The consultatiebureau, vaccinations and check-ups in the first year

What the child health clinic does

A youth healthcare nurse or doctor discusses feeding, sleep, behaviour, safety and development. Weight, length and head circumference can be tracked over time. The growth curve and overall picture matter more than any single measurement.

Bring your questions and observations, even if they do not seem directly medical. Explain which languages are spoken at home, how the family sleeps and where you experience support or concerns. The youth healthcare service can offer advice, arrange an extra appointment or make a referral.

The vaccination schedule is age based

Participation in the National Immunisation Programme is voluntary. Follow the personal schedule for your child's year of birth, the invitation and the advice of the youth healthcare doctor, as maternal vaccination and special circumstances can change what is offered. The overview below was checked on 7 September 2026.

Before deciding, ask questions about how the vaccines work, side effects and postponement. Record the doses received and tell the youth healthcare doctor or nurse about any previous reactions.

• Six to nine weeks: oral rotavirus vaccine. DKTP-Hib-HepB only if the mother was not vaccinated against whooping cough during pregnancy or in a special situation, after consultation with the youth healthcare doctor.
• Three months: oral rotavirus vaccine, DKTP-Hib-HepB and pneumococcal vaccination.
• Five months: DKTP-Hib-HepB and pneumococcal vaccination.
• Twelve months: DKTP-Hib-HepB and pneumococcal vaccination.
• RSV: babies born from October to March receive the antibody injection within two weeks of birth. Babies born from April to September are offered it in September or October. This is not a vaccination.
• Fourteen months, just after the first year: MMR and meningococcal ACWY.

RSV antibodies are separate from vaccines

RSV immunisation for babies contains ready-made antibodies. It is not a vaccine and should therefore be explained separately. The national programme aims to provide protection during a baby's first RSV season.

When the injection is offered depends partly on the month of birth. Babies born during the season are usually offered it early, while babies born outside the season are invited around the start of their first season. Follow the invitation from the youth healthcare service.

Look at development as a pattern

Talk, sing and respond to sounds and facial expressions. Over the year, contact, laughter, turn-taking, babbling and movement become more varied. Babies develop at their own pace, and a list of milestones is not an exam.

Bring specific observations to the child health clinic. Tell them if your baby rarely responds to sounds or contact, loses skills or if you are concerned. You do not need to wait for the next scheduled milestone.

Make room for movement and play

Place your baby on a safe surface every day while they are awake. Short periods on their tummy under direct supervision help them practise controlling their head and trunk. Limit time in seats or carriers when these are not needed for transport or care, and do not place a baby in a position they cannot yet reach on their own.

Simple play using your face, voice, a cloth or a safe book is often enough. Check toys for loose parts, cords, sharp edges and damaged battery compartments. Choose items that suit the baby's stage of development and continue to supervise.

Do not wait for a check-up if your baby is ill

A child health clinic provides preventive care and is not an emergency service. If a baby under three months has a fever, call your GP or the out-of-hours GP service immediately. Do the same if the baby has difficulty breathing, is drowsy, feeds poorly, looks grey or if you are seriously concerned.

Save the numbers for your GP and the out-of-hours GP service in your phone. During a routine appointment, ask which symptoms need particular attention for your baby, for example after a premature birth or if they have a congenital condition.