The first weeks home

Newborn Care

From the first visit after discharge through the early months, our pediatric providers can help with feeding, growth, sleep, safety, and other early concerns.

Choose Your Practice

New Patient Steps

Start Here

Choose your baby’s practice

If possible, call before delivery. If you have not already contacted us, call from the hospital before your baby is discharged so the office can confirm registration, hospital records, and the timing of the first appointment.

North Bethesda

Metropolitan Pediatrics

Call Metropolitan Pediatrics to arrange newborn registration, transfer hospital records, and confirm the timing of your baby’s first visit.

11300 Rockville Pike, Suite 404
North Bethesda, MD 20852
301-230-2280

Call 301-230-2280

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Germantown

THH Pediatrics

Call THH Pediatrics to arrange newborn registration, transfer hospital records, and confirm the timing of your baby’s first visit.

19735 Germantown Road, Suite 200
Germantown, MD 20874
301-540-0811

Call 301-540-0811

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The first checkup

What to expect at your baby’s first visit

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends a newborn checkup within 48–72 hours after hospital discharge, often when a baby is 3–5 days old. Your pediatrician may adjust the timing based on your baby’s birth history and follow-up needs.

We will review

Weight, length, head growth, and a head-to-toe physical exam
Feeding, wet and dirty diapers, and signs that intake is on track
Hospital hearing, blood, heart, and other newborn screening results
Jaundice, sleep, safety, development, and family questions
How parents and caregivers are adjusting and where support may help

Bring with you

Hospital discharge paperwork, including birth and discharge weights
Hearing and newborn screening information and immunization records
Available insurance information and completed new-patient forms
Diapers, feeding supplies, and an extra set of clothes
Your questions—writing them down can make the visit easier

AAP First-Week Checkup

Care for the whole family

Caring for your whole baby

Newborn visits are about more than measurements. They also give your family time to ask about feeding, sleep, safety, and changes at home.

Feeding & weight

Support for breast milk, formula, pumping, combination feeding, and steady growth.

Sleep & soothing

Safe-sleep guidance, day-and-night patterns, crying, calming, and realistic expectations.

Growth & development

Tracking early milestones and discussing the changes you notice between visits.

Safety & prevention

Car seats, safe sleep, illness prevention, immunizations, and knowing when to call.

When to get help

Call sooner when something feels wrong

You do not need to wait for the next scheduled visit if you are worried about your newborn. Call the practice where your baby receives care and describe what you are seeing.

Call your pediatrician immediately if a baby younger than 3 months has a rectal temperature of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher—even if there are no other symptoms.

Call the practice now

Your baby is feeding much less, repeatedly vomiting, or is difficult to wake for feeds
You are concerned about fewer wet diapers, dehydration, or worsening yellow skin or eyes
Your baby seems unusually sleepy, weak, irritable, or simply not like themselves
You are uncertain about a temperature, symptom, medicine, or next step