Booking Baby & Birth Mother Check
Regular health and development reviews are offered for babies until they are 2 years old in order to support new parents and ensure that the baby’s development is on track.
When a parent registers a baby as a new patient in one of our surgeries, reception staff should contact the parent to arrange the Baby and Birth Mother Check. This should give enough notice for booking a triple appointment if the parent wants to do all (GP check, mother check and immunisations) in one visit.
What is a baby check?
Babies should have the first development check by a GP (aka. baby check) when they are 6 to 8 weeks old.
At this appointment, the doctor will:
- perform a thorough physical exam, including checking baby's eyes, heart, hips and (for boys) testicles
- measure baby’s weight, length and head circumference
- discuss baby's vaccinations
Subsequent baby checks and immunisations
The first immunisations cannot be given before baby is 8 weeks old.
For the schedule of baby immunisations, see our Vaccinations policy page: UK Routine Vaccinations: Who gets what, when?
Baby & Birth Mother Checks should equate to three appointment slots with GP.
- Birth Mother postnatal check → single appointment with the GP. Book this at the earliest time of the three slots so that she gets a text for the first appointment.
- Baby Check → double appointment with the GP, after mother appointment.
What is a birth mother postnatal check?
This check covers the physical, psychological and social aspects of having a new baby and can be done 6 - 8 weeks after giving birth.
Ideally, it should be booked for immediately before the baby check appointment, but can be done at a completely separate time if the birth mother prefers.