Childhood Immunisations
At Baby Steps, childhood immunisations are provided according to the National Immunisation Program Schedule — helping to protect your child from serious illnesses at every stage of development.
Helping your child prepare for their vaccine
Children thrive on structure and stability, so new experiences—whether big, like moving house or welcoming a sibling, or small, like changes in routine—can feel overwhelming, making it essential to help them process their feelings and build resilience.
Vaccinations are no different. The key to creating a positive experience is all in the preparation.
Play preparation helps to improve a child’s ability to cope. It can also give them some control over the situation, allowing them to participate and possibly make some of their own choices – for example which arm they have the injection in, and who’s lap they sit on.
Without over dramatising or creating suspense, talk to them about the injection in simple, age-appropriate language. Explain that it will hurt, but only for a little bit. You could watch a tv show that shows a child having their vaccination.
Controlling your own anxiety will help keep your child calm. Smile, relax and cuddle them on your lap. Distraction is a great tool, so allowing them to bring their favourite toy is a good idea.
Trying avoid language that associates the injection with punishment – like saying sorry. If you tell your child that they’re being brave, make sure it’s not because they didn’t cry, but because they did something new.
When children know what to expect, it gives them a sense of control, and dramatically changes their experience.
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| 4 months |
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| 6 months |
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| 12 months |
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| 4 years |
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RSV Immunisation
Respiratory Syncytial Virus is one of the most common and potentially severe respiratory infections in children. Nearly half of all children catch RSV each winter, and 1 in 30 will become unwell enough to need hospital care. In the first year of life, RSV is the leading cause of bronchiolitis and pneumonia — but now we can prevent it.
A new RSV immunisation was made available in April 2025. It doesn’t work by training the immune system like traditional vaccines. Instead, it provides protective antibodies directly — a safe and effective approach shown to reduce hospitalisations by 80–90%.
These antibodies last around 5 months, just enough to cover the peak RSV season.
Who should get it?
- All babies in their first winter
- Babies with medical vulnerabilities may be eligible for two consecutive winters
- Babies whose mothers were not vaccinated during late pregnancy
- Babies who didn’t receive the antibodies in hospital after birth
We’re proud to support babies through every season, offering timely protection that helps keep families — and the whole community — safer.
