Having a new baby is one of life’s great experiences. But happy as the experience is, it also involves a lot of work and responsibility. This book is provided to help make the care of your baby easier and to give you greater enjoyment as parents.

You will find that many helpful friends and relatives will give you advice in caring for your baby. However, parents who listen to one source in which they have confidence generally are happier, more comfortable and have less confusion in caring for their infant.

If problems or questions arise that cannot be solved with the help of this booklet, or other resources that you receive or research, call the office between 9:00 am and 3:00 pm. Questions concerning well child care and minor illness are best handled during routine office hours when access to your child’s medical record are available and if necessary, your child can be seen in the office. Please use after hours only for emergencies or urgent matters that cannot wait until regular office hours.

If you have caller ID you will need to disable anonymous call rejection by dialing *87 when you are requesting a return call whether during or after office hours. If your phone cannot be accessed from an anonymous line, your call cannot be returned.

Most calls to the office will involve your concerns with your child’s health: eating, sleeping, crying or symptoms of illness such as fever, cough, irritability, or rashes.  When you call about your child you will routinely be asked the following questions:

• What is your primary concern?
• When did the symptoms begin?
• What were the first symptoms?
• What symptoms have developed since the illness began?
• What medicines have you given?

Please have a pencil and paper available to write down any instructions. If you know that you want your child to be seen in the office, tell us when you call and we will happily make an appointment for your child.