The development, growth, and health of your child are important to us because taking care of a baby can be overwhelming, whether you're a first-time parent or not.

Good health care and information are available from pregnancy to birth to help your child thrive as they grow. 

According to the National Department of Health, your child needs 5 things to thrive:

• adequate healthy food,
• plenty of love from their parents, such as playing and talking,
• protection from disease and injury,
• health care when they are ill, and
• extra care and support if they need it.

The Road to Health book is designed to keep track of all your baby’s healthcare needs and is free for all babies born in South Africa since November 2018 at public or private healthcare facilities. It contains everything you need to know to help your child thrive and can be used to keep a record of your child’s growth and development milestones.

Give your child the best start in life

You can use the crucial advice and information in your Road to Health book to give your child the best start in life. In the new book, you can find information about how to feed your baby, what symptoms and warning signs you should look out for and when they need to visit the clinic for their next immunisation.

There’s even a place where you can keep track of your baby’s growth. 

Although the Road to Health book is given to parents after the birth of their child at the health facility, if you’ve opted for a home birth, a health worker will provide you with this book the first time they see the baby.

To ensure that your baby receives the right care at the right time, remember to take the booklet with you to every clinic visit so that doctors and nurses can stay updated with your baby’s medical history.

Keep a record of your child’s growth and development

First-time parents can find all the advice they’ll need on how to raise a happy, healthy child in the new Road to Health book while keeping a record of the child’s growth and development.

Every time your child attends a clinic, hospital, doctor, or other healthcare facility, it's crucial to have your book with you. Although your child's preschool or school could ask for information from this book, you should always keep it in your possession.

Don't get rid of the older Road to Health book if you're still using it! It still has to be used because it has the medical history of your child on it.

If you have any questions or concerns regarding your child’s health, growth and development, you can ask the health worker about it at your next visit.