Paperwork for a new baby in the United Kingdom
A new baby comes with forms. These are the ones asked of new parents in the United Kingdom, in the order they come, each from the official page that sets it. Read it together or on your own: every step says who usually does it.
In short
- 5 steps before the birth and 4 after it, each one taken from an official page.
- Registering the birth: within 42 days.
- Each step says who usually does it: the parent giving birth, the other parent, or either of you.
- No amounts here: they change every year and depend on income. The official page under each step has today’s figure.
What is due in the United Kingdom, and when?
| Step | When | Who |
|---|---|---|
| Send the early pregnancy form | As soon as the pregnancy is confirmed | Either of you, or together |
| Start researching nurseries | Around weeks 20 to 28 | Either of you, or together |
| Arrange maternity leave with work | By 15 weeks before the due date | The parent giving birth |
| Arrange the partner’s leave with work | By 15 weeks before the due date | The other parent |
| Join nursery waiting lists | Around weeks 28 to 34 | Either of you, or together |
| Register the birth | Within 42 days | Either of you, or together |
| Register baby for primary care | First weeks | Either of you, or together |
| Claim the family benefits | From 48 hours after registering the birth | Either of you, or together |
| Review childcare costs and funded hours | Through the toddler years | Either of you, or together |
What to do before the birth in the United Kingdom
Send the early pregnancy form
When: As soon as the pregnancy is confirmed
Who: Either of you, or together
Ask your midwife or doctor for a maternity exemption certificate. They fill in the application. It gives free NHS prescriptions and free NHS dental treatment in pregnancy and for 12 months after the birth.
Official page: NHS Business Services Authority
Checked against NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA), checked on 12 October 2026
“You're entitled to a maternity exemption certificate if, at the time of your application, you are pregnant or have given birth in the last 12 months.”
NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA), read on 12 October 2026“It is the maternity exemption certificate that entitles you to free NHS prescriptions, not being pregnant or having given birth in the last 12 months.”
NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA), read on 12 October 2026“They'll complete the application for you.”
NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA), read on 12 October 2026“You are entitled to free NHS dental treatment if, at the time you are accepted for your course of treatment, you are pregnant or have had a baby in the last 12 months.”
NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA), read on 12 October 2026
Start researching nurseries
When: Around weeks 20 to 28
Who: Either of you, or together
In the UK popular nurseries can have long waiting lists, so families often look during pregnancy. Shortlist a few, visit them, and check costs and any funded hours you may be entitled to.
Arrange maternity leave with work
When: By 15 weeks before the due date
Who: The parent giving birth
By 15 weeks before the due date, tell your employer when the baby is due and when you want your leave to start. Your midwife gives you the MATB1 form from 20 weeks before the due date: your employer needs it for Statutory Maternity Pay.
Checked against GOV.UK, checked on 12 October 2026
“At least 15 weeks before your due date, tell your employer when the baby is due and when you want to start your maternity leave.”
GOV.UK, read on 12 October 2026“your MATB1 certificate - doctors and midwives will give you this no more than 20 weeks before the due date”
GOV.UK, read on 12 October 2026
Arrange the partner’s leave with work
When: By 15 weeks before the due date
Who: The other parent
By 15 weeks before the due date, tell your employer you want Paternity Leave, and give 28 days’ notice of when it should start.
Checked against GOV.UK, checked on 12 October 2026
“You must tell your employer the baby's due date at least 15 weeks before the baby is expected.”
GOV.UK, read on 12 October 2026“At least 28 days before you want to take Paternity Leave you must tell your employer:”
GOV.UK, read on 12 October 2026“If your baby is due on or after 26 July 2026, both the usual notice periods will apply.”
GOV.UK, read on 12 October 2026
Join nursery waiting lists
When: Around weeks 28 to 34
Who: Either of you, or together
In the UK, and in London especially, it is common to join lists 12 to 18 months before the start and to apply to several nurseries at once. Pay any deposit to hold your place, and ask each one how their list works.
What to do after the birth in the United Kingdom
Register the birth
When: Within 42 days
Who: Either of you, or together
In England, Wales and Northern Ireland you must register the birth within 42 days, usually at the local register office. In Scotland it is 21 days.
Checked against GOV.UK, checked on 12 October 2026
“All births in England, Wales and Northern Ireland must be registered within 42 days of the child being born.”
