Health in pregnancy and the early years
Your child's development
Every child develops at their own pace. Their growth and learning are shaped by their personality, their genetics, and the way they are cared for.
Research shows that the relationship between a child and their parents or carers is one of the most important factors in supporting healthy development.
The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS)
The What to Expect in the Early Years Foundation Stage guide [PDF 6.1MB] explains how children learn and develop from birth to age five. It helps you understand what your child may be doing at different ages and how you can support their learning at home. The guide also includes simple, fun ideas you can try together in everyday life
Meet with your Health Visitor
Health visitors are qualified nurses or midwives who support families with children under five. Their job is to help you give your child the best possible start in life.
Most health visitor drop‑in sessions take place at your local Family Hub. At these sessions, health visitors can help you with:
- support during pregnancy and after your baby is born
- help and advice with bringing up young children
- checks on your child’s growth and development
- feeding advice, including breastfeeding and bottle feeding
- support for children with additional or special needs
- guidance on managing behaviour
- information about local services
- advice on keeping your child safe and preventing accidents
You can find a health visitor drop‑in session at your nearest Family Hub, or visit the Health for Under 5s website for more information on healthy, happy early years.
Health and development
There are five health checks that all babies and children should have from birth to two and a half years. Your Health Visiting team will carry out these checks.
For information on all areas of a child’s health and development and specific health information for Buckinghamshire health visiting service, visit our Health for Under 5’s webpages.
Your red book
Shortly before or after your baby is born, you’ll get a personal child health record (PCHR). This usually has a red cover and is known as the “red book”.
You should bring your child's red book every time you visit a baby clinic or your GP. They will use this book to record your child's five key checks, and other information that you may find helpful.
The five key checks
From 28 weeks of pregnancy, health visitors will offer an antenatal health-promoting visit. They can provide advice on:
- Emotional health and wellbeing of both parents
- Supporting the transition into parenthood
- Information and advice on the Healthy Child Programme
- Immunisations
- Local child health clinics and how to access services
- Infant feeding and nutrition
- Safe sleeping
- Dental health
- Home and car safety
- Vitamins (Healthy Start)
- Signposting to Stop Smoking Services
- Signposting to Family Hubs and other local support networks
In the first week after your baby is born your GP or specialist midwife will:
- do a physical examination,
- weigh your baby,
- do a hearing test,
- and “heel prick” blood spot test
The midwife will also provide support on feeding and caring for your baby.
Your health visitor will also contact you soon after your baby is born. They will arrange to see you at home for a review within 10 to 14 days of your baby being born. Health visitors can provide advice on:
- Accessing health services
- Infant feeding support and vitamin supplementation
- Supporting the relationship between you and your baby
- Your emotional health and well-being
- Baby’s health and development
- Safe sleeping
- Smoke-free homes and smoking cessation
- Keeping you and your baby safe
- Immunisation advice
- Dental Health
- Postnatal weight management
- Any concerns you have relating to you or your baby
A health visitor, or member of the health visiting team, will do a review again between 6 to 8 weeks postnatal. They can provide advice on:
- Infant feeding support and an introduction of solid foods
- Emotional health and wellbeing
- Supporting the relationship between you and your baby
- Immunisations
- The health and development of your baby
- Dental health advice
- Postnatal weight management
- Smoke-free homes and smoking cessation
- How to access health services
- Any concerns you have relating to you or your baby
Your GP has responsibility for ensuring the 6 to 8-week Newborn Infant Physical Examination screen is completed for all registered babies.
A health visitor/member of the health visiting team will offer a health and developmental review between 9 to 12 months. They will assess your child at this contact and can provide advice and health promotion on:
- Dental health advice
- Healthy sleep patterns
- Immunisations
- Managing minor ailments
- Prevention of accidents and socialisation
- Assessment of growth
- Advice for healthy diet and weight
- Assessment of your child’s physical, emotional, and social development
- Parental emotional health and wellbeing
- Parenting advice and information
- A reminder of how to access the service
- Any concerns you have relating to you or your baby
A health visitor/member of the health visiting team, will offer a health and developmental review between 2 to 2.5 years of age. They will assess your child at this contact and can provide advice and health promotion on:
- School readiness
- Dental health advice
- Healthy sleep patterns
- Immunisations
- Managing minor ailments
- Prevention of accidents and socialisation
- Assessment of growth including calculation of BMI
- Healthy diet and weight
- Assessment of your child’s physical, emotional, and social development
- Parenting advice and information,
- Toilet training
- Language development
- A reminder of how to access the service
- Any concerns you have relating to you or your baby
For more information visit the NHS website to find out about these 5 key checks.
Further support
- If you have concerns about how your child is developing, speak to your childminder, nursery or pre‑school staff, your health visitor, or a member of the Family Hub team.
- Families who need targeted support for children with additional needs can visit the Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS website.
- You can also text 07312 263754 for confidential advice from NHS professionals in Buckinghamshire. Responses are usually sent within 24 hours during service opening times.