Wherever you are and whatever happens to your child, you’ll have a record of their health and progress which can be shared with health professionals. The book is sometimes called the “red book” but it will be a different colour and have a different name in different states. When you visit your doctor, your baby’s healthcare professional will use the book to record your child’s weight and other measurements, vaccinations and other important health information.
You can also add information yourself. It’s a good idea to record any illnesses or accidents and details of any medicines your child takes. Don’t forget to take the book with you when you take your child for a review or vaccination.
Your baby’s general development
During your child’s development reviews, BMC health nurse and your doctor will ask you how your child is going and about any concerns you may have. If your baby was born prematurely, their developmental age will be calculated from your original due date, not from the actual date they were born.
Your baby will usually be weighed regularly between the ages of 1 month and 13 months and at the time of routine vaccinations.
If there’s any concern about your baby’s weight, they may be weighed more often. In general, your baby should be weighed no more than once a month when they’re up to 6 months old, once every 2 months from 6 to 12 months, and once every 3 months when they’re over the age of one.When should children be checked?Children’s health and development should be checked at:
- birth
- 1 to 4 weeks
- 6 to 8 weeks
- 6 to 9 months
- 18 months
- 2 years
- 3 years
- 4 years.
Be sure to take your child to visit your nurse doctor at these ages. Some children may also need additional visits if they have particular health issues – your doctor or early childhood nurse should advise you of this if it is the case.
After the birth
Maternity services will support you with breastfeeding, caring for your new baby and adjusting to life as a parent.
Your baby will be examined by a doctor and given a number of tests, including a hearing test. Routine vitamin K and hepatitis B vaccinations are recommended.
Between 1 to 4 weeks
Assessment will be done by your nurse and doctor. They’ll advise you on feeding your baby, becoming a parent and how to help your baby grow up healthily.
Between 6 and 8 weeks
Your baby will have several tests and a full physical examination by your doctor.
Health checks are used to monitor how your child is growing and to check whether certain conditions are present so they can be treated. Your child and family health nurse or doctor will check or discuss your child’s hearing, vision, development, height, weight and head circumference growth, and will be happy to discuss the results with you.
The 6 week immunisations are given now.
At 4 months
Your baby will be given their scheduled vaccinations. This is also an opportunity for you to raise any concerns you may have and to ask for any information you need. If you have any worries at any other times, would like to know more about your or your baby’s health or have your baby weighed, contact the team or go to a local child health clinic.
Between 6 to 9 months
Assessment can be done by our health nurse and doctor. They’ll check the baby’s weight and growth, hearing, vision and oral health. This visit focuses on family health and wellbeing, poisons information, how you can prevent your baby from being injured, being sun smart, improving communication, language and play.
The 6 month immunisations are given now.
At 12 months
Routine 12 month vaccinations are given, and are another opportunity to discuss your child’s growth and development, as well as any other child health or parenting issues.
After the first year
Child health checks occur at 18 months, 2 years, 3 years and 4 years of age. Prior to starting school Burnett Medical Centre can provide a health assessment, and if you, your child or your child’s teacher have any concerns about your child’s wellbeing at any time during their schooling. All children should also have a dental check-up prior to starting school.
A health assessment prior to your child starting high school is also highly recommended. As part of this assessment, it is recommended that your child’s eyes and vision are assessed in each eye separately. Hearing testing can be done at any age.
Immunisations are scheduled to be given at 18 months and 4 years of age. The 4 year vaccinations can be given from age 3 ½ years.