The Must-Bring Item One Dad Swears by for Baby’s First Doctor Visits

The first few trips to the pediatrician can be a whirlwind. Between baby’s first vaccines, an unfamiliar environment and a new face doing the examining, it’s no wonder many little ones aren’t exactly thrilled. While there’s no magic solution for keeping baby calm during each visit, one dad’s simple trick is making those early checkups a little easier and a lot more comfortable for everyone involved.

Sports journalist, content creator and new girl dad @KevinCooneyy recently shared the “ultimate hack” for those first doctor’s visits that he learned from his wife, Ashley Demato. “When you are at the pediatrician, bring a robe for your little one,” Cooney says in the video, panning over to his sweet daughter wrapped in the cutest floral baby robe. “Look how content she is!”

The robe, Cooney suggests, solves one of the biggest problems when it comes to baby’s comfort: Staying cozy. “They’ll come in, check their heart rate, and then boom—we’re right back to warm,” he says, opening his newborn’s robe briefly before wrapping her back up again. “Ooooh, that’s nice, that’s really nice, Daddy,” he jokingly adds as commentary from his cozy little one.

In the comments, parents praised Cooney and Demato for the clever idea. “Omg we have our 2-month-old checkup tomorrow morning. So I’m definitely bringing my daughter’s robe! So smart, thank you,” wrote one mom. “She said, ‘Dad, we talked about this. The robe is because I’m cold! Do not unwrap!’” joked another commenter. “That’s a great idea! She looks adorable in the beautiful robe,” added another.

While there’s plenty about those early months you can’t control, having a few hacks and a little more information in your back pocket can make things easier. Learn how to prepare and what to expect during each of baby’s scheduled checkups.