Beyond the Checkup from Birth to Age Four

For new or anxious parents: This handbook follows the typical checkup schedule from birth to age four, while tackling oft-neglected topics like screen time, picky eaters, and disciplineWith the tangle of information available on the internet, it’s easy for new parents to become overwhelmed. In this handbook, Dr. Luke Voytas—a practicing pediatrician (and father of two young kids)—helps parents feel confident and calm by providing advice that is a blend of research-based information and common sense. Beginning with preparations leading up to baby’s birth, including how to find the right pediatrician, this book follows the traditional checkup schedule—month by month, year by year—through age four. In a friendly, often humorous, and reassuring voice, Dr. Voytas also delves into common illnesses and concerning topics such as behavior, eating, and sleep, providing answers to questions parents frequently ask. Filled with reliable information, Beyond the Checkup from Birth to Age Four will empower parents to make decisions that are best for their child and will surely be a trusted resource for everyday use.

“Pediatrician Voytas […] clearly provides easy-to-follow and evidence-based answers to common questions about infant and early childhood […] authoritatively but compassionately cutting through the anxiety-provoking mass of conflicting ideas. He has given parents a mind-settling resource for those stressful moments when they want kind, specific, authoritative advice, but can’t get time with their provider.”—Publishers Weekly 

Dr. Luke Voytas is a full-time pediatrician at Evergreen Pediatrics in Vancouver, Washington. He has also served as the chair of pediatrics at PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center, the largest hospital in southwest Washington. He is known for his ability to help even the most anxious parents learn to feel confident about what they're doing for their kids. He lives in Portland, OR, with his wife (who is also a pediatrician) and their kids.