What to capture from birth
- Birth details — date, time, weight, length, blood type if tested
- Newborn screening results — hearing, metabolic panel
- Any complications or NICU time, noted for future reference
What to track through the first year
- Vaccinations — each dose, date, and the official card photographed
- Well-child visits — weight, length, head circumference at each checkup
- Any illnesses or medications, however minor they seem at the time
- Allergies as they’re discovered, especially food introductions
Documents worth keeping from the start
Hospital discharge summary, birth certificate copy, insurance cards and the newborn screening report are the four documents parents most often need again later — for school enrollment, a new pediatrician, or a specialist referral — and are easiest to lose in the sleep-deprived first weeks if not filed immediately.
Setting up your baby’s profile in MedKeep
Create their profile the week you bring them home: date of birth, blood type once known, and start logging vaccinations and well-child visits as they happen. Photograph discharge paperwork and the birth certificate straight into their encrypted document vault — future you, filling out a school form years from now, will be glad it’s there.
Frequently asked questions
What should I track for a newborn’s health record?
Birth details and screening results, every vaccination with date, growth measurements from well-child visits, and any illnesses, medications or allergies as they come up.
When should I start a health record for my baby?
From day one. Hospital discharge paperwork and newborn screening results are easiest to file immediately — they’re much harder to track down later.
Can I track my baby’s vaccinations and growth in the same place?
Yes. MedKeep keeps a newborn’s vaccinations, well-child visit notes and documents together in their own profile from birth.
Try it with MedKeep — free
Your whole family's medications, vitals, visits and documents. Encrypted on your device, works offline.