Registering the birth

• A baby’s birth must be registered within 42 days (6 weeks) in England and Wales (21 days in Scotland).
  
  

• Child Benefit cannot be claimed until the birth is registered. The parent who will receive the benefit should be the one who registers the birth.
  
  

• More info: Register a Birth
  
  

• Child Benefit info: Child Benefit
  
  

Parental leave

• Parents are entitled to maternity, paternity, and shared parental leave. Parental leave is unpaid. Each parent is entitled to 18 weeks per child, up to the child’s 18th birthday.
  
  

  1. 1. 1. You can take up to 4 weeks per year per child, unless your employer agrees more.
           
           

        2. Leave is usually taken in whole weeks, unless your employer allows days, or your child is disabled.
           
           

        3. You don’t have to take it all at once.
           
           

        4. A “week” means your normal working week.
           
           

For more info: Parental leave

Health and vaccinations

• Babies and toddlers are offered a set of routine vaccinations starting at 8 weeks.
  
  

• Parents record these in the “Red Book” (Personal Child Health Record).
  
  

• Schedule: NHS Vaccinations
  
  

Nursery & childcare

• Funded childcare is available from the term after a child turns 3 (or from age 2 in some cases).
  
  

• Types of nursery include Montessori, forest schools, and traditional childcare settings. Each has a different approach to learning.
  
  

• Overview: Help with childcare
  
  

Passports

• You can apply for a child passport once the birth is registered.
  
  

• They last 5 years.
  
  

• Processing can take up to 10 weeks (longer in busy periods), so apply early before travel.
  
  

• More info: Get a passport for your child