Key Visits - Ages & Stages

Visits to a Maternal and Child Health Centre at key ages are recommended to review the health, growth and development of every Victorian pre-school child. Your child's progress is then recorded by a nurse in a Child Health Record, which may help other health professionals involved with the health or development of the child.

Key visits at eight weeks, four months, 12 months, 18 months and four years also coincide with routine childhood scheduled immunisations. Parents in Ballarat therefore have the convenience of Health Assessments and Immunisations at the same visit.

The following table gives an overview of key visits for children aged from two weeks to four years old. It is recommended/preferred to have your child examined by a nurse at one of our centres to monitor growth and development. Visits made outside of these ages are arranged where necessary.

For further information contact your local Maternal and Child Health Care Centre (see Family & Children).

Key Visits

Child's age	Stage of development
2 weeks	Full physical examination of baby. Advice and information on feeding, settling, safety and a hearing questionnaire. Maternal health and wellbeing, parenting issues and support.
4 weeks	Full physical examination of baby. Advice and information on feeding, settling issues, play activities, language and communication issues, development, injury prevention and immunisation. Maternal health and wellbeing, parenting issues and support.
8 weeks	Full physical examination of baby. Infant feeding and settling advice, play activities, language/communication issues, development, injury prevention information. Maternal health and wellbeing, parenting issues and support. First immunisations can be given.
4 months	Full physical examination of baby. Infant feeding, including information on introduction to solid food. Settling discussion, play activities, teething information, development, language/communication issues. Maternal Physical Health Questionnaire. Parenting issues and support. Second immunisations can be given.
6 months	Third immunisations can be given.
8 months	Full physical examination, milk and food advice, sleeping, routines. Teething/dental care, play activities, safety information, language/communication, discussion. Development. Hearing questionnaire. Maternal Physical Health Questionnaire. Parenting issues/support. Immunisation status check.
12 months	Full physical examination of baby. Feeding, sleeping, discussion regarding toddler behaviour and needs, routines, setting limits. Play, playgroups, dental care, buying shoes, childcare, safety information. Maternal health and wellbeing, parental issues and support. Immunisations can be given.
18 months	Full examination of child. Discussion regarding appetite, sleeping, behaviour, activities, play, safety, dental care. Assessing speech and development. Maternal and parental wellbeing, support. Immunisation may be given.
2 years	Physical examination of child, assessment of speech, general development. Discussions regarding behaviour, sleep, appetite, play, playgroups/childcare, dental care, safety, toilet training. Immunisation status check. Maternal and parental wellbeing and support.
4 years	General assessment of development, speech, physical, vision screening. Discussions regarding kindergarten readiness, behaviour, nutrition, sleep, exercise, play, safety, toileting issues. This is a comprehensive assessment which is recommended before kindergarten entry. Referrals can be made to health professionals where appropriate. Immunisations can be given.

Key Visits - Ages & Stages

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