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The first consultation after the child's discharge from hospital usually takes place at the age of 2 months (actual age) for babies born at term, and at the corrected age of 2 months for babies born prematurely. It is important to leave a certain period after discharge so parents have time to establish an intimate relationship with their child, based on direct mutual knowledge, without the specialist's mediation interfering with it. Sometimes, however, there may be reasons (related to child or parents) for arranging a consultation soon after discharge; likewise parents, if they feel the need, may ask the therapist to bring the consultation forward.
Parents are invited to sit in front of the desk where some toys have been laid out, with their child in their arms. I try to make them feel at ease, and I observe the child while the parents talk to me about it (Figure 22).