All genders

If you receive news that your child has special needs, you may experience a range of emotions. Remember, there are services available when you want or need help.

This set of principles describe how healthcare providers should meet your child or young person's particular needs during every phase of healthcare and disability support.

If your child seems to be having trouble seeing clearly, they need a vision check.

Whooping cough can make pēpi (babies) very sick and some pēpi can die. Having whooping cough vaccination in pregnancy protects pēpi in their first weeks of life. Start vaccinating pēpi the day they turn 6 weeks old to keep protecting them.

Positional head-flattening may happen if a baby lies with their head in the same position for a long time. Find out how you can help to prevent a flat spot developing in your baby.

Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) is a treatment for obstructive sleep apnoea.

Kawasaki disease is a rare but serious illness affecting young tamariki (children). The most striking feature is a high fever that comes and goes for at least 5 days. If you think your child might have Kawasaki disease, take them to a health professional straightaway.

Rheumatic fever is a serious illness. It often starts with a sore throat. Without treatment, some sore throats can cause rheumatic fever which can lead to heart damage. 

Snoring or noisy breathing during sleep may be a sign that your child is having difficulty breathing. The medical name for this is obstructive sleep apnoea.

If your child has a long-term disability, a needs assessment is a step towards getting support or services for your child and whānau (family).

If your child has speech or language difficulties or has trouble following instructions, they may have a hearing problem. Other signs include if they are easily distracted or have difficulty paying attention in class.

Screening for some vision problems for your child should happen around 11 or 12 years of age. Your child will not have their hearing checked at school so if you are concerned about your child's hearing, it's important that you visit a health professional.

Your child's hearing and vision will be discussed with you at various Well Child checks before your child turns 4 years of age. If your child does have a hearing or vision problem, finding it early is good for their learning and development.

Make sure your tamariki (children) are vaccinated against measles. It takes around 2 weeks for the vaccination to protect you.

Mild jaundice is common in pēpi (babies), but baby jaundice is not always normal. If your baby has yellow skin or eyes and pale poo or dark (yellow or brown) wee, your baby needs a special blood test. See a health professional or midwife as soon as possible.

Protect tamariki (children) against measles. It can be very dangerous and spreads faster than almost any other disease.  If you're unsure whether your child has had their MMR vaccination, check with your Well Child Tamariki Ora provider or health professional.