4 Important Documents Your Child Needs

As a new mum, dad, or parent you may have many questions regarding your journey and what you need to make it easier for you and your baby. With a new baby comes birth certificates, vaccination schedules and visits to the hospital and new travel plans if you constantly travel with your child.

Birth Certificate

This is the most important document for your little one. It’s legal proof that you’re the parent of the child and shows important information such as where your child was born, it’s midwife, the birthdate and the name of the other parent if you chose to include them.

A birth certificate is a gateway for all other documents you wish to get for your child such as a passport, enrolling them in school, KCPE/KCSE exam registration and ultimately getting a driver’s licence.

Read More: Birth Certificate in Kenya – Application and Replacement

2. Vaccination Records

Vaccination records and documents show where and when certain vaccinations were administered and guide a physician in knowing where you are in terms of following the vaccination schedule. These records are important in showing your child’s medical history as well as joining daycares and or kindergartens.

Read More: Debunking 9 Myths and Misconceptions about Vaccines.

3. NHIF Card and Medical Documents

One of the best step when planning for a child is taking maternity insurance and thereafter adding your child to your NHIF insurance cover. Maternity insurance cover for your antenatal and postnatal hospital bills and NHIF can subsidize the insurance giving you a great financial cover as a whole.

In this regard, keep your health insurance near, add your child as a dependant if you are yet to do so or register them for a health insurance cover.

Read More: How To Register For NHIF in Kenya with Dependents

4. Passport

Your child needs a passport. Now, you might be asking when are they going to require a passport but it’s always nice to be prepared. As they say, opportunity meets preparation.

In addition, for parents planning to travel with their kids internationally or for family holidays; applying for a passport is a must. Here is a step by step guideline on how to apply for the new Kenyan E-passport.

There are other documents that you need to get for them in future such as the power of attorney or standby guardianship in which you appoint another person to be your child’s parent in case you’re incapacitated. However, in the first months or 2 years, these are the most important documents

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