Making the most of those monthly baby's checkup.

Even healthy babies spend a lot of time at the doctors clinic. Well-
baby checkups, which are scheduled every month or two during the first
year, allow the doctor to keep track of your baby's growth and
development, ensuring that everything's on target. But they're also
the perfect time for you to ask the long list of questions you've
accumulated since your last visit, and to walk away with a wealth ot
advice on how to keep your 'well baby' well.

To make sure you make the most of a well-baby visit: Time it right.
When scheduling appointments, try to steer clear of nap time,
lunchtime and any time your baby's typically fussy. And go for an
empty waiting room, avoiding peak hours at the doctor's surgery, if
possible. Mornings are usually quieter because older children are in
school so, in general, a pre-lunch appointment will beat the four
o'clock rush. And if you feel you'll need extra time (you have even
more questions and concerns than usual), ask for it so it can be
scheduled into the visit. That way, you won't feel quite as hurried.

Fill 'er up. A hungry patient is a cranky and uncooperative patient.
So show up for your well-baby visits with a well-fed baby (once finger
foods have been started, you can also bring a snack along for the
waiting room). Keep in mind, however, that overfilling the tank just
before the appointment may mean baby will be ripe for spitting once
the exam begins.
Dress for undressing success. When choosing baby's wardrobe for the
visit, think easy-on, easy-off. Skip outfits with lots of tiny buttons
or poppers that take forever to do and undo, or snug clothes that are
difficult to pull on and off. And don't be to quick to undress; if
your baby hates being naked, wait until the exam is about to begin
before stripping down.

Write it down Remember those two hundred questions you wanted to ask
the doctor? You wont, once you've spent twenty minutes in the waiting
room and another twenty in the exam room trying to keep your baby (and
yourself) calm. So instead of relying on your memory, bring a list you
can read of. Pack a pen, too, so you can write down the answers to
those questions, plus any other advice and instructions the doctor
dispenses.

You can also use it to record baby's height, weight, immunizations
received that visit, and so on. Make baby comfortable. Few babies
enjoy the poking and prodding doctor's exam - but most enjoy even less
when it takes place on a cold, uncomfortable exam table. Ask the
doctor if he or she can perform most of the exam while baby's on your
lap. Trust your instincts. Your doctor sees your baby only once a
month, you see your baby every day. Which means that you may notice
subtle things the doctor doesn't.

If you feel something isn't right with your child - even if you're not
sure what it is - make sure the doctor knows. Remember, you don't need
a medical degree to be a valuable partner in your baby's health care.
Sometimes the keenest diagnostic tool is a parent's intuition.

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