Trust Washington Pediatrics

Offering Gentle Care to Patients of All Ages

Trust Washington Pediatrics to provide excellent pediatric services. We have provided peace of mind to parents and guardians throughout Washington, NC, and surrounding communities for over half a century. From infant care to advising adolescents to vaccinating our youth, choose our pediatric professionals team.

Access Patient Forms

General Physical Exams

Monitor your child’s growth with our general physical exams. Washington Pediatrics recommends coming to our office annually to ensure that your child is up-to-date on vaccinations, their growth, and any developmental concerns. We look forward to building a relationship with your family to be your trusted pediatric office! We also have interpreters onsite to guarantee that everyone is well understood.

Call to Schedule an Appointment Today!

Baby Basics

Feeding

Breastfeeding is the preferred method of feeding your baby. This method is safe, protects against infection, and offers superior nutritional value. The greatest advantage breastfeeding offers a mother and child is the ability to become closer.

Although breastfeeding is encouraged, it is a decision reserved for each individual mother. There are excellent formulas available on the market that provide satisfactory nourishment.

Breast Feeding Techniques

Almost all mothers can breastfeed and are capable of producing milk of good quality and adequate amounts. The baby will be brought to the mother as soon as the mother is ready to nurse (some mothers like to begin in the delivery room).

We advise nursing frequently in the first few days of life. The chief stimulant that produces mother’s milk is the infant suckling. If the mother feels capable, she should nurse as often as she wishes.

After your milk comes in, you may still find that your baby will nurse on an irregular schedule. The baby may nurse several times in four hours and then skip feeding for the next four to six hours. This is perfectly normal. Use your judgment as to how frequently to feed. Often your baby will establish a schedule as convenient as the one you try to devise for them.

Sore nipples are frequently present in the first few days of nursing. This invariably passes as soon as the baby has been nursed for a few days. It is better to go on and nurse when nipples seem sore because the more you nurse, the sooner the soreness will stop.

Breast Care

The experts at Washington Pediatrics advise investing in good nursing bras. Wash your hands before nursing and wash your breasts once a day during a regular bath. Excessive washing can cause nipples to dry out and crack, causing discomfort to you and your infant.

Bottle Feeding

There are several types of milks and formulas available for your baby. Washington Pediatrics suggests using a formula with vitamins and iron supplements. Prepare your bottles and nipples just as you would wash dishes. Although it is perfectly okay to warm your baby’s bottle, giving the baby cold or room temperature milk is also acceptable.

Frequency of Feeding

All babies are different. Sometimes you will have to feed two to three times in four hours, and then the baby may skip feeding for four to six hours. Washington Pediatrics recommends connecting with your infant and allowing them to set up their feeding schedule. It will usually be as good as the one you try to devise yourself.

Burping

Burping your baby is an essential aspect of the feeding process. Burp your baby during or after feeding. We recommend holding the infant on your shoulder and gently patting for about a minute. If the baby doesn’t burp, resume feeding, or if finished feeding, put the baby down on their stomach and try again later.

Bathing

Wash your baby with mild soap and water just as you would wash yourself. When cleaning a baby’s bottom after defecation, it may be necessary to use cotton and water to remove excess stool. We advise against lotions and oils as they may do more harm than good to an infant’s skin.

Care of the Cord

Keep the cord clean and dry. Don’t bathe the baby until the cord falls off. Some bleeding may occur; this is completely normal.

Circumcision

This does not usually require particular care. Wash the area as you would the rest of his body with warm soap and water. You may need to dab some Vaseline on the tip of the penis for the first few days. When you return at age one or two weeks, we will inspect this carefully to see if special care is needed.

Stools

If your baby’s bowel movements are irregular, don’t worry! This is completely normal. Some infants have stool after each feeding, while others may skip a day. Many babies strain and cry when they have a stool. These are usually normal for a newborn. Unless the infant acts sick, there is no need to worry. If you are experiencing issues with your infant’s bathroom schedule, speak with our experts today at 252-946-4134.

Diapers & Wetting

Babies wet about every five minutes. It is impossible to keep them dry. Most mothers change their babies at feeding time. Disposable or cloth diapers may be used according to the mother’s preference.

Sleeping

A baby should sleep in a room of its own. It is essential that the baby sleeps in its own crib or bassinet. An infant seat is a fine piece of equipment to acquire. It serves as an extra sleeping space. We also recommend that the baby sleeps on its back for the first few months.

