Your 6-8 week visit from a health visitor

Here you will find information related to your 6-8 week health visitor review which usually takes place at your home 6 to 8 weeks after your baby is born.

You will also be offered a GP 6-8 week review and your baby’s first immunisations around 8 weeks of age. At the GP review your baby will be examined to review their physical development. The GP will examine your baby’s heart, eyes and testicles (if you have a boy). The GP will also check if you are feeling well and have recovered from the birth properly. Find out more here:

For practical advice and information about your baby’s development over their first year please visit:

This page contains information that your health visitor will discuss with you at the 6-8 week visit. Although a lot of this information may have already been discussed with you, you might find different sections useful now your baby is a bit older.
 

Health visitors are here to help support you however you choose to feed your baby. For further information on breastfeeding and formula feeding you can visit

  • Getting prepared for feeding your baby. This page on our website includes an up-to-date calendar of events including breastfeeding support groups. You can also receive support from the infant feeding team.

For information on breastfeeding 

For breastfed babies, and breastfeeding mothers, it is advised to take a supplement of vitamin D (this is added to formula so a supplement is not needed if the baby is having more than 500mls of formula per day). For more information visit:

For information on bottle feeding:

For information on mixed feeding:  

The NHS recommends that solid foods are gradually introduced from around 6 months – alongside breast milk or infant formula. Introducing solids at 6 months (rather than 4 months) is based on extensive research by the World Health Organisation (WHO) which suggests babies get all the nutrients they need from milk until 6 months of age and this reduces their risk of developing allergies such as hayfever, eczema as well as reducing the risk of developing asthma.

If a baby is showing all these 3 signs, it means they are ready for solid foods. Your baby:

  • Can stay in a sitting position, holding their head steady
  • Can coordinate their eyes, hands and mouth so they can look at food, pick it up and put it in their mouth
  • Can swallow food, rather than push it back out

Remember that babies do not need salt or sugar added to their food during or after cooking. Salty food is not good for their kidneys and sugar can cause tooth decay.

For more information visit:

If your baby is breastfeeding or once your baby is having less than 500mls of formula per day then they will need a supplement of vitamin D:

At 6 months of age, milk is still the main source of nutrition and hydration for babies. From 6 months you can also offer water in a cup or beaker. They will likely only have small sips to start with. Baby bottles should be discouraged, even for milk, from 1 year of age as this will be healthier for your baby’s growing teeth: 

Caring for your baby at night can be one of the most challenging aspects of becoming a new parent. It is normal for babies to wake regularly, and this can be difficult when you are tired and sleep deprived. For advice on caring for your baby at night:

It is also important that all parents and carers understand safe sleep and reducing the risk of cot death. For all sleeps, babies should:

  • Sleep on their backs with their feet to the bottom of their sleep space
  • Sleep in a clear, flat sleep space on a new, firm mattress
  • Not have any equipment, products, pillows or teddies in their sleep space
  • Sleep in a smoke-free environment
  • Sleep for at least the first 6 months in the same room as their parent(s) or carer
  • Not be overdressed or have heavy covers. Babies should not have covers that can come over their head and should not wear hats indoors
  • Be in a room that is not too hot (16-20ºC is ideal).

As a new parent it is tempting to look at the many products on the market for your new baby, including items that claim to help with sleep. However, most of these are not needed and some have not been properly safety tested. The Lullaby Trust Product Guide can help you understand what you might need:

The Lullaby Trust website has many useful pages and videos to help you to understand the importance of safe sleep and the website should be able to answer any questions you have related to safe sleep and caring for your baby at night:

Vaccinations are the most effective way to prevent serious, infectious diseases. All babies in the UK are offered routine immunisations to protect you, your child, and the wider community from potentially deadly diseases. To learn more about the vaccination schedule, how they work, their safety and any potential side effects please visit the following pages:

For tips on helping yourself and your baby through vaccinations and what to expect after they have been vaccinated visit:

Having a new baby can be a very tiring time, but it is important to remember that babies and children benefit from having healthy parents and prioritising your own health and wellbeing is also important. For tips on looking after your body after pregnancy visit:

