The first pediatric checkup can feel like a lot — and it happens at a time when everything is already overwhelming. Knowing what to expect, and what questions to ask, helps you get the most out of these early appointments.
For a comprehensive overview, see our complete guide to child health.
The Newborn Physical Examination (0–72 Hours)
All babies in the UK are offered a full physical examination within 72 hours of birth, carried out by a doctor or midwife trained in newborn examination. The examination covers:
- Eyes: A red reflex is checked (shining a light into each eye) to look for cataracts.
- Heart: Heart sounds are listened to for murmurs that might indicate a congenital heart defect.
- Hips: Each hip is gently manipulated to check for developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH), where the hip joint is shallow or unstable.
- Genitals: In boys, both testes are felt for (undescended testes is common and monitored).
- Spine: Checked for neural tube defects.
- Palate: Finger run along the palate to check for a cleft (which can be easy to miss visually).
- Abdomen: Gently felt for organ size.
- Skin: General appearance, jaundice assessment.
- Reflexes: Moro (startle), rooting, grasp.
A brief neurological assessment is also made — looking at tone, movements, and general alertness. A repeat examination at 6–8 weeks (at the GP) provides a second opportunity to detect anything that might have been missed or developed since birth.
Midwife Visits (First 10–14 Days)
After you go home, your community midwife visits at least twice in the first week — usually on day 1 and day 3 or 5. These visits focus on feeding, weight, jaundice, and the baby's cord and navel. The heel-prick screening test is done at day 5. By day 10, care transfers to the health visitor.
Health Visitor Contact (First Weeks)
Your health visitor will contact you within 14 days of birth (usually by visiting at home). This is a check-in on both baby and parents, with particular attention to feeding, weight, sleep setup, and maternal wellbeing. Health visitors use a screening tool to ask about postnatal depression.
Routine weight checks and developmental support from the health visitor continue through the early months, with formal reviews at specified ages.
The 6–8 Week Check
The 6–8 week check is a GP appointment for both mother and baby. For the baby, it covers:
- A repeat full physical examination (similar to the newborn check)
- Weight and growth review — plotting on the centile chart
- Head circumference
- A check that the baby is alert, feeding well, and following a face visually
- Discussion of developmental milestones expected in the coming months
- Discussion of safe sleep, immunisations coming at 8 weeks
For the mother, the check covers physical recovery (including checking for perineal healing, uterine size), mental health (using a validated screening tool for postnatal depression), and family planning.
This is also the appointment to raise any concerns you have had since leaving hospital — about feeding, behaviour, your own mood, or anything else. These consultations are not just about ticking boxes; they are the main opportunity for parents to access professional support in the early weeks.
Tips for Making the Most of Appointments
Come with your list. Whatever is worrying you deserves to be said. Write your questions down beforehand — appointments pass quickly and it's easy to forget.
Bring the red book. All growth measurements, examination findings, and vaccination records are entered in the Personal Child Health Record. Keep it accessible.
Know that normal is a wide range. Doctors and health visitors see variation every day. What looks alarming to a new parent is often perfectly ordinary — but the only way to know is to ask.
Key Takeaways
All UK babies receive a full newborn physical examination within 72 hours covering eyes (red reflex), heart (murmurs), hips (DDH), genitals, spine, palate, and reflexes. Midwife home visits in the first 10-14 days include weight, feeding, jaundice, and heel-prick screening. Health visitors contact families within 14 days and provide ongoing weight checks and developmental support. The 6-8 week GP check is a full repeat examination plus growth review for the baby and postnatal recovery/mental health check for the mother.
