What happens at my eight month maternal and child health visit?
At this visit, your baby's growth, health and development will be reviewed. You will also be asked to answer My Health, Learning and Development – green book. It is under the Parents' Evaluation of Development Status (PEDS) section. Try to complete these questions before your visit.
This visit will focus on:
Remember, you and your nurse can talk about other issues or concerns if they arise.
Tip sheets for this visit
What is my baby doing at this key age and stage?
At this key age and stage, your baby is learning about their world by touching, tasting, smelling, listening, watching and moving around. They need lots of floor play and time on their tummy in a safe place. They might be:
- sitting up by themselves, rolling and crawling
- putting toys in their mouth
- becoming a little worried about new faces
- babbling or copying sounds you make
- looking closely at objects.
What to tell your nurse
Please tell the nurse if your baby is:
- NOT enjoying eye contact with you
- NOT interested in sounds
- NOT babbling
- NOT able to roll.
Activity ideas for this age and stage
Try some of these ideas to help your baby learn and develop:
- play peek-a-boo
- play on the floor with them
- take them for a walk outside and talk about what you see
- visit a local playgroup
- read aloud and share stories.
How often should I visit?
You will be asked to see your maternal and child health nurse at 10 key ages and stages in your child’s health, learning and development. These include:
Families can access the service at other times by telephone or through a centre visit. Most centres offer a range of times when families can access the service. They typically operate through scheduled appointments, open consultation sessions and some after-hours appointments.
Where to get help
