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AIBU?

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Original poster

Health visitor checking sleeping area?

53 replies

Beachsidesunset · 14/03/2022 11:39

I know it's normal for babies - to check for SIDS risks, but at the two year check? Never experienced that before! Is it just my area, NE England?

OP posts:
AHungryCaterpillar · 14/03/2022 11:41

How odd, you don’t even need to have the 2 year check (or see a HV at all) I declined all of them, this is one of the reasons I found them too nosey!

Mumdiva99 · 14/03/2022 11:46

HV checks at 2 years in our area were at the Health Centre. So no, no check of the home at all. I went to two - primarily because they gave free books out. That had changed when I had my third so I didn't go. (Check was along the lines of....do you have any concerns? Anything you want to ask me? Great see you later....)

Blossomandbee · 14/03/2022 11:48

Going back a few years now but I've never had a HV check the sleeping area of any of my DC.

RedWingBoots · 14/03/2022 11:52

Maybe just your area due to kids coming to harm in the local area.

carefullycourageous · 14/03/2022 11:54

I would tell them to fuck off, nosey sods.

Bunnycat101 · 14/03/2022 11:54

Honestly be grateful that you are able to actually see a health visitor. In my area the 2yo check is questionnaire only now and I saw a health visitor once at the 2 week check. The cuts in the service really were shocking compared to what I had with my eldest.

Idkiibu · 14/03/2022 12:04

It’s very unusual. May be she’s had her concerns. I only had the place “checked” (visited) for my first newborn and even then they didn’t visit a bedroom.

Prinnny · 14/03/2022 12:09

Ours asked to see where she sleeps, also NE.

Electriq · 14/03/2022 12:11

London, 2yo check was as a health centre so no check.

Pipsquiggle · 14/03/2022 12:16

Very weird to have a 2 year check in your home. I thought you went to a health centre

Do you or your DC have additional needs?

I remember for a few of my friends, the HV checking sleeping areas for their 1st DC when very tiny.

Haven't heard of it for a 2 year old. Have you moved house? Are you new to the authority area?

Halllyup17 · 14/03/2022 12:19

Nope, not here. 5 children and not once was I asked if they could see their bedroom. Obviously, we discussed safe sleep, but that was that.

Mumdiva99 · 14/03/2022 12:25

Just a thought but could it be if HV haven't been doing home visits before they are now trying to pick up know families missed because of covid. So you are getting things we had a the first HV visit after having our babies. It could just be risk reduction.

Sh05 · 14/03/2022 12:30

We haven't seen a HV since DD was 2 weeks old, she's 2.5 years now.
Probably it's a requirement in your LA or they're being extra cautious because of missed checks due to covid

MyDcAreMarvel · 14/03/2022 12:32

Just say no thank you. @Bunnycat101 why would you need a HV visit for a second child?

SouthParkCovid · 14/03/2022 12:34

HV wanted to check ours also (2nd baby)
However DH was sleeping so she didn't. Said it was just a technicality on their part, so they can advise etc.

SouthParkCovid · 14/03/2022 12:34

We're also North East

Pllink · 14/03/2022 12:36

I've got a 4mth old and HV has never checked our sleeping area 🤷🏽‍♀️

BobbinHood · 14/03/2022 12:37

In the NE and the HV didn’t check this at any visit, although I didn’t get the 2 year old one due to covid.

Bimbabo · 14/03/2022 12:37

In Scotland all visits are in the home. I declined them coming in for 2.5 year check due to covid cases being high after Christmas. They found a room in the health centre. Last visit before that was 2 years ago and only had a 5 min call for the 1 year visit.
I’d decline anyone snooping round my home like that or as for documentation to say that was part of the checks and why.

Bimbabo · 14/03/2022 12:38

*ask

OfstedOffred · 14/03/2022 12:38

@Bunnycat101 why would you need a HV visit for a second child?

Because the checks include development if the child. Your first and second child can be very different. My second DC was prem with various health issues that have required other stuff.

Original poster
Beachsidesunset · 14/03/2022 12:38

No additional needs, no previous concerns. It makes sense that they're doing post-Covid catch-ups. All my previous 2 year checks have been at health centres.

OP posts:
Original poster
Beachsidesunset · 14/03/2022 12:39

@Prinnny

Ours asked to see where she sleeps, also NE.
Thanks, Prinnny, looks like it might be area-dependent.
OP posts:
NotMyDayJob · 14/03/2022 12:40

I'm in the North East and my experience here is extremely different to that with my first child in London. There we saw an HV at 10 days post birth and only got letters about 1 and 2 year checks. Here I've already seen the HV for a pre birth visit, have got an appointment for two weeks post birth and there are about three more visits over the first six months. It's better than the alternative if you need the support, I don't especially but I find it very reassuring

Bunnycat101 · 14/03/2022 12:40

@Bunnycat101 why would you need a HV visit for a second child?

Granted you might not have the same questions as with number 1 but I think it is completely inadequate to do all developmental checks via a questionnaire and worry that children will slip through the net. With my first the 2 year check was a 45 min to an hour appointment where the health visitor played with my child, did height and weight, checked for language issues etc. sending a questionnaire is just not the same at all.