Children develop more rapidly during the first five years of their lives than at any other time. There’s lots of advice available and things you can do at home to support your child’s development in these crucial early years.
Pregnancy and newborn baby checks
Although it isn’t possible to screen your newborn baby for every illness or disease, in the UK, there are certain tests and examinations that can be offered to look for some medical conditions.
There are routine tests that are offered to all pregnant women, but you should also talk to your GP about your family history in case they suggest some additional screenings or tests. If you have symptoms or problems which suggest pregnancy complications, various other examinations and tests may also be advised.
- Pregnancy screening aims to detect potential problems early so that you can get treatment or early diagnosis. Medical professionals will discuss pregnancy screening with you.
- The newborn baby check is a physical examination of a child as soon as they are born. This is done by a doctor.
- Newborn babies will also have their hearing checked – this could be done when the baby is born or very shortly afterwards.
- Midwives work with a family before birth and through the early post-natal period, focusing on individual needs. Midwives will do a ‘blood spot’ test, where they prick the baby’s heel to take a sample of blood. This is usually around 5 days after birth.
- Your GP will be notified of the birth of your child. You need to make an appointment to visit the GP within 6-8 weeks of the birth. At this appointment, the GP will do a post-natal check which will focus on the individual needs of the mother and baby.
Development in the early years
Health for Under 5’s website
Our Health for Under 5’s website has lots of useful information from NHS professionals, including a handy developmental timeline covering every stage of a young child’s life, from pregnancy through to pre-school age.
What to expect, when?
A useful guide called ‘What to Expect, When’ from the organisation Foundation Years provides information about your child’s learning and development in the early years foundation stage. Please be aware, however, that every child develops differently.
Play and learning
Play is a key part of learning and supports all aspects of children’s development. Through play, children develop their language skills, social and intellectual skills, and it also encourages creativity. The organisation Early Years Matters have some great information and tips on play and learning.
Specialist toys are available for children with varying disabilities, including sight, hearing and mobility issues. The NHS has published useful guidance about accessible toys, play and learning.
Who to talk to if you are worried
See your GP or health visitor if you’re concerned about your child’s development. It can also be helpful to discuss your concerns with your child’s key worker or Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator (SENCO) if they attend an early years setting such as a nursery or school.
Health visitors
Health visitors can support you and your child throughout their early years until they turn 5 years old. They are qualified nurses or midwives with specialist public health training.
They provide a child-focused service, are trained in child development and carry out screening and developmental reviews. They can also suggest services that may be able to help if you have any concerns about your child.
It can be difficult to know whether your child needs additional (sometimes called targeted) support, as they are all different and can reach age-related expectations at different times.
Children and Family Health Devon
Children and Family Health Devon provides Specialist Children’s Assessment Centres for children aged 0 – 5 years with significant developmental difficulties. The centres offer assessments in the most appropriate venue for you and your child.
Devon’s hospitals
Hospitals provide community paediatric services. Paediatrics is the branch of medicine that focuses on the development of children and the diagnosis and treatment of childhood illness. You can use NHS Choices to find a service near you.
- Royal Devon and Exeter NHS Foundation Trust (RD&E)
- Northern Devon Healthcare Trust (NDHT)
- Torbay and South Devon Healthcare NHS Trust (TSDHT)
- Plymouth Hospitals Trust (PHNT)
South Devon children will be assessed at Torbay and South Devon Foundation Trust’s John Parkes Unit Child Development Centre.