Now is a good time to prioritise yours, and your family’s, health. Health Visitors can advise and signpost you to further specialised support regarding wider health including:

  • Physical health problems 
  • Diet, exercise, and nutrition
  • Dental Health 
  • Stopping smoking
  • Substance misuse 

Live Life Better Derbyshire can offer further support through their website or programmes which you can self-refer to or talk to your GP about:

All babies in the UK are offered a Newborn and Infant Physical Examination (NIPE), Newborn Blood Spot and Newborn Hearing Screening. If you are unsure whether your baby has had all of these please discuss this with your midwife, health visitor or GP. For more information visit: 

The Newborn and Infant Physical Examination (NIPE) screens babies (ideally) within 72 hours of birth (called the NIPE newborn screening examination) and again at 6 to 8 weeks of age (called the NIPE infant examination) for conditions relating to the eyes, heart, hips and testicles (if applicable). For more information visit: 

The Newborn Blood Spot Screening involves taking a small blood sample to find out if your baby has 1 of 9 rare, but serious conditions. You should receive the results by letter by the time your baby is 8 weeks old. If you do not receive this letter, please talk to your health visitor. For more information on the Newborn Blood Spot Screening please visit:

The Newborn Hearing Screening is often done in hospital after your baby is born but can be carried out up to 3 months of age. The screening helps to identify babies who have permanent hearing loss as early as possible. The test is not harmful and only takes a few minutes. For more information please visit: 

Your health visitor will monitor your baby’s growth and development. They will discuss with you when your baby’s growth needs measuring again. Generally, if your baby is feeding well, weeing and pooing and growing out of their clothes then they do not need weighing too often. If you are ever concerned about your baby’s weight then you can contact Derbyshire Family Health Service on 01246 515100 to arrange a health visitor home visit or book onto one of our bookable clinics. For more information, including how weight is plotted in your red book, please visit:

You will have noticed that your baby is changing and developing quickly. It is around 6-8 weeks that your baby will start to smile socially and will fix on and follow things with their eyes. You may notice that they are more responsive to light and sound as well as having much better head control than when they were born. If you are ever worried about your baby’s development, please contact the health visiting team who can listen to your concerns and reassure you or arrange for your baby to be reviewed.

Now your baby is more responsive you can start to do more activities to support and stimulate their development. For age-appropriate ideas of activities you can do with your baby visit:

Although the safest position for your baby to sleep is always on their back, you can give your baby some time on their tummy regularly when they are wide awake and closely supervised. This helps their coordination and balance. For more information and tips about tummy time visit: 

It is never too early to start reading to your baby. This is a great way to strengthen your bond with them. Babies that love books are more likely to grow into children and adults who love books, giving them skills for life, supporting their communication skills, speech development and social interaction. Your health visitor will give your baby a Bookstart bag. Bookstart aims to encourage the love of books, stories and rhymes in children from as young an age as possible. Further information can be found at:

Your baby’s brain develops through use – by your baby interacting, observing and through loving connection with parents and carers. Babies are born with 100 billion neurons in place, but the connections between them have not been made yet. These neurons are activated through loving connection with parents and carers. Connections are built through ongoing skin to skin, responsiveness and stimulation. Further information can be found at:

For ideas and tips for activities and play ideas to support your baby’s development visit: 

Health visitors will regularly ask about yours and your partner’s emotional wellbeing. Having a baby can have a huge impact on your life and relationship as well as your mental wellbeing. Postnatal depression (depression after having a baby) is common and affects more than 1 in every 10 women. It can also affect partners too. It is important to get support as soon as possible. For more information visit:

Health visitors routinely use assessment tools when considering mental health. All health visitors have completed mandatory training on Emotional Wellbeing Visits (EWV). This new evidence-informed intervention framework guides the mental health support health visitors provide to families. Emotional Wellbeing Visits are a package of care offered by health visitors to parents at risk of, or experiencing, mental health problems. When support is needed, care is tailored to the unique needs, preferences, and circumstances of individual parents.

