Your guide to visits

Warning

Health visitors are nurses or midwives who promote healthy lifestyle and prevent illness through the Universal Health Visiting Pathway. They work with you through your pregnancy up until your child is ready to start school.

Your health visitor may be able to refer you on to other health professionals, for example if there are hearing or vision concerns.

Contact them by phoning your local health visiting team.

Health visitors also provide advice, support and guidance in caring for your child, including:

  • Breastfeeding, weaning and healthy eating
  • Exercise, hygiene and safety
  • Your child’s growth and development
  • Emotional health and wellbeing, including postnatal depression
  • Safety in the home
  • Stopping smoking
  • Contraception and sexual health
  • Sleep and behaviour management (including temper tantrums!)
  • Toilet training
  • Minor Illnesses (if you have any immediate health concerns the Pharmacy, GP or NHS 24 should be contacted)

Health Visiting in the Community Youtube

Whilst you are pregnant

  • You may receive a letter introducing you to your Health Visitor or Family Nurse
  • At around 32-34 weeks pregnant you may receive a visit a home to introduce you to the service and talk through what you can expect support with  
  • Together we will talk about understanding and caring for your baby 
  • Together we will talk about how you plan to feed your baby and will support you with that 
  • Together we will talk about keeping baby safe once you bring baby home, which will include information on baby sleeping 
  • We will chat about what support you have and your relationships.
  • We can support you with how you are feeling, your health in general and we can talk to you about money matters too. 
  • We will tell you all about the red book that is given to you once baby arrives 
  • The visit may last around an hour

 

HENRY

Healthy Start, Brighter Future

The HENRY programme aims to support families of children aged 0-12 years with engaging the whole family to adopt healthier eating and lifestyle habits. HENRY addresses a range of areas that are relevant to families including but not limited to; parenting, well-being, self-esteem and confidence, portion sizes, healthy food swaps, getting active as a family, food groups and food labelling. 

 Visit the Henry webpages for more information

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde are working in partnership with Early Years Scotland (EYS) and Possibilities for Each and Every Kid (PEEK) to deliver the HENRY programmes and workshops.  You will find the registration forms in the how and where to access HENRY section of our website.

First home visit after baby is born

  • At around 11-14 days after your baby is born, the Health Visitor or Family Nurse may come to your home to meet baby and you
  • At every visit we will ask you about your physical, emotional, mental and financial health, we are here to support you too
  • We will chat about what support you have and your relationships.
  • We will ask you about your baby’s health and wellbeing 
  • Together we may talk about your baby’s feeding 
  • We will discuss how your baby will grow and develop over the next few weeks 
  • We can tell you about local groups and classes that you might want to go along to 
  • We will chat about baby immunisation 
  • We can chat and tell you about places that can offer support or advice on many topics including managing your money 
  • We will check baby out from Head to Toe talking you through everything we are checking, including their weights, their length, their head measurement and then they are all recorded in your red book. 
  • We are here to support you and we encourage you to ask any questions you have, helping you to understand your child's growth, health and development.
  • This visit will last around an hour 

 

Below is a sample of the leaflets or links to information that we will leave with you or talk you through whilst visiting:  

 

 

Keep your family safe from second-hand smoke – NHSGGC. 

Second Hand Smoke

Click on image to open PDF

Other Languages This leaflet is available in other languages - use this link to list them

  

Vitamin D for breastfeeding women and children under 3 – NHSGGC. 

Vitamin D

Click on image to open PDF 

Other Languages This leaflet is available in other languages - use this link to list them

NHS Pharmacy First Scotland: Information for Patient – NHSScot. 

NHS Pharmacy First Scotland

Click on image to open PDF

Other Languages This leaflet is available in other languages - use this NHS Pharmacy First Scotland: information for patients link to list them

Protect your child against serious diseases – Public Health Scotland.  

