CHILDRENS HEALTH

It specifically states in the leaflet I was given recently at my clinic that preventative care here is based on the principle of the parents' own responsibility for the health of the child, so remember that they will be expecting you to be proactive in the discussion. This should already be sounding familiar if you've been any length of time in this country (see 'How To Get What You Want' in the Etiquette section, so wade in there with your questions and concerns. The regular clinic appointments are brief and staff can seem businesslike and focused in manner, but they are there purely to help you and your child . They will always be happy to make an extra appointment for you. House visits are possible if need be.

Moreover, all clinics have an 'open surgery' (inloopspreekuur ) at least once per week, which is an excellent chance to go and mention small things you don't feel it's worth making a whole appointment for - or simply to go and talk about babies, as I did with my first, not knowing anyone here! Some clinics also have a telephone number for questions, which is very handy when you work or have a busy schedule. You can call for questions like 'Is it normal for my baby to have green poo?' or 'Can you please explain why a baby younger than one year may not eat salt?'. You ask your question, and then you get called back by a nurse who can advise you on a simple topic which isn't worth a visit to the clinic.