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New Baby Admin Checklist UK: Everything You Need to Do (2026)

10 min11 Jan 2026

New Baby Admin Checklist UK: The Stuff No One Tells You About

Congratulations on your new arrival. Between the sleepless nights and endless nappies, there's a stack of paperwork nobody warned you about. This guide breaks down exactly what you need to do, when you need to do it, and how long each task takes.

Missing deadlines can cost you money and create legal headaches. But don't worry. Most of this admin takes less time than you think, and we've organised it in priority order so you can tackle it in small chunks during those rare quiet moments.

Table of Contents

First 48 Hours: The Essentials {#first-48-hours}

These tasks are time-sensitive. Get them done while you're still in hospital or within days of coming home.

Get Your Baby's NHS Number

Your baby will receive an NHS number automatically after birth. The hospital will arrange this. You'll need it for GP registration and child benefit claims.

What to do: Confirm with the hospital that the NHS number has been issued before you leave. Keep a note of it somewhere safe.

Time needed: 5 minutes

Start the Birth Registration Process

You must register your baby's birth within 42 days in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. In Scotland, it's 21 days. If you miss this deadline, you can be fined.

You can register:

  • At the hospital before leaving (some hospitals offer this service)
  • At your local register office
  • In some areas, online

What you'll need:

  • Date and place of birth
  • Baby's full name
  • Parents' full names, dates and places of birth
  • Parents' occupations
  • Home address
  • Marriage or civil partnership certificate (if applicable)

Time needed: 30-60 minutes at the register office

Cost: Birth certificate is £11 (standard) or £35 (priority service). Order at least two copies. You'll need them for passport applications, child benefit claims, and school registration.

Notify Your Employer About Parental Leave

If your partner is still at work or you're planning shared parental leave, confirm the arrangements now.

What to do: Send written confirmation of birth to your employer, including the baby's date of birth and your planned return date.

Time needed: 15 minutes

First Week: Building the Foundation {#first-week}

Once you're home and settling into some kind of routine, tackle these tasks.

Register Your Baby with a GP

Your baby needs their own GP registration. They can be registered at the same practice as you, but they need their own record.

What to do:

  1. Contact your GP surgery
  2. Complete the registration form (GMS1)
  3. Provide your baby's NHS number and birth certificate

Time needed: 20 minutes

Why it matters: Your baby's first health visitor check happens at 10-14 days. They need to be registered for immunisations starting at 8 weeks.

Apply for Child Benefit

This is crucial even if you're a high earner. Here's why:

Child benefit rates 2025/26:

  • First child: £25.60 per week (£1,331.20 per year)
  • Additional children: £16.95 per week (£881.40 per year)

The high earner trap:

If either parent earns over £60,000, you'll pay back some or all of the benefit through the High Income Child Benefit Charge. But you should still claim because:

  1. National Insurance credits: The claiming parent gets NI credits towards their State Pension. These are worth thousands over time.
  2. Your income might drop: Parental leave, job changes, or reduced hours could bring you under the threshold.
  3. You can opt out of payments: Claim the benefit but tick the box to not receive payments. You still get the NI credits.

How to apply:

  • Online at gov.uk (fastest)
  • By post using form CH2

What you'll need:

  • Baby's birth certificate
  • Your National Insurance number
  • Bank account details

Time needed: 20 minutes online

Processing time: Usually 6-8 weeks. Payment is backdated up to 3 months.

Inform Your Health Visitor

Your health visitor should contact you automatically after the birth, but if they haven't been in touch within 10 days, chase it up through your GP surgery.

Time needed: 10 minutes

First Month: Protection Tasks {#first-month}

These tasks protect your family financially and legally. They're not urgent in the immediate sense, but they're critical.

Update Your Will (Or Make One)

This is the most important thing on this list. Without a will naming guardians, a court will decide who raises your child if something happens to both parents.

What you need to add:

  • Guardian nomination: Who will raise your child?
  • Backup guardian: In case your first choice can't do it
  • Financial provisions: How will your estate provide for your child?
  • Trust arrangements: Consider a trust to manage money until they're older than 18

Cost:

  • DIY with template: £0-30
  • Online will service: £90-150
  • Solicitor: £150-500

Time needed: 30 minutes to 2 hours depending on method

Key consideration: If you already have a will, having a baby doesn't automatically invalidate it. But it almost certainly needs updating to name guardians and adjust beneficiaries.

