The critical first year of life. History, physical examination, and general developmental assessment.

An effective communication style allows the pediatrician to implement optimal health care in a child's critical first year of life. During each encounter with the infant, the pediatrician should strive to elicit the best possible history and perform the best possible physical examination, to provide parents with timely anticipatory guidance, and to enrich the overall therapeutic health care alliance between himself or herself and the patient and family. The rewards for this effort can be exceptionally satisfying and can ideally be lifelong for both the patient and the pediatrician.