Physical health

Vaccinations and immunisations

There are vaccinations your child should be getting as they grow. Just as when they were new-borns, you can organise vaccinations through your GP.

1 year old:

• Hib/MenC vaccine (first dose).
• MMR vaccine (first dose).
• Pneumococcal vaccine (second dose).
• MenB vaccine (third dose).

2-3 years old

• Children's influenza (flu) vaccine (every year until children finish year 11 of secondary school).

Routine visits

Your baby will be invited for Health and Development reviews. You will have been to appointments like these a few times already, before your baby's first birthday. These will continue until your child is between 2 and 2 and a half.

You should be thinking of taking your child to the dentist. Their baby teeth should be grown in by now and it is important for your child that their teeth are taken care of properly. NHS dentists are free, but private dentists are also options.

Common illnesses

There are a number of common illnesses that your child may get, they can vary from common colds to meningitis. It’s important that you keep them up to date with their vaccinations so they’ve got the best protection against illnesses, but things can still happen. Common illnesses include:

• Common cold.
• Ear infections.
• Chicken pox.
• Meningitis (not as common but serious and contagious).
• Asthma.

Things to look out for and get help for as soon as possible

Asthma is very common among young children, it can be long-term and affect them for a long time in childhood and into adulthood. It can be triggered by colds and allergies. Be mindful of their breathing, they might be wheezing or coughing a lot after moving around. You can get an asthma diagnosis from your GP or asthma clinic.

Lots of children have allergies, find out as much as you can about the different allergies that your child could have. It's good to see your GP if you think your child may have an allergy to get a proper diagnosis. Keep an eye on your child’s eyes, nose, airways, skin and eating, if one of them is reacting to something it could be a sign of allergies.

Where to go for help and support

If you have concerns about your child’s physical health that are not urgent you can visit a Family Hub, contact your health visitor, contact the Stoke-on-Trent Health Visiting HUB (0300 303 3298), contact ‘ChatHealth’ by texting 07312277161, or speak to your GP.

There are a number of services available to you who can offer help for you and your child’s needs. Calling NHS 111 will help you access local health services, it is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Going to your local pharmacist is another great idea, they will be able to provide you with guidance and advice for most health issues, they will be able to suggest and dispense medicines. You can sometimes find pharmacies inside supermarkets. Your GP is also there to help, if you move house at all make sure you and your child are registered at the local GP.

It’s important to visit your dentist and not miss appointments, your child’s teeth grow with them so keeping up with their oral health is important.

For serious injuries and life-threatening emergencies, call 999 or go to A&E.