Review Your Life Insurance

A new baby significantly increases your life insurance needs. Calculate your gap:

Basic formula:

  • Income replacement (10-15 years of salary)
  • Plus mortgage outstanding
  • Plus childcare costs until age 18
  • Plus education fund
  • Minus existing cover

Example:

  • Salary: £50,000 x 12 years = £600,000
  • Mortgage: £250,000
  • Childcare: £10,000 x 15 years = £150,000
  • University fund: £50,000
  • Total need: £1,050,000
  • Death in service (4x salary): -£200,000
  • Gap: £850,000

Time needed: 30 minutes to calculate, 2-3 hours to get quotes and apply

Check If You Need to Register for Self Assessment

If you or your partner earns over £60,000 and claim child benefit, you must register for Self Assessment to pay the High Income Child Benefit Charge.

How the charge works:

  • Earnings £60,000-£80,000: Pay back 1% of benefit for every £200 over £60k
  • Earnings over £80,000: Pay back 100% of the benefit

What to do: Register for Self Assessment at gov.uk by 5 October following the tax year. Complete your return by 31 January.

Time needed: 30 minutes to register

Update Your Household Insurance

Your home contents insurance needs updating to cover baby equipment, gifts, and general increased value of contents.

What to notify:

  • New expensive items (pram, car seat, furniture)
  • Total contents value increase
  • Any changes to who lives at the property

Time needed: 15 minutes

First Three Months: Building Their Future {#first-three-months}

These tasks set up your child's financial future and complete your protection plan.

Open a Junior ISA

A Junior ISA (JISA) is a tax-free savings account for children. They can't access the money until they turn 18.

2025/26 limits:

  • Maximum contribution: £9,000 per year
  • Tax-free growth on interest and investments

Two types:

  1. Cash Junior ISA: Safe, earns interest, rates around 4-5% currently
  2. Stocks & Shares Junior ISA: Higher potential growth, some risk, best for long-term

Who can open one: Only a parent or guardian with parental responsibility.

Who can contribute: Anyone - grandparents, friends, family.

Example growth:

  • £100/month for 18 years
  • 5% average return
  • Result: Approximately £35,000

Time needed: 30 minutes to research and open

Consider Making an LPA

A Lasting Power of Attorney isn't just for elderly people. If something happened to you - accident, illness, stroke - who could:

  • Access your bank accounts to pay your mortgage?
  • Make medical decisions if you couldn't?
  • Manage your child's financial affairs?

Without an LPA, your partner would need to apply to the Court of Protection. This takes months, costs thousands, and happens at the worst possible time.

Two types:

  1. Property and Financial Affairs: Bank accounts, bills, property
  2. Health and Welfare: Medical treatment, care decisions

Cost: £82 per LPA to register with the Office of the Public Guardian

Time needed: 2-3 hours to complete, 8-10 weeks to register

Add Your Baby to Your Passport Application Plans

You can't add children to adult passports anymore. Your baby needs their own passport if you want to travel abroad.

Cost: £58.50 for standard service (online)

Time needed: 30 minutes to apply, 3-10 weeks processing

What you'll need:

  • Baby's birth certificate
  • Digital photo meeting passport standards
  • Parents' passport details

The Complete Checklist {#complete-checklist}

Frequently Asked Questions {#frequently-asked-questions}

Key Takeaways

  • Birth registration deadline: 42 days in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. 21 days in Scotland.
  • Child benefit: Claim even if you're a high earner for NI credits. Register for Self Assessment if earning over £60k.
  • Will update: Essential. Name guardians immediately. This is the one task that can't wait.
  • Junior ISA: £9,000 annual limit. Start early, even with small amounts.
  • Life insurance: New baby = much bigger coverage need. Calculate your gap.

Next Steps {#next-steps}

Last updated: January 2026. This guide is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal or financial advice. Laws and figures are specific to England and Wales unless otherwise stated.

Last updated: 11 January 2026