If you feel you are struggling, you can also talk to your GP and referrals to specialists’ services can be considered. In a mental health crisis, you can call Derbyshire Mental Health Helpline and Support Service on 0800 028 0077. Further mental health support including crisis support can be found here:

Having a new baby can put different pressures on relationships in the house and with the wider family. Domestic abuse can happen to anyone, regardless of their circumstances or gender. Your health visitor may ask you questions about your relationship and are there to support you if needed. If you or others are ever in immediate danger, please call 999. If you have any concerns, need support or want to know more information about what domestic abuse is and how to recognise it please visit:

For specific support in Derbyshire, you can visit:

Keeping your baby and growing child safe from harm is a priority and health visitors can support you to make sure that you have considered safety factors in your home.

For further information about safety topics please visit:

Smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors

We are constantly learning from experience and health visitors will discuss with you specific safety topics relevant to your child’s age to help you create the safest environment for your family. It is important to have working smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors and you may be eligible for a Safe and Well Visit from the local fire service. Visit:

Pets

It is important to keep your baby safe around your pets, particularly dogs. Luckily, most dog bites are preventable with close supervision at all times.  You can also start preparing your dog for the baby’s arrival during pregnancy, for more information please look at the following:

Nappy sacks

At least 18 babies in the UK have already died after suffocating or choking on nappy sacks,. Find out the simple changes you can make to reduce the risk to your baby:

Blind cords

Shockingly around 2 children every year are strangled to death after being tangled in a blind cord. This can happen silently and very quickly. For advice on how to ensure your blinds are safe please visit:

Button batteries

Button batteries can badly hurt or even kill a small child if swallowed. For more information look at:

It is your responsibility to ensure that you have a safe and legal car seat for your baby. The following websites can help you understand the law around car seats and help you to choose the correct one for your child:

The safest baby carrier to use will keep the baby firmly in an upright position where a parent can always see their baby’s face and ensure baby’s airways are free. When wearing a sling/baby carrier, remember the TICKS guidelines:

  • Tight
  • In view at all times
  • Close enough to kiss
  • Keep chin off the chest
  • Supported back

For more information on slings see these links:

After you have had your baby the midwifery team will ask you to watch a video about the importance of protecting your baby’s head and preventing them from being shaken. Here is a short video to explain a little further:

ICON also offer advice and support about coping with a baby crying:

We understand that the cost-of-living crisis and the current financial situation is putting increasing pressures on families. If you need any support with finances including debt issues, benefits, employment concerns or pay and many other topics you can visit:

Once you have had your baby, it is your legal responsibility to register their birth withing 42 days and you must register them with the GP. The GP surgery will need to see the baby’s birth certificate to register them fully, however you will still be able to get a GP appointment for your baby if needed before you have registered the birth.

Once you have registered your baby’s birth you may be eligible to claim child tax credit and child benefit:

If you are ever unsure of what you are eligible to claim, you can get support and advice regarding this from Citizen’s Advice:

It is important to start caring for your baby’s teeth as soon as they appear. You can brush them straight away with a small smear of fluoride toothpaste (twice a day). For more information and useful tips visit:

First teeth usually appear within the first year, but, when it comes to teething, all babies are different. For more information about what to expect visit: 

​​​​​​​For tips on how to manage teething visit: 

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​If you are concerned, you can get further support by calling 111.

NHS dental care is available free for children however not all dentists provide free NHS care. You can take your child to the dentist as soon as their first teeth appear. Try to make this positive and fun to prevent the trip to the dentist becoming too worrying for them. To find an NHS dentist near you visit:

It is possible to become pregnant very soon after having a baby, even if you are breastfeeding and have not yet had your first period. It is important to plan ahead to avoid any unwanted pregnancies:

If, at your visit, you and your health visitor agree further support is required, they will arrange a further contact. If you do not require further support, your next visit will take place when your baby is 12 months of age. Click here if you would like to find out more about this visit:

Dads and partners are welcome and encouraged to be present at your visits.

You do not need to wait for your next visit for advice and support. To find out the different ways that you can contact the health visiting team visit our ‘contact us’ page at: