Writing from Madrid, my baby was born last month, and I was initially a bit clueless about the newborn check-up process here in Spain. Now that I’ve gone through it myself, I’m putting together this guide for fellow new parents, hoping it can help! The program is called ‘Revisión del niño sano,’ and it’s generally conducted at your local community health center (centro de salud).
When you’re discharged from the hospital, you’ll receive a yellow form with your baby’s basic data. Remember to bring this form, along with your baby’s health card (tarjeta sanitaria), to register with a pediatrician at your assigned health center. The first visit is usually scheduled within 5 to 10 days of birth. The main purpose is to follow up on the hospital’s data from the initial newborn check-ups, check if the baby is gaining weight normally, assess for jaundice, and examine the healing of the umbilical stump. The doctors and nurses are incredibly patient and will answer all your newbie questions, so don’t be afraid to ask about anything you’re unsure of!
After the first check-up, the nurse will give you a health and vaccination record book (cartilla de salud infantil). This booklet is extremely important, so be sure to keep it safe
! It records the data from every check-up and the dates of all vaccinations. The nurse will also schedule all your subsequent routine appointments for you and write them down in the booklet. This saves you the hassle of booking each appointment yourself, which is a really thoughtful touch.
Routine Check-up Items and Frequency
The baby’s check-ups follow a regular schedule, especially frequent within the first year. As the child gets older, the intervals will gradually increase. I’ve compiled the timeline our pediatrician gave us into a table for your reference, but note that the schedule may vary slightly between different autonomous communities.
| Age | Key Examination Content |
|---|
| 15 days | Weight, jaundice, feeding assessment |
| 1 month | Height, weight, head circumference, hearing response |
| 2 months | Routine check-up + First round of vaccinations |
| 4 months | Routine check-up + Second round of vaccinations |
| 6 months | Routine check-up, guidance on starting solid foods |
| 12 months | Routine check-up + Vaccinations |
Subsequent check-ups are typically at 15 months, 18 months, 2 years, and 4 years, with a different focus for each visit. Overall, Spain’s pediatric healthcare system is quite comprehensive; you just need to follow the schedule from your health center. Our baby’s pediatrician is a very kind elderly man who is always extremely thorough and constantly encourages me as a new mom, which is very reassuring. I hope all your babies grow up healthy and get a clean bill of health at every check-up!
