What to Expect at Your Baby’s Well Visits (0 to 18 Months)

The first 18 months of parenthood are a blur of feeding, soothing, learning, and wondering how someone so tiny can create so much chaos. It is joyful, overwhelming, and sometimes surreal. Woven through all of it is a series of well-visits that are meant to steady you and help you feel supported during a time that is both wonderful and demanding.

Across the country, most families have six or seven well visits in the first year, along with possibly a few weight or jaundice checks in the early days. Different practices and insurance plans structure these differently, but the goals are remarkably consistent. I want to make sure your baby is growing and thriving. I want to check in on your mental health. And I want to help guide you through a year when the learning curve is steep, and sleep is scarce.

My hope is that you leave each appointment understanding that the first year might be hard, but it’s hard to do wrong. Your instincts almost always fall within the very wide cone of reasonable parenting.

Keep in mind that these are well visits; you likely will see your pediatrician for other appointments beyond these for sick visits. Don’t hesitate to call your child’s care team with any questions that come up. That’s what they’re there for!

Here is an overview of what you can expect at these appointments and some tips on how you can prepare for them.

The early stabilization phase (newborn to 1 month)

The first pediatric visits happen quickly. I usually see babies a few days after they leave the hospital, again at around 2 weeks, and again at 1 month. Some practices combine or adjust the timing, but the intentions are the same.

What to expect

I want to make sure feeding (whether it’s breast milk or formula) is going well, and we’re moving toward a comfortable routine, that any jaundice is improving, and that your baby is recovering from the normal newborn weight loss that always happens after birth. Babies’ weight often moves across growth percentiles during this period; some small babies become rotund and some that are born quite large have slower weight gain. This is often completely fine. They are adjusting to where their body naturally wants to be. Ask your pediatrician about their growth and when too much or too little weight gain would be an issue.

I am also watching newborn reflexes, hydration, alertness, and how your baby is waking, settling, and responding to the world. And just as importantly, I am checking on you. It is completely normal to feel sadness, irritability, anxiety, or overwhelm. Think about what your body is going through: significant hormonal shifts, profound sleep disruption, and a new enormous responsibility. The combination would unsettle anyone — having some big negative feelings is a normal part of the process, but I want to make sure that they are manageable and identify opportunities to intervene.

At these visits, your baby will get a full physical exam and weight checks. We’ll have conversations about feeding and sleep, and I try to provide a lot of reassurance. Your baby may cry through all of it. You might cry too. This is completely normal.

How to prepare

Write questions on your phone. Everyone forgets their questions in the moment. Bring a diaper or two and a feeding. No need to dress your baby up (or yourself up) for these visits; getting there is enough of an accomplishment. I am helping you find your footing.

The vaccine and early development phase (2, 4, and 6 months)

This is a lovely stretch. Babies smile, coo, and become more interactive. It is also when the main vaccine schedule begins at 2 months, so your baby will receive vaccines at each appointment during this period. This can bring up some anxiety for some parents, but know that your baby will take cues from you on the vaccines, so try to hold steady. Feeding through the vaccines at this age is a soothing approach that many parents try. As your baby gets older, various distraction techniques can help.

What to expect

Development starts to pick up speed. I focus on head control, rolling, early attempts at sitting, social engagement, and early communication. There is enormous normal variation. Some babies roll early. Some take their time. Some vocalize constantly. Others prefer to watch and learn quietly. I am looking for steady progress that is unique to your baby, not a checklist.

I also talk with you about starting purees (between 4 and 6 months), emerging sleep patterns, and the overall flow of your days. This is the age when advice tends to come at you from every angle — routines, programs, optimization strategies. It can feel as if you must get everything right. I promise you do not. Babies need presence and attunement far more than perfection.

How to prepare

Notice new skills, but do not feel pressure to catalog them. Bring your sleep and feeding questions and the ones you feel silly asking. Those often turn out to be the most meaningful ones.

The mobility and exploration phase (9 to 12 months)

The 9- and 12-month visits fall in a window when children suddenly feel like whole little people. They are typically mobile in some way, whether that is rolling, scooting, crawling, or some other very creative method of getting across the room. They are curious and intentional in their exploration. Their understanding of language grows dramatically, even though expressive words may still be limited.

What to expect

At the 9-month visit, I watch how your child uses their body and how they move toward something interesting, problem-solve, and use their hands to explore and manipulate objects. I pay close attention to receptive language. Many 9-month-olds understand simple words or phrases even if they are not saying much yet.

At the 12-month visit, I usually congratulate you on finishing infancy. The year ahead is still busy but in many ways easier. Many children sleep longer stretches. Daily life becomes less physically exhausting because your child can move independently. They eat family food and sit with you at the table. And they are terrifically loving.

Year two is the fastest skill acquisition period of childhood. You will see rapid changes in mobility and in problem solving. Language begins to expand, especially in the second half of the second year. Children this age are curious, affectionate, and deeply attached to their families. It is a wonderful time.

At this visit, I watch how your child explores the room, follows your gestures, points to show interest, communicates needs, and uses their growing mobility. In many regions, the 12-month visit also includes anemia and lead screening.

How to prepare

Think about how your baby’s movement has changed your routines. Bring questions about feeding, especially as your child becomes a true table eater. Tell me about any sleep changes. At this visit, I often remind parents to reconnect as partners because the fog of the first year has finally lifted enough to breathe again (at least a little bit).

Early toddlerhood (15 and 18 months)

These visits have a very different emotional tone. Children this age often remember that this office is where shots happen. They are also at peak stranger danger. It is completely normal if they want nothing to do with me. Many children cry from the moment I walk into the room. This tells me absolutely nothing about their future temperament. It simply means their memory and attachment systems are working well.

Although we call them toddlers, most children at 15 and 18 months are not yet in the full tantrum phase. And most do not yet have many words. The major expressive language explosion usually comes later in the second year. At these ages, it is common to have only a handful of words.

What to expect

I focus on receptive language. Does your child follow (very) simple directions? Do they point? Do they gesture or bring things to you to communicate? I also look at their emerging skills of walking, balance, climbing, and general coordination. I observe how they explore the environment and how they engage socially.

At the 18-month visit, you will typically complete an autism-specific screening questionnaire. I use this as one tool among many to understand how your child is developing. It is not something to worry about.

How to prepare

Think about what your child understands rather than what they can say. Bring your questions about behavior, mobility, or communication. And do not worry if your child refuses the exam or becomes very upset. That reaction is developmentally appropriate and often reassuring to me.

Closing thoughts

Across all of these visits, I hope you internalize a few ideas:

The first year is hard, but hard to do wrong.
Milestones are averages, not deadlines. I am watching for steady forward motion, not rigid timing.
Babies are resilient. Parents are often too hard on themselves.
Trust your instincts. They are usually within the wide cone of reasonable parenting, even when partners land in slightly different places.
Your mental health matters. I ask about it because you matter and because supporting you supports your child.
Lower family stress often leads to better outcomes than perfect adherence to every recommendation. A calmer home is a healthier home.
I am not evaluating your parenting. I am supporting your family as it grows.

These early well visits are not tests. They are touchpoints. They are opportunities for me to check on your baby, check on you, and help you understand your child during a time of astonishing growth. Watching families evolve during these months is one of my favorite parts of pediatrics. I see confidence grow. I see anxiety soften. I see joy take root.

If you leave these visits feeling steadier and more connected to your child, then I am doing my job.

You have got this. And I am cheering you on.