Postnatal and Baby Check

Your baby’s health and development

You will be offered regular health and development reviews (health visitor checks) for your baby until they are 2. These are to support you and your baby, and make sure their development is on track.

The reviews are usually done by a health visitor or a member of their team. They may be done in your home or at a GP surgery, baby clinic or children’s centre.

It’s helpful, where possible, for both parents to attend. This gives you both a chance to ask questions and talk about any concerns you have.

What happens at your baby’s reviews

During your baby’s reviews your health visitor will discuss your baby’s health and development, and ask if you have any concerns.

If your baby is gaining weight and you and your health visitor have no concerns, they should be weighed no more than:

• once a month up to 6 months of age
• once every 2 months from 6 to 12 months of age
• once every 3 months over the age of 12 months

This gives a clear idea of your baby’s weight gain over a period of time.

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, until they are 2 years old.