or diseases, tests may include:
For more information on important markers (milestones) of infant growth and development, see the topics Growth and Development, Newborn and Growth and Development, Ages 1 to 12 Months.
WebMD Medical Reference from Healthwise
