Pediatrics (Children’s)

We believe that immunizations are an essential part of well-child care. We recommend the administration of all pediatric vaccines according to the guidelines provided by the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Centers for Disease Control. Routine vaccinations help to protect children against infections and are administered as one of the safest and best methods of disease prevention.

We recognize that many families have questions about immunizing their children, and our pediatricians are happy to discuss your concerns about vaccines at your child’s visit.

Please visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for the Recommended Immunization Schedule for Children and Adolescents Aged 18 Years or Younger.

For a list of vaccine information sheets, visit the current VISs page on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website.

Baby’s First Visit

Call the pediatrician's office to schedule your appointment while you are in the hospital or shortly after discharge.

Please bring hospital discharge summary of the baby's nursery course. It is a good habit to make a list of your concerns before your visit. To avoid distractions, try not to bring your other children with you for this first visit.

Symptoms that Require Medical or Emergency Attention for Infants Younger than 2 Months of Age

• Baby is lethargic (very sleepy or difficult to arouse), has poor color, or appears limp and unresponsive.
• Baby has a rectal temperature of 100.4* F (38* C) or higher.
• Baby refuses to eat 3 or 4 times in a row.
• Baby’s hands or feet have a yellow “jaundiced” color, or if the baby develops “pumpkin-colored” skin.
• Baby seems extremely irritable or has a high-pitched cry that lasts longer than 1 hour.
• Baby has a labored, wheezing, or “grunting” breathing pattern that lasts longer than one-half hour.
• Baby has an illness associated with a rash that looks like bleeding under the skin.

If you feel very nervous about your baby's illness or general condition, please call your pediatrician's office.

For medical emergencies, call 911.

About Your Child's First Visit

Prior to the first visit, please provide us with:

• Demographic and insurance information.
• Copies of past hospital, medical, and immunization records.
• Current list of medical problems, medicines and specialists currently providing care.
• Complete a family history form that you can obtain from our office.

At the visit:

• Arrive 15 minutes prior to the appointment to complete necessary paperwork.
• Bring a copy of your insurance card for our records.

After the visit:

• Continue to send medical records, if your child is treated at another location by surgeons, specialists and hospital emergency rooms.

Scheduled Physical Examinations

We recommend bringing your child in for routine visits as directed by your pediatrician's office to ensure his or her wellness. Please schedule your child’s next physical as you leave the office from the previous physical. Also, please confirm with your insurance carrier the number of well-child visits covered.

Below is a recommended list of well-child visits.

Healthy Infants

• 3 to 5 days after birth (if no post-partum visit at the hospital)
• 2 weeks*
• 1 month
• 2 months
• 3 months**
• 4 months
• 6 months
• 9 months
• 12 months

Pre-school Children

• 15 months
• 18 months
• 24 months
• 30 months
• 36 months

After 3 years old

• Annually

* Healthy infant first visit timing may vary.
** Optional and dependent on physician recommendation.

MyChart Pediatric / Teen Proxy

Minor proxy access for MyChart allows a parent or guardian to securely communicate on behalf of a patient who is under the age of 18. Access is obtained by completing the form found on Access Authorization with Minor Proxy.

Not a MyChart user? Please visit mychart.ynhhs.org to learn about the benefits of MyChart and how to sign-up.

• American Academy of Pediatrics
• HealthyChildren.org

• Bridgeport Hospital
• Greenwich Hospital
• Yale New Haven Children’s Hospital
• Pediatric Specialty Centers – Yale New Haven Health
• Lawrence + Memorial Hospital
• Westerly Hospital