The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) suggests that babies begin following a regular schedule of checkups (or well-baby visits) within 24 hours of birth. The check-ups should continue every couple of months as recommended by your doctor. But the first few weeks with a newborn can be filled with uncertainty. Is Baby eating enough? Sleeping enough? What is that red bump on her cheek? With so much to worry about, you've hardly had time to ponder what to expect at the doctor's office.

Before you pack your bulging diaper bag and head for the pediatrician's office, you might want to write down any questions you've been meaning to ask your doctor. "Parents should come to visits armed with any questions or concerns they have about their child," says Dr. Sharon L. Busey, assistant professor of pediatrics at the Medical College of Wisconsin. "The well-baby visit is a good opportunity to address questions that the parent [may have]." Dr. Busey encourages parents to make questions and concerns known early in the visit so your doctor has enough time to effectively address them.

If you keep a log of non-urgent questions that pop up in your daily routine, you'll always have a list ready to bring to the visit. For example, Wendy Podpora, a mother of five in Welches, Ore., was concerned about the "very red stork bite" on her son's eye. Her doctor assured her it was no problem, and Podpora reports that it did indeed fade with time.

Besides providing a question-and-answer period for parents, the well-baby visit also allows your doctor the opportunity to ask you questions about your baby's development. "Before examining your child, most doctors will ask specifically about nutrition issues, development and safety concerns," Dr. Busey says. Some doctors tailor these questions to address areas of particular concern. "If a pediatrician is concerned about the baby's growth, for example, she may ask more in-depth questions about the type and frequency of feeding, and the baby's urine output or stool patterns," Dr. Busey explains.

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