What happens at each appointment
At a Child Health appointment, a community child health nurse assesses your child’s health and development.
They also provide support for you and your family about parenting, healthy lifestyles and general health, and act as a link to other health services in hospital and in the community.
Five key appointments with a child health nurse
At the 0 to 14 days old check, the nurse will:
- check how you are feeling
- discuss anything you want to talk about
- discuss and offer support and information on:
- feeding, including breastfeeding
- secure attachment
- sleep
- crying
- development
- safety
- adjusting to a new baby
At this check the nurse will:
- weigh your baby
- check their body, including their belly button, skin, head, mouth and eyes
- check the testicles (if your baby is a boy)
- ask about your baby’s vision and hearing
The nurse will also offer you a copy of Your new baby magazine: 0-4 months.
- check how you are feeling
- discuss anything you want to talk about
- discuss and offer support and information on:
- feeding, including breastfeeding
- secure attachment
- communication
- development
- immunisation
- play and tummy time
- crying
- sleep and settling
- community resources
At this check the nurse will:
- weigh and measure your baby
- check your baby’s skin, head shape, mouth, eyes and hips
- check the testicles (f your baby is a boy)
- check your baby’s eyes and vision, and ask about their hearing
- watch the way your baby moves, communicates, and relates to people
The nurse will also offer you a copy of Your new baby magazine: 0-4 months if you don’t have one already.
At this check the nurse will:
- check how you are feeling
- discuss anything you want to talk about
- discuss and offer support and information on:
- healthy eating
- sleep
- family health
- play and development
- safety
- teething
- immunisations
- community resources
At this check the nurse will:
- measure your baby
- check your baby’s skin, head shape, eyes and hips
- check the testicles (f your baby is a boy)
- check your baby’s eyes and vision, and ask about their hearing
- check how your baby is growing
- check your baby’s development:
- communication: talking and listening
- gross motor skills: large body movements
- fine motor skills: small body movement
- problem solving: how your baby works things out
- personal and social development
The nurse will also offer you a copy of Your baby magazine: 4-12 months.
At this check the nurse will:
- check how you are feeling
- discuss anything you want to talk about
- discuss and offer support and information on:
- healthy eating
- sleep
- family health
- play and development
- behaviour
- safety
- immunisations
- community resources
At this check the nurse will:
- check how your baby is growing and developing
- check their skin, teeth and hips
- check the testicles (f your baby is a boy)
- ask about your baby’s vision and hearing
- check your baby’s development:
- communication: talking and listening
- gross motor skills: large body movements
- fine motor skills: small body movement
- problem solving: how your baby works things out
- personal and social development
The nurse will also offer you a copy of Your toddler magazine: 1-2 years.
At this check the nurse will:
- check how you are feeling
- discuss anything you want to talk about
- discuss and offer support and information on:
- healthy eating
- sleep
- family health
- play and development
- behaviour
- screen time
- safety
- immunisations
- community resources
At this check the nurse will:
- check how your toddler is growing and developing
- look at their teeth
- look at how your toddler walks
- check your toddler’s eyes and ears
- check your baby’s development:
- communication: talking and listening
- gross motor skills: large body movement
- fine motor skills: small body movement
- problem solving: how your baby works things out
- personal and social development
The nurse will also offer you a copy of Your child magazine: 2-4 years.