Protect your child against serious diseases

Click on image to open PDF

Other Languages This leaflet is available in other languages - use this link to list them

Formula feeding: How to feed your baby safely - Public Health Scotland

Formula feeding: How to feed your baby safely

Click on image to open PDF

Other Languages This leaflet is available in other languages - use this link to list them

 

Safer sleep for babies: a guide for parents and carers. - Scottish Government

Safer sleep for babies: a guide for parents and carers

Click on image to open PDF

Other Languages This leaflet is available in other languages - use this link to list them

What is a Fire Safety Visit: Youtube

Five Family Payment Programme.  Social Security Scotland

 

Other Languages You can find links to further information and factsheets in other languages by clicking here

 

Website How to register with a GP - Via NHS Inform:  This is a link to the NHS Inform pages and will take you through stage by stage on how to register

When baby is 3 to 5 weeks old

  • When baby is between 3 and 5 weeks old, you may be offered 2 visits from the Health Visitor 
  • We will check baby’s weight and chat about how you feel feeding your baby is going 
  • We will chat about how you are feeling and also about being a parent and answer any questions you have 
  • We will ask you about your physical, emotional, mental and financial health, we are here to support you too We will chat about what support you have and your relationships.
  • We will chat about what support you have and your relationships.
  • We have some leaflets we can leave you around any of the things we have chatted about, or provide you some recommended websites to look at
  • These visits will last between 30 minutes to an hour 

Between 6 and 8 weeks old

  

  • When baby is between 6-8 weeks you may receive another visit 
  • We will ask you if you are happy or worried about how baby is feeding 
  • We will ask you about your physical, emotional, mental and financial health, we are here to support you too 
  • We will chat about what support you have and your relationships.
  • We will chat about baby immunisation 
  • We will check baby from Head to Toe talking you through everything we are checking, including their weight, their length, their head measurement, development and they are all then recorded in your red book
  • We will check if you have had or have an appointment booked for your baby's 6week medical assessment
  • We will remind you to think about contraceptive choices
  • This visit will last around an hour 

 

Baby Bookbug bag 

At this point you may receive your bookbug bag, however, it is given out when available but for more information visit: 

Website Bookbug - Scottish Book Trust

At 3 months and 4 months

  • At 3 months (12 weeks) and 4 months (16 weeks) the Health visitor may come your home to see you and baby 
  • We will check baby babies weight, length, head measurement and they are all then recorded in your red book. 
  • We will ask you if you have any questions about your babies health or development
  • We will chat about how you feel feeding baby is going and we may also talk about when to start thinking about weaning  
  • Together we will talk about safe sleeping 
  • We will ask you about your physical, emotional, mental and financial health, we are here to support you too 
  • We will chat about what support you have and your relationships.
  • We will ask you how you are feeling, how your mood and sleep has been and also to complete a short questionnaire
  • Together we will talk about when your next visit might be 
  • Both visits will last around an hour 

 

Below is a sample of the leaflets or links to information that we will leave with you or talk you through whilst visiting

 

Drinks for Babies and Young Children - Childsmile

Drinks for babies and young children

Click on image to view PDF

**HV's This is available in other languages however it does not have its own loading page on website, therefore we may need to add a link for each language to get to the correct page?  Need to have a think about this as to what would be best practice?  Link to page with other resources is here

Fun First Foods - Public Health Scotland

Fun First Foods

Click on image to view PDF

Other Languages To see list of other languages available click on Link

 

Snack Ideas for Children - Childsmile

Snack Ideas for Children

Click on image to view PDF

This is available in other languages however it does not have its own loading page on website, therefore we may need to add a link for each language to get to the correct page?  Need to have a think about this as to what would be best practice?  Link to page with other resources is Link

 

Toothpaste and Cup   **HVs is this handed out at same time?  If so do we have a picture or do we just want to include that in the written info of what to expect during visit

 

Childsmile community and practice

Childsmile community and practice

Click on image to view PDF

This is available in other languages however it does not have its own loading page on website, therefore we may need to add a link for each language to get to the correct page?  Need to have a think about this as to what would be best practice?  Link to page with other resources is Link

