Moving to Germany with children adds a specific layer of complexity to the healthcare process. While adults can sometimes manage without a registered Hausarzt for a few weeks, families with young children should register with a Kinderarzt (paediatrician) as early as possible. In many cities, waiting lists are long, and practices are oversubscribed.
This guide explains how the Kinderarzt system works, how to find and register with a doctor, the schedule of developmental health checks (U-Untersuchungen), vaccination rules, and practical tips for expat families.
What Is a Kinderarzt and Who Needs One?
A Kinderarzt (plural: Kinderärzte) is a paediatric specialist, meaning a doctor who focuses only on the health of children and teenagers, usually from birth up to about 18 years old. In Germany, children do not usually see a Hausarzt; instead, they see a specialist for primary care.
If you are moving to Germany with a child of any age — from a newborn to a teenager — registering with a Kinderarzt should be on your priority list from the very first week. This is not just a matter of convenience: certain statutory health checks and vaccinations are tied to specific age windows, and missing them can affect Kita (daycare) and school enrolment.
💡 If you are pregnant and planning to give birth in Germany, many parents register with a Kinderarzt before the baby is born. Practices in popular areas fill quickly, and securing a spot in advance gives you peace of mind from day one.
How to Find a Kinderarzt
It can be hard to find a Kinderarzt who is taking new patients, especially in cities. There are more families needing paediatric care than there are available doctors in many urban areas. Here are some steps to help you with the search:
Online Search Tools
- Doctolib (doctolib.de): Filter by Kinderarzt or Kinderheilkunde, your city, and insurance type. Look for practices that say they are accepting new patients (neue Patienten).
- Jameda (jameda.de): Search for Kinderarzt in your area, read reviews from other parents, and use the booking feature if available.
- Your Krankenkasse website: Most public insurers have a practice finder. Search for “Kinder- und Jugendmedizin” or “Kinderheilkunde” in your postcode area.
- KV-Arztsuche: The Kassenärztliche Vereinigung in your state runs an official directory. In urgent cases, you can call 116 117 to get help finding available paediatric practices.
Ask Within Your Network
Other parents in your neighbourhood, building, or workplace are often the best source of recommendations. Local Facebook groups for expat families in your city, such as “Expat Families in Munich” or “English-speaking parents Berlin,” often have pinned posts with suggestions for English-speaking Kinderärzte.
⚠️ In major German cities, many Kinderarzt practices are fully booked and have closed their lists to new patients indefinitely. Contact multiple practices simultaneously and be prepared for a waiting period. Starting this process before you arrive or immediately upon arrival is strongly advised.
Registration – What to Bring
Registering with a Kinderarzt is similar to signing up with a Hausarzt. Usually, you need to call or visit the practice to ask if they have space, then book a registration appointment.
Bring the following for your child’s first appointment:
- Child’s Krankenversicherungskarte (health insurance card)
- Child’s passport or birth certificate
- Your own ID (passport or Personalausweis)
- Kinderuntersuchungsheft – the yellow child health booklet (if born in Germany)
- Vaccination records from India – vaccination card/report
- Previous medical records or paediatric summaries
- Meldebescheinigung (proof of address registration) – not always required.
💡If your child was born in Germany, they will have received a yellow booklet called the Kinderuntersuchungsheft at birth. This booklet is the official record of all U-Untersuchungen (developmental health checks) and must be brought to every Kinderarzt appointment. Keep it safe, as replacing it is possible but can be difficult.
The U-Untersuchungen – Germany’s Child Health Check Programme
A key part of the German paediatric system is the Untersuchungen programme. This is a series of structured health checks that track a child’s physical, mental, and social development from birth through adolescence.
These checks are numbered U1 through U9, with an additional J1 check for adolescents. They are fully covered by your Krankenkasse at no cost. Missing a check within its designated time window means it cannot be claimed retroactively from insurance.
| Examination | Timing | Key focus areas |
| U1 | Immediately after birth | Initial physical assessment, reflexes, APGAR score |
| U2 | 3–10 days | Jaundice, weight gain, hip development, hearing screening |
| U3 | 4–5 weeks | Physical development, reflexes, feeding |
| U4 | 3–4 months | Motor development, vision, hearing |
| U5 | 6–7 months | Sitting, reaching, early language |
| U6 | 10–12 months | Standing, first words, social behaviour |
| U7 | 21–24 months | Walking, language development, teeth |
| U7a | 34–36 months