Your Baby’s Next Checkup

Now is the time to make an appointment for your baby’s nine-month checkup. At this checkup, the doctor will measure your baby’s head. The doctor will weigh your baby and measure her length. The doctor will give your baby a physical exam. You will need to remove your baby’s clothes before the doctor can do this. You will need to bring an extra diaper, too.


The doctor will also check to see how your baby is developing. Here are some of the things the doctor will check:

• How well she can sit by herself.
• How well she reaches for objects.
• How well her eyes are able to follow moving objects.
• The sounds she makes.

If she did not have a blood test at her six-month visit, your baby may have a test for anemia. She may also be tested for tuberculosis (TB). If you think of questions you would like to ask the doctor, write them down. You might want to bring your questions with you to the checkup. That way, you won’t forget what you wanted to ask. If the doctor’s answers are not clear to you, say so. It is important that you understand what is best for your baby.