Safety Seat

The leading cause of death in children over one-year-old is accidents, primarily automobile accidents. Of children under five years who die from automobile accidents, 91% could have been saved with proper restraining devices. Adequate use of such devices could have reduced the severity of injuries by 78%.

The Highway Safety Research Center supplies an excellent pamphlet before leaving the Hospital. Car seats are required by law in North Carolina. Infants should NOT be placed in the front seat of your car if the vehicle is equipped with a passenger-side Air Bag.

Crying

Oh, if only we knew what to tell you to keep a baby from crying! For certain, feeding your child every time it cries is not the solution! Feed at regular intervals. Adding solid foods like cereal early does not cut down on crying!

The most helpful way to encourage your infant to settle down is to handle your baby the same way every time. The most characteristic feature of a newborn is adjusting to your behavior. Almost all mothers handle their infants a little bit differently. That’s fine as long as you do the same thing all of the time.

One last piece of advice: if you are around your baby day in and day out, you will be an expert very soon. You will, of course, know more about the baby than anyone. Do the best you can. The overwhelming odds are that you will be doing the right thing.

Fever

Fever is a symptom, not a disease. Your infant will not be hurt by fever. However, it is crucial to contact our office if your newborn younger than two months has a rectal temperature above 100.5°F.

Older infants and children tolerate fever better than young infants. Please give them appropriate doses of acetaminophen (Tylenol) every four hours to help with the discomfort. The infant’s appearance and behavior are more important than the height of the fever.

Immunizations

Your infant’s first immunization will be given in the hospital if you so desire. Hepatitis B is now preventable, and we strongly encourage parents to protect their children against serious diseases. The schedules for immunizations will be reviewed with your pediatrician when you come in for your first appointment. These vaccinations are available at our office and the local health departments. Call today to schedule a vaccination appointment.

View Vaccine Schedule

Psychological Services

Washington Pediatrics specializes in psychoeducational evaluations to identify learning disabilities. Our psychologist evaluates children meeting the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction requirements with compassion and patience. We want your child to succeed in all aspects of life, and with a proper diagnosis, their education can be adequately adjusted. Washington Pediatrics provides assessment for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Autism, and many other childhood issues, such as depression or anxiety.

Washington Pediatrics offers pediatric psychotherapy services for a wide range of needs. We provide individual and parent/child sessions to help manage behaviors.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I get started?

Call our office at 252-946-4134 to request a Psychological Services referral packet. This packet includes a summary of our policies, insurance questionnaire, and questionnaires about your child and concerns. Once you return the packet, we will contact you with an appointment time.

How many times do I have to take my child in?

We tailor services to suit your child’s needs, emphasizing brief, time-limited services whenever appropriate. For children with more complex needs, more sessions may be necessary. Please feel free to discuss these matters with the psychologist at any point during treatment.

What are the costs?

Rates vary depending on the service provided. It is a good idea for you to contact your insurance company in advance to determine your coverage for mental health services. Once you return your referral packet to us, our Business Office staff will verify your insurance coverage before contacting you to set up the first appointment. They can answer any questions you may have about your coverage and the amount you will have to pay for your services. As a courtesy, we will file claims with your insurance company for you.

Have a question we didn’t answer?

Speak with our team today!

Reach Out & Read

Reach Out and Read (ROAR) is a national program designed to help promote early literacy skills among children at an increased risk for reading failure. Washington Pediatrics has been proud to partner with this program for over 15 years. We distribute 6,000 books annually.

ROAR’s Components

Each child ages two weeks to 5 years receives a free book, selected based on the child’s developmental stage.
Pediatricians and staff are trained in literacy development and inform parents about early childhood literacy for a child’s development.

ROAR’s Emphasis on Literacy

Literacy is an important aspect of child development that is often overlooked until a child is already far behind their appropriate developmental stage. Over 90 million Americans are unable to read adequately. Unfortunately, only 61% of adults in Beaufort County can read above a fifth-grade reading level. Reach Out and Read helps jump-start literacy development to change Eastern North Carolina’s current literacy plight.

How to Help!

Monetary Donations: Monetary donations enable us to purchase new books for the ROAR program.

New & Used Book Donations: New books allow ROAR to distribute books to children with their well-child check-ups, while used books allow us to give books to older siblings and underprivileged families.

Learn More About the ROAR Program!

Washington Pediatrics

1206 Brown Street
Washington, NC, 27889

Get Directions!

Business Hours

Monday- Friday: 8:30 AM- 5 PM
Saturday: 8:30 am - 12 PM
Sunday: Closed

Get In Touch



252-946-4134



252-946-2432



252-946-4134 (After Hours)



Patient Portal

l