After 6 months, most health check appointments are about your baby's development.
At 6 months
Go to your GP or GP practice nurse for your baby’s third round of vaccines.
Read more about your child's vaccines
9 to 11 months
Your PHN will check your baby’s physical, social and behavioural development.
Your baby will get all of the following:
- physical examination - including eyes, ears, genitalia, limbs, breathing and fontanelle (the soft spot on your baby’s head)
- check testicles - this is to make sure they have moved down into the scrotum if your baby was born a boy (this is called testicular descent)
- responses - including your baby’s alertness, if they smile and other facial interactions
- posture and large movements - for example sitting and crawling, including if your baby sits with or without support and if they can support their weight on their legs
- fine movements - including if your baby pokes at objects with their index finger or uses their hands to rake objects
- in-depth hearing assessment - including checking if your baby listens when spoken to, responds to requests and enjoys games like peek-a-boo
- speech development - including if your baby babbles, uses gestures to communicate or copies different speech sounds
- social, emotional, behavioural and play development - including if your baby responds to people’s expressions and takes interest in their own reflection in a mirror
Your PHN will talk to you about:
- your child's development
- your child's diet and sleep
- child safety, as your baby might now be more mobile
- any concerns you have
They will also check your baby’s:
- dental health
- growth monitoring
Further checks
If you or your PHN have any concerns:
- they will ask you or your child to come back for another check
- they might also refer you and your child to a specialist for further assessment
