First Checkup Checklist
 While sitting in my doctor's waiting room with my eight day old baby, a woman was swaddling her newborn, sobbing. I was not going to pry, but when our eyes met, she decided to pour out her woes.
"I didn't know you had to bring a diaper. It's my first visit!"
Her hands were shaking, and she looked so distressed. She was acting as if the doctor whipped her with his stethoscope for being such a forgetful, unfit buffoon! She packed up and left weeping. I was a bit nervous too, considering it was my new baby's very first doctor's visit.
All I could think was: thank god I remembered a new diaper! Everything went smooth during the visit, but I forgot to bring cash for my insurance CO-pay. I felt like Wimpy saying: I'll gladly pay you Tuesday for an office visit today!
Baby's first visit to the pediatrician can be scary for new moms. So here’s a handy-dandy check list of what you will need to bring with you for the first doctor visit—besides the baby. (Yeah, you'll look pretty silly showing up to the office without that!)
- Diapers. I would say you should bring a diaper, but the truth is—bring a couple. Newborns sure do have a way of “going” often. For some strange reason, some doctor’s offices get all snippy if you dare ask them for a diaper.
- Wipes. You know that cute little plastic travel wipe holder you got for your shower? Well, fill it up. You’ll need them. If you didn’t get one of those---just throw a handful of wipes in a zip-lock bag. Works like a charm.
- Clothes. Now I'm not suggesting you didn't dress the baby. (I know---you’re tired. You've got that “swaddling” thing down to a science, but you did dress the baby right?) Poop happens. Bring a change of clothes just in case. Another point about clothes: I know you’re just dying to dress your little one in all those cute outfits you gushed over. But now is not the time to put on the three-piece button up Ralph Lauren get-up your mother-in-law bought. Think: one piece. Keep it simple.
- A “shusher”. What’s a shusher you ask? A shusher is something like a pacifier or bottle to keep the baby quiet. Comes in handy when the doctor is listening to your baby’s heart. Also bring along something to clean the shusher if it falls on the floor. Jut think: for your next baby, when the pacifier falls, a simple wipe on your pants and you'll be good to go! But for now, you just may be crazy enough to bring along some disinfectant toilettes. (Pst—there’s some in the top drawer in your little examination room.)
- Insurance items. You may or may not have an insurance card with your baby’s name on it already. And assuming you pre-approved with your insurance company---your card will have to do for now. Make sure your wallet is prepped with proper identification and you have your insurance company’s phone number, just in case there’s a problem. Oh—and please, for the love of all that is good and holy, don’t forget your CO-pay. You'll really feel like “dumb-dumb of the day”.
As far as anything else---well that’s up to you. These are the basics and you can stuff all these items in that new diaper bag you couldn't wait to use. And use it you will. After kid number two, I just put a diaper in the back pocket of my jeans, and shoved some wipes in my coat jacket. If I ever do go for a third….I ‘d say the doctor owes ME a diaper!
Janene Mascarella
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January 12, 2006 12:09 AM Eastern
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