Check-up and first vaccinations week
The big admin week: in the UK, the 8-week review for your baby (often alongside your own postnatal check) and the first routine vaccinations. In the US, this is the 2-month well-child visit.
The 8-week vaccinations (UK)
In the UK (schedule current from January 2026), 8-week-olds are offered three things: the 6-in-1 injection (diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, polio, Hib and hepatitis B), the MenB injection, and rotavirus drops given by mouth.
Because MenB commonly causes fever, you'll usually be advised to give doses of infant paracetamol afterwards — the practice nurse will talk you through amounts and timing. A miserable, feverish 24 hours after jabs is common and expected.
In the US, the 2-month well-visit vaccines cover similar ground: DTaP, Hib, polio, hepatitis B, pneumococcal and rotavirus. Multiple vaccines in one visit are safe — your pediatrician can talk through the schedule.
The 8-week review (UK) / 2-month visit (US)
Your baby gets a top-to-toe repeat of their newborn examination — heart, hips, eyes, and testes in boys — plus weight, length and head circumference, and a chat about smiling, responsiveness and how feeding and sleep are going.
Bring your questions written down; this is a protected slot with a professional whose job is exactly this. Nothing is too small — 'is this rash normal' and 'she hates the car seat' are both legitimate.
In the US, the 2-month visit also includes a depression screen for the parent — answer honestly; it's there because helping you is part of helping the baby.
Meanwhile, your actual baby
By around two months, most babies smile at people, coo and gurgle, hold their head up in tummy time, calm briefly when comforted, and watch faces with open fascination.
These are population patterns, not pass marks — the review exists precisely so that anything worth a closer look gets one early, calmly.
Crying is typically at or just past its peak now. If it's easing, enjoy the descent; if not yet, the decline usually shows within the next fortnight or so.
And you
Vaccination day is often harder on parents than babies — the crying at the needle moment is real but brief, and feeding or cuddling straight after (breast, bottle or dummy) is proven comfort.
If your own 6–8 week check hasn't happened, chase it — it's a contractual entitlement in England, covering your mood, recovery, pelvic health and contraception.
Two months in is a fair moment to audit the load-sharing at home. Night shifts, feeds, admin, the mental inventory of nappy stocks — redistribute deliberately rather than by drift.
Feeding at this stage
Pick how you're feeding — we'll remember for next time. Every one of these is a good way to feed a baby.
Breastfeeding
- Breastfeeding during or immediately after injections is genuinely analgesic for babies — offer the breast in the appointment if you're comfortable.
- Post-vaccine babies often want extra comfort feeds for a day or two — supply handles it, and it's soothing for feverish little bodies.
- A slightly sleepy, feed-y day after jabs is normal; keep offering and let them lead.
Breast + expressed
- Bring an expressed bottle to the appointment if that's your comfort tool — sucking plus holding is the comfort package, whatever the container.
- If baby feeds extra after vaccines, pump to match if you're tracking supply closely — or just let a clingy day be a clingy day.
- Two months is when some parents return to work planning starts — if that's you, begin gently building the freezer stash now rather than in a panic later.
Breast + formula
- Offer whichever feed comforts fastest on vaccine day — this is a day for the path of least resistance.
- A feverish post-MenB baby may feed smaller and oftener for 24 hours — normal, with either milk.
- If your combination ratio has drifted from your intention, the 8-week review is a good place to talk it through without judgement — health visitors support all feeding choices.
Formula
- A bottle straight after the injections is excellent comfort — pack one made-up-fresh or ready-to-feed for the appointment.
- Expect possibly smaller, more frequent feeds during the post-vaccine 24 hours, plus extra clinginess — respond freely.
- Rotavirus drops are given by mouth at this visit — feeding can carry on as normal afterwards.
Totally normal (even when it doesn't feel it)
- Fever, fussiness and a sore leg in the 48 hours after vaccinations — common, expected, and the one situation where fever at this age doesn't automatically mean a doctor visit (if it started within 48 hours of jabs and baby is otherwise well).
- A small hard lump at the injection site lingering for a few weeks — normal and harmless.
- Sleepier-than-usual for a day or two post-jabs — recovery mode, not a red flag, as long as they're rousable and feeding.
- Crying at the appointment itself — needle pain is over in moments even when the protest is operatic.
- Being the parent who cried more than the baby — extremely well-documented phenomenon.
- A baby who still hasn't smiled by the review — that's exactly what the review is for; many late smilers are simply late smilers.
- Weight tracking a lower centile than the baby next to you at clinic — babies follow their own line; the trend is what professionals watch.
Worth checking
You know your baby best — if any of these ring true, or something just feels off, it's always OK to ask.
- Fever of 38°C or above NOT within 48 hours of vaccination, or any fever with your baby seeming really unwell — call your GP or NHS 111 (UK); in the US, your pediatrician. If in doubt after jabs, call anyway — nobody minds.
- A fever above 39°C after vaccines, a fever lasting beyond 48 hours, or a baby who is hard to rouse — call your GP or 111; in the US, your pediatrician.
- A high-pitched or unusual cry lasting hours after vaccination, or a seizure — call 999 (UK) or 911 (US).
- Blood in the nappy or a swollen tummy in the days after rotavirus vaccine (a rare bowel problem called intussusception) — call your GP or 111 urgently; in the US, your pediatrician or the ER.
- A non-blanching rash at any time — call 999 (UK) or 911 (US).
- No smiling, no response to sound, or no head control at all by this review — the GP will usually arrange follow-up; make sure it's raised rather than politely skipped.
- Your own mood questions flagging at the check — accept the follow-up appointment; postnatal depression responds well to treatment, and going untreated helps nobody.