Caring For Your Newborn

The biggest, most joyful and scariest time of your life as a parent--yes, it's caring for your newborn. However, At Clearwater and Westchase Pediatric Care, your Clearwater and Westchase, FL, pediatricians make that transitional time easier. Their comprehensive newborn care includes everything from vaccinations to well-baby checks to parent education. The doctors and their professional team help parents and their little ones every step of the way.

So many things to keep track of

You've read the books, watched the videos and gone to the classes, and now your baby has arrived. Is he feeding as well as he should? Is she growing on pace with other babies her age? What kind of vaccines does he need and when? Is her car seat safe? Your Westchase, FL, pediatrician helps parents with these questions and more. The goal is a healthy, happy baby.

Newborn services

You'll bring your newborn to the office a few days after discharge for measurements, a weight check and assessment of breastfeeding, circumcision and umbilical cord. As the weeks progress, your child's doctor will help you track your baby's social, behavioral and physical development, give him or her other vaccines as scheduled and discuss with you any concerns you may have.

Concerns parents raise

The well-baby visits are a great time to ask your pediatrician about issues such as:

• Breastfeeding and pumping
• Bottle feeding
• Sleeping
• Crib and car seat safety
• Vaccination schedules
• Checking baby's temperature
• When and how to bathe a newborn
• When to call the office
• Diaper rash
• Bowel movements
• Other skin rashes
• Jaundice

It's a little scary

When you bring that little bundle home, life changes, and parents worry. You can relax a bit, however, because Clearwater and Westchase Pediatric Care is there to help you and your baby adjust and thrive. We have convenient office hours Monday through Saturday and are available by phone and via our patient portal. In Clearwater, call us at (727) 461-1543, and in Westchase, reach us at (813) 818-1543.