The National Healthy Childhood Programme

The National Healthy Childhood Programme is Ireland’s universal programme of clinical care for all children to support them and their parents from birth. The service is free to all children in Ireland and enshrined in law.

This is delivered with the support of hospitals, hearing screeners, GPs, public health nurses and community medical doctors.

The programme helps to create the best outcomes for children and build the foundations for health over their lifetime by:

ensuring children are offered routine health interventions to stay well, and for early intervention
supporting families in the crucial early years of life

The Child Health Public Health function provides leadership and support to the National Healthy Childhood Programme.

The National Healthy Childhood Programme includes:

newborn and child health screening programmes
breastfeeding support for parents and training and resources for practitioners
health and development checks from birth to age 5
childhood vaccination from birth to the first year of secondary school
key health, wellbeing and safety information for parents through resources such as mychild.ie (pregnancy, baby and toddler health)
resources and training for healthcare professionals

Publications and child health information

The National Healthy Childhood Programme Child Health Assessment Manual for RPHNs - updated August 2023 (updates to sun safety advice in all sections; revised text on page 26 (under Cleft Lip +/- Palate); inclusion of fontanelle guidance in the 21-24 month section on page 85)
Safe sleep for your baby - reduce the risk of cot death - HSE's National Healthy Childhood Programme with National Paediatric Mortality Register - updated May 2022
Traveller child safety wallchart - HSE's National Healthy Childhood Programme with Pavee Point - March 2022
The Family and Child Health Standardised Care Plans for Public Health Nursing Services - December 2021
Breastfeeding - reports - policies and guidelines - factsheets - websites
Guidance for Voluntary Breastfeeding Groups during the COVID-19 pandemic - September 2021
Public Health Nursing Service Child Health Record User Guide and Data Definitions - July 2020
The National Standards for Antenatal Education in Ireland - February 2020
Criteria for a referral from PHN to CMD 2nd Tier Clinic - October 2021
Referral form for a PHN referral to CMD 2nd Tier Clinic - October 2021
Better for every child: The evaluation of the Nurture Programme: Infant Health and Wellbeing - Summary Report (pdf) and short video (Vimeo) - December 2019
Healthy Weight for Children (0-6 years) Framework: Areas for Action - Summary, Healthy Weight for Children Group - March 2019
Healthy Weight for Children (0-6 years) Framework, Healthy Weight for Children Group - November 2018
The newborn clinical examination handbook, The National Healthy Childhood Programme, November 2018
Framework for the National Healthy Childhood Programme, HSE Health & Wellbeing Division and HSE Primary Care Division - October 2018
Evidence Review of the Child Health Model, prepared by the Child Public Health Group, Strategy & Planning Division for The National Steering Group for Implementation of the Revised Child Health Model - October 2018
Child Safety Programme (CSP) Manual for health professionals on core child health contacts - 2018
Child safety checklist for parents and guardians - 2018

The National Healthy Childhood Programme

Publications and child health information

Newsletters

Measles resources

Winter illness resources