Paediatrics
Private 6 week baby check in London
Basuto Medical Centre provides private 6 week baby checks at 29 Basuto Road, Fulham, London SW6 4BJ. The check is a 30-minute GP appointment for babies around six to eight weeks old, covering a full physical examination and a review of feeding, growth and development, with time for parents’ questions.
APPOINTMENT
£140
30 minutes – a proper newborn review
FOR BABIES
6-8 wks
Around 6-8 weeks old
Exceptional private GP care, with continuity since 1990
At a glance
Key details before you book
What it is
A physical examination and developmental review for newborns.
When
Six to eight weeks after birth.
Appointment length
30 minutes as standard, time to examine calmly.
Who carries it out
An experienced GP with a special interest in paediatrics.
Also covered
Feeding, weight gain and parental wellbeing.
Location
29 Basuto Road, SW6 4BJ – 3 minutes from Parsons Green.
Why parents book
Why book a private 6 week baby check
A private 6 week baby check gives you time for a careful, unhurried review of your baby at a stage when questions often begin to build.
At Basuto, baby checks are 30 minutes as standard. That gives your GP time to examine your baby properly, talk through feeding, sleep, weight, skin, digestion and development, and answer the questions you came in with.
Some parents book because they want more time for the check. Others come with a specific concern, such as feeding difficulties, reflux, colic, slow weight gain, noisy breathing, unsettled sleep, skin changes or constipation. Some have already had an NHS check and would like a second review with more time to talk things through.
Whether this is your first baby or your third, you leave with a clear understanding of how your baby is doing, what is developing as expected, and whether anything needs follow-up.
The examination
What the physical examination covers
The physical examination is a head-to-toe check of your baby, designed in particular to detect four conditions that benefit from early identification: congenital heart disease, developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH), congenital cataract and undescended testes.
It also includes:
- Weight check and measurement of head circumference, with assessment of the fontanelles and head shape.
- General appearance: behaviour, breathing, activity and skin colour, including jaundice, rashes or birthmarks.
- Tone, movements and posture.
- Head and face: fontanelles, nose, palate and symmetry.
- Eyes: checking for the red reflex and visual fixing.
- Heart: position, rate, murmurs and femoral pulses.
- Lungs: breathing rate and any added sounds.
- Abdomen: shape, organ size and hernias.
- Genitalia, including testicular descent.
- Hips: examined using the Barlow and Ortolani tests, with a check for symmetrical skin creases in the thighs.
- Spine.
Your GP will talk you through the check, explain what they have found, and let you know whether any follow-up is needed.
Development
The review of your baby’s development
Alongside the physical examination, your GP reviews how your baby is feeding, growing and developing.
- Feeding and weight gain, checked against your baby’s growth chart.
- Vision and hearing. Most newborns have hearing screening before leaving the maternity unit; your GP checks this happened and reviews the everyday signs – most parents notice their baby stills to sudden noise and follows a face with their eyes.
Social development: by six weeks most babies are smiling spontaneously and making a range of sounds that indicate mood.
This is also a good time to raise anything you have been wondering about: feeding, weight gain, rashes, breathing, sleep, digestion, or anything else on your mind.
Most questions have simple, reassuring answers. When something needs follow-up, your GP will explain it clearly and help you decide the next step.
You matter too
Time for your questions – and a check on you
A 6 week baby check is also a chance for you to ask the questions that have built up since birth. Your GP will talk things through clearly and give written advice where helpful, so you leave knowing what to do next.
We will also make sure that you are okay. The weeks after birth can be demanding, and your health matters too, including mood, recovery, sleep and support at home. If you would benefit from extra support, we can help arrange it, including through our counselling service.
Partners are very welcome. We encourage both parents to come, ask questions and be part of the appointment.
After the check
If something needs another look
Most 6 week baby checks are reassuring. If it would be helpful to review something again, such as feeding, weight gain, reflux, constipation or a rash, you can stay with the same practice who already know your history.
If specialist input is needed, we refer promptly to a well-established network of paediatric specialists and explain clearly why. And because the 8-week vaccines come around quickly, many families plan their baby’s first immunisations at the same visit – see our childhood immunisations page for the schedules we cover.
Pricing
What a private 6 week baby check costs
6 week baby check
£140
30-minute children’s GP appointment. No registration fee.
If you plan to use Basuto for your baby’s ongoing care – immunisations, illness appointments, growth reviews – we offer an under-16 membership at £55 a month, with 10 appointments a year.
Common Questions
Questions parents often bring to the 6 week check
What is a 6 week baby check?
It is a structured review of your baby’s health, growth and early development, carried out around six to eight weeks after birth. It combines a head-to-toe physical examination with a developmental review and time for parents’ questions.
When should the check be done?
Usually between six and eight weeks of age. If you have missed that window, book anyway – your GP can still examine your baby and advise on anything outstanding.
What does the doctor examine?
Your GP checks your baby’s heart, lungs, abdomen, hips, eyes, head, skin, genitalia, spine, tone and reflexes, and measures weight and head circumference. The examination is designed to pick up conditions such as congenital heart disease, hip dysplasia, congenital cataract and undescended testes.
Can I book if the NHS check has already been done?
Yes. Some parents want a more thorough second look or more time for questions; others come because their NHS check felt rushed or a concern was not fully addressed.
What happens if something is found?
Your GP explains what has been found, what it means clinically and exactly what happens next. Where needed, we can arrange prompt referral to a paediatric specialist and follow up with you afterwards.
How much does a private 6 week baby check cost?
It is a 30-minute children’s GP appointment, costing £140. Any extras, such as vaccines given at the same visit, are explained before anything is arranged.
Do I need to register or leave my NHS GP?
No. You can book directly without registering, there is no catchment area, and your baby stays registered with their NHS GP as normal.
Can my baby’s first vaccinations be planned at the same time?
Yes. The 8-week immunisations follow soon after the check, and your GP can talk through the schedule and book them – see our childhood immunisations page.
Find us / booking
Book your baby’s check
Basuto Medical Centre is at 29 Basuto Road, London SW6 4BJ – three minutes’ walk from Parsons Green and five minutes from Parsons Green station on the District line. Open Monday to Friday, 9am-6pm.
Book a 30-minute appointment for a thorough newborn review, honest answers to your questions, and clear next steps for you and your baby.
Medically reviewed by Dr Nora Al-Saraf, MB BS MRCGP, GMC 6149057 · 23 July 2026