Baby's First Checkup
The 'Head to Toe' Examination
by The Cradle Staff
n addition to initial tests and procedures performed in the nursery, your physician will be able to determine that everything is in working order with your newborn by performing an initial thorough physical examination.
The exam includes:
- Feeling the soft spots, or fontanelles, on your baby’s head – to make sure they’re open (to allow for a growing brain).
- Putting a finger in your baby’s mouth – to assess how your baby sucks and for abnormalities in the palate.
- Feeling the clavicles – to check for birth injuries (especially if a difficult vaginal birth).
- Feeling the belly – looking for kidney masses, hernias and listening for bowel sounds.
- Checking for hip clicks – to look for hip dislocation.
- Checking feet for abnormal orientation – to check for club feet or other abnormalities (due to positional molding in the womb).
- Checking for sacral (above the bottom) dimples – if large or hairy, may indicate underlying spinal cord abnormalities.
- Checking for stool in the diaper or the anus – to make sure it’s open and working.
- Listening to the heart – to check for murmurs or evidence of congenital heart abnormalities.
- Checking the pupils’ response to light/red reflex – to check for cataracts or other abnormalities of the eyes.
- Listening to lungs – to make sure baby is breathing normally.
- Checking the ears – to make sure they’re properly formed.
- Checking skin color – to check for jaundice (yellow color), pallor (pale skin) or plethora (skin that is too red).
- Observing the baby’s overall appearance – to assess alertness, muscle tone and responsiveness.
This article was reviewed by JJ Levenstein, MD, FAAP. Dr. Levenstein is a pediatrician in Encino, California, as well as the president of MD Moms, makers of Baby Silk skin care. Dr. Levenstein is a member of The Cradle’s Advisory Board.