 

Vitamin D Postcard - NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde

Vitamin D Postcard

Click on image to view PDF

Other Languages To see list of other languages available click on Link

 

 

8 months old

  • When your child is 8 months old, we may come for another home visit 
  • We will use some toys and may use a questionnaire that has lots of questions about how your baby is growing and developing, we may fill this in together 
  • We will measure your child’s weight and height and write these in your red book 
  • We will ask you about your physical, emotional, mental and financial health, we are here to support you too 
  • We will chat about your baby’s eating, sleeping, home safety and their teeth (even if they are not through yet) 
  • Together we will talk about your child’s next immunisation due around 13months 
  • We can tell you about local groups and classes that you might want to go along to 
  • We can chat and tell you about places that can offer support or advice on many topics including managing your money 
  • Together we will talk about when you might be visited next time 
  • This visit will last around 30 minutes to 45 minutes 

13 to 15 months old

  • When your child is between 13 and 15 months old, we may come for another home visit 
  • We will use some toys, and may use a questionnaire that has lots of questions about how your child is growing and developing, we may fill this in together 
  • The Health Visitor will measure your child’s weight and height and write these in your red book 
  • We will ask you about your physical, emotional, mental and financial health, we are here to support you too 
  • We will chat about what support you have and your relationships.
  • You will have time to talk about your child’s progress and ask us any questions you may have 
  • Together we may talk about your child’s eating habits, sleeping habits, immunisation and your child’s teeth  
  • We can tell you about local groups and classes that you might want to go along to 
  • Together we will talk about when you might be visited next time 
  • This visit will last around 45 minutes to an hour 

Below is a sample of the leaflets or links to information that we will leave with you or talk you through whilst visiting  

Book Bug Bag given to parents with additional info

Bookbug - Scottish Book Trust - visit the site for more information

Play at home toddler book 

 

Listening, Understanding, Talking and Interacting - NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde

Listening, Understanding, Talking and Interacting

Click on pink box to access link

Other Languages This information is available in other languages click link for list

 

27 to 30 months old

  • When your child is between 27 and 30 months old, we may come for another home visit 
  • We will use some toys, and may use a questionnaire that has lots of questions about how your child is growing and developing, we may fill this in together 
  • The Health Visitor will measure your child’s weight and height and write these in your red book 
  • We will ask you about your physical, emotional, mental and financial health, we are here to support you too 
  • We will chat about what support you have and your relationships.
  • You will have time to talk about your child’s health and wellbeing 
  • Together we can talk about toilet training 
  • We can tell you how to apply for nursery places 
  • Together we will talk about when you might be visited next time 
  • This visit will last around 45 minutes to an hour 

Below is a sample of the leaflets or links to information that we will leave with you or talk you through whilst visiting

 

Keep your family safe from second-hand smoke – NHSGGC. 

Second Hand Smoke

Click on image to view PDF

Other Languages For a list of other languages click on Link

 

Website Take it right outside - NHS Inform Campaign. This is a link to Website with lots of info and quizzes

4 to 5 years old

  • When your child is between 4 and 5 years old, we may come for another home visit 
  • We will use some toys, and may use a questionnaire that has lots of questions about how your child is growing and developing, we may fill this in together 
  • The Health Visitor will measure your child’s weight and height and write these in your red book 
  • We will ask you about your physical, emotional, mental and financial health, we are here to support you too 
  • We will chat about what support you have and your relationships.
  • You will have time to talk about your child’s health and wellbeing 
  • We can tell you when you should register your child for school 
  • We will chat about any future visits and if they are needed or not.
  • This visit will last around 45 minutes to an hour 

Picture

Photo of a happy looking young child eating an apple

 

Moving On To Primary School

 

Moving On To Primary School

Click on blue box above to access link

 

Editorial Information

Last reviewed: 23/10/2024

Next review date: 23/10/2025

Author(s): Health Visitor Editorial Team.