GOV.UK, read on 12 October 2026
Register baby for primary care
When: First weeks
Who: Either of you, or together
In the UK, register the baby with a GP and meet your health visitor.
Claim the family benefits
When: From 48 hours after registering the birth
Who: Either of you, or together
Claim Child Benefit from 48 hours after registering the birth. It can only be backdated up to 3 months from the day you claim, so a late claim loses money.
Checked against GOV.UK, checked on 12 October 2026
Review childcare costs and funded hours
When: Through the toddler years
Who: Either of you, or together
As your toddler grows, recheck what childcare support and funded hours you are entitled to, and whether a different pattern of days now suits family life better.
What differs by region in the United Kingdom?
Some steps work differently from one region to another. These are the ones that differ from the national rule above, each from its own official page.
England
Use England’s rules in the app
Review childcare costs and funded hours
When: Through the toddler years
Who: Either of you, or together
In England, working parents can get 30 hours a week of free childcare for 38 weeks of the year, from when the child is 9 months old. Recheck what you are entitled to as your toddler grows.
Checked against GOV.UK, checked on 10 October 2026
“If your child is aged 9 months to 4 years old you can get 30 hours per week of free childcare for 38 weeks of the year.”
GOV.UK, read on 10 October 2026
Scotland
Use Scotland’s rules in the app
Register the birth
When: Within 21 days
Who: Either of you, or together
In Scotland you must register the birth within 21 days of the date of birth.
Checked against mygov.scot (Scottish Government), checked on 10 October 2026
“You should register it within 21 days of the date of birth.”
mygov.scot (Scottish Government), read on 10 October 2026
Review childcare costs and funded hours
When: Through the toddler years
Who: Either of you, or together
In Scotland, 3 to 5 year olds can get up to 1,140 hours a year of funded early learning and childcare, and some 2 year olds can get it too. Check whether your toddler qualifies.
Checked against mygov.scot (Scottish Government), checked on 10 October 2026
“3 to 5 year olds can get up to 1,140 hours of funded early learning and childcare a year.”
mygov.scot (Scottish Government), read on 10 October 2026“Some 2 year olds can get funded early learning and childcare.”
mygov.scot (Scottish Government), read on 10 October 2026
Wales
Review childcare costs and funded hours
When: Through the toddler years
Who: Either of you, or together
In Wales, the Childcare Offer gives 3 and 4 year olds at least 10 hours a week of nursery education plus up to 20 hours of childcare, for up to 48 weeks of the year. Check whether you qualify.
Checked against GOV.WALES (Welsh Government), checked on 10 October 2026
“30 hours a week is made up of: at least 10 hours of nursery education up to 20 hours of childcare”
GOV.WALES (Welsh Government), read on 10 October 2026“You can choose how much of the 30 hours you use for up to 48 weeks of the year.”
GOV.WALES (Welsh Government), read on 10 October 2026
Northern Ireland
Use Northern Ireland’s rules in the app
Review childcare costs and funded hours
When: Through the toddler years
Who: Either of you, or together
In Northern Ireland, a funded pre-school education place is offered in the year before primary school, and parents do not pay for it. Look at the places near you ahead of time.
Checked against nidirect (Northern Ireland), checked on 10 October 2026
“The Pre-School Education Programme funds education for children in the year before they start primary school.”
nidirect (Northern Ireland), read on 10 October 2026“All pre-school places available under the Pre-School Education Programme are funded by the government. Parents don't pay for these places.”
nidirect (Northern Ireland), read on 10 October 2026
Questions parents ask
How much will we get?
This page does not say, on purpose. Amounts change every year and depend on income and work, and a wrong figure is worse than none. Each step links the official page that has today’s amount and the rules for your case.
Is this legal advice?
No. It names each step, who usually does it, where and by when, as the official pages put it. Your own case can differ: your employer, your registry office or the office named on each page has the last word.
Does this apply if I am doing it on my own?
Yes. The steps are the same together or on your own. A step marked for the other parent, such as their leave, only applies if there is one.
How current is this?
Each step links the official page it was read on. Where a step rests on a sentence we re-read every week, the date it was last read is under it, and if the official page changes the step says it is being re-checked instead.
Your paperwork, dated and shared
Syncry turns this list into your family’s own checklist: each deadline counted from your due date or your baby’s birthday, split between the two of you or all yours, a reminder before each one, and ticked off together.