Family health: Well-informed from the very beginning

Family health begins even before birth and plays a crucial role in a child's development and well-being. From the very start, it is important to stay well informed and take the right preventive measures. Various documents, regular check-ups, and vaccinations help you keep track of your child's health and respond to potential risks early on.

The maternity record, child health record, and vaccination record are key documents. They accompany you and your child for many years.

Keep your appointments, store the records safely, and always bring them with you. If you have any questions, contact your doctor's practice, midwife, or health insurance provider.

The maternity record: Your companion during pregnancy

The maternity record is a small gray booklet. Your gynecologist will give it to you as soon as your pregnancy is confirmed.

It contains all the important information about you and your baby. This includes:

• Blood group and important lab results
• Blood pressure and weight
• Results of ultrasound examinations
• Vaccination information
• Notes on possible risks or special features

This allows doctors and midwives to monitor your pregnancy at any time. This is especially important if you visit different practices or need quick help in an emergency.

Important:
You should always carry your maternity record with you. Especially for doctor's appointments, but also in everyday life. In an emergency, it can provide crucial information.

It also helps you personally. You can see which examinations have already been completed and note down questions for the next appointment.

The child health record: Keeping track of your child's development

After birth, you will receive the child health record, also known as the "yellow booklet" or "U-booklet."

Your pediatrician will document your child's development in this record. This includes:

• Results of all preventive examinations (U1 to U9)
• Height, weight, and developmental milestones
• Vaccinations
• Notes on abnormalities or special observations

The booklet is important because it clearly records your child's entire health development.

Important:
Bring the booklet to every doctor's appointment. This way, the practice can see at a glance what has already been done and what is still pending. Even if you change doctors, the U-booklet ensures that all important information is retained.

Preventive examinations: Safety through regular appointments

In Germany, there are fixed preventive examinations for children. These are called U1 to U9, and later the J1 is added.

These examinations help detect illnesses early and monitor your child's development.

Overview of the most important appointments:

• U1: immediately after birth
• U2: 3rd–10th day of life
• U3: 4th–5th week of life
• U4: 3rd–4th month of life
• U5: 6th–7th month of life
• U6: 10th–12th month of life
• U7: around 2 years of age
• U7a: around 3 years of age
• U8: around 4 years of age
• U9: around 5 years of age
• J1: between 12 and 14 years of age

During these appointments, the following are checked, for example:

• Physical development
• Mobility and motor skills
• Vision and hearing
• Language development
• General health condition

The statutory health insurance covers the costs.

Important:
Each examination has a fixed time window. Keep these appointments. If you miss an appointment, contact your pediatric practice as soon as possible.

Child preventive examinations | AOK: This page provides an overview of why the U examinations are important, what is done during them, and information about the "yellow booklet."

The vaccination record: Keeping track of all vaccinations

In addition to the child health record, there is the vaccination record (usually a small yellow booklet).

It documents all vaccinations:

• Date of vaccination
• Name of the vaccine
• Practice stamp

The vaccination record is important because you can always prove your child's vaccination status, doctors can see which vaccinations are missing, and the record is often required for daycare, school, or travel.

Important:
Keep the vaccination record safe and bring it to every doctor's appointment.

Vaccinations: Prevention instead of treatment

Vaccinations protect your child from serious illnesses. The recommendations for these come from the Standing Committee on Vaccination (STIKO).

The most important vaccinations in infancy/early childhood include:

• Tetanus
• Diphtheria
• Pertussis (whooping cough)
• Polio (infantile paralysis)
• Haemophilus influenzae type b
• Hepatitis B
• Pneumococci
• Measles, mumps, and rubella
• Chickenpox

Later, the HPV vaccination is added, which protects against certain types of cancer.

The vaccinations are given in several stages. This is called a vaccination schedule. Your pediatrician will explain exactly when each vaccination is due.

Important:
In Germany, there is a measles vaccination requirement for children in daycare and school. Complete vaccination protection not only protects your child but also others.