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Well baby visit - two months old baby

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By Ricky Richardson & Suzanne Dixon BSc, MBBS, FRCP, FRCPCH & MD, MPH

Dr Ricky Richardson was brought up in Spain, educated in the United Kingdom at Eton College, and took his first Degree with Honours in Cell Biology and Immunology at the University of London. He then proceeded to study clinical medicine at the Middlesex Hospital Medical School, qualifying in 1973. Following three years as an intern and then resident in Internal Medicine, he turned to Paediatrics and he has remained in this field ever since.

Most of his paediatric career has been based at The Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children in London, but a considerable period of time has been spent overseas on specific assignments in Africa, Central America, Southeast Asia and the Middle East.

He spent five years in Brunei to devise and implement a comprehensive integrated paediatric service at the request of the Government of Brunei. He also spent two years in Muscat in the Sultanate of Oman as Senior Paediatric Consultant and advisor to the Ministry of Health.

In addition to his academic role, he was appointed Honorary Consultant Physician at The Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children, a position which he still holds. He is also a Consultant Physician at the Portland Hospital for Women and Children. His clinical interest is in children with specific learning and behavioural difficulties. In 1990, he co-founded Whizz-Kidz, a children’s charity which has become the largest supplier of mobility aids and specialist services to disabled children outside the NHS.

Dr Richardson is an acknowledged authority on the emerging field of e-Health and Telemedicine. He lectures frequently on the subject and is Chairman of the UK Telemedicine Association. He is also involved in an European working group mandated to facilitate e-Health and telemedicine activities across the European Community.

Dr Richardson is a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians (FRCP), a Fellow of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (FRCPCH), a Fellow of the Royal Society of Medicine and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine.

Dr Richardson is married and has two sons.

"I love this job!" says Suzanne Dixon. "I believe I can bring the best of information to families by the thousands every day. I'm not shy about tapping my colleagues and friends all around the country so that we can get the latest, best, and most sensible advice on every issue."

Suzanne Dixon, MD, MPH, was born and raised in Minnesota and graduated from the University of Minnesota, School of Medicine. She did her paediatric training at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston and then completed a fellowship in Child Development at Boston's Children's Hospital. Dr Dixon joined the faculty at the University of California, San Diego, and did patient care, teaching, and research for 20 years. She ran a large newborn service, performed research in early child development, and was involved in many community outreach activities in maternal child health. Throughout her entire professional life she has maintained an interest in cross-cultural activities, living and working in many parts of the world, including Mexico, India, Kenya, Indonesia, and several countries from the former USSR.

Dr. Dixon is the author of numerous research articles, review articles, and textbook chapters in paediatrics, child and family development, and public health. Her textbook, written with Dr. Martin Stein, Encounters With Children: Pediatric Behavior and Development, has become a classic in child health education andis just coming out in its third edition. She has served as an associate editor for Infant Mental Health and currently reviews for several major paediatric journals.

Dr Dixon is a fellow of the American Academy of Paediatrics and served in national positions in that organization. She is a member of the Society for Paediatric Research, the Society for Research in Child Development, the American Public Health Association, and the Society for Developmental and Behavioral Paediatrics.

Dr. Dixon continues to lecture and consult worldwide on aspects of maternal, child, and family health. She practices behavioral and developmental paediatrics in Montana and works with local advocacy groups on education and women's health. Dr Dixon has been married for 25 years and has three sons. She and her husband travel frequently and enjoy being amateur anthropologists.

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What color will your baby's eyes finally be? Is it normal for him to cry at the end of the day? What's the best way to deal with nappy rash? These are just a few of the questions you may want to ask your GP.

Well baby visit - two months

At 2 months, your baby still keeps you guessing. But his sleeping and eating habits are starting to become more predictable. You should be enjoying him more all the time. In a two months old baby his natural eye colour will start to emerge, and his face will start looking thinner and his body chubbier than even a week ago. His size and weight will be the focus of this well-baby visit, along with feeding and the increase in crying that's expected at this age. Also, it's time for the first set of immunisations.

 

 

 

At this visit, your GP will probably:

 

 

 Check your baby's weight to make sure he's growing at a healthy, steady rate. Click here to view our growth chart.

 

 Ask you about your baby's hearing, eyesight and other new skill developments.

 

 Give you some insight into your baby's development and behaviour at this age.

 

 Give your baby his first big stage of immunisations.

 

 Address any minor health concerns, such as how to alleviate cradle cap or nappy rash, for example.

 

 Answer any breastfeeding questions you may have.

 

 Talk about how to handle minor illnesses at home.

 


Your GP will want to know during the well-baby visit:

 

 

 Has your baby seen another general practitioner since the last visit? If so, why? What was the outcome of that visit, and was any medication or treatment prescribed?
 Does your baby hold his head up when you put him on his tummy?
 Does he use his forearms to elevate his upper chest when put down?
 Does he smile on his own?
 Does he make cooing sounds when you talk to him?
 Does he bring his legs up when he's on his back?
 Does he hold his head more steadily when you hold him up to your shoulder or pick him up?
 Does he sleep longer at night and less during the day?
 Does he have a crying spell at the end of the day? All of this behaviour is expected at this time.

 

Talk It Over

 

 How's your baby eating? How's he sleeping? What are his crying patterns like? Discuss these things with your doctor. If your baby seems especially restless, your GP may be able to show you ways to soothe the two months old baby.

 If you must return to work soon, discuss with your doctor ways to make the transition smoother for you and your baby.

 Discuss confusing or contradictory advice on how to deal with your baby. Everyone has theories about bringing up children, but your GP is the one you should listen to for the most current recommendations.

 Discuss how your family is adapting to life with the new baby, and bring up any sibling issues that are becoming hard to manage.

 If you haven't been out of the house with your new baby, discuss this with your health visitor or GP.

 Are you ready to handle minor illnesses or a fever that may follow your baby's vaccinations? Get instructions before you leave, although there is help here.

 


Speak Up!

 

Many new parents notice changes in their baby's vision and hearing around this age. Talk to your GP about any concerns you have. Your GP will want to know about it if your baby:

 Doesn't look at you or follow you with his eyes as you move from side to side within his range of vision. A two months old baby has a range of about 15 to 45 centimeters (6 to 18 inches).
 Doesn't turn towards voices, especially yours or those of familiar people such as carers or other relatives.
 Still feels so limp that it seems he'll slip out of your grasp, or his head still wobbles a great deal.
 Moves unevenly or moves one leg or arm more than the other.
 Has any problems with his eyes, particularly if they're runny or have pus. He may have a plugged or narrow tear duct that needs attention.
 Doesn't make any sounds.
 Doesn't stay alert for more than 30 minutes at any time.

If things are not falling into place for you as a parent or haven't improved at all since last month, let your doctor know. If you are depressed, your baby will be able to pick up on it, and it could affect his development. He needs you to be at your best for his own mental and emotional growth, so get some help now. You can ask your GP or the surgery for a referral.

 

Click here to return to Well-Baby Visit Introduction.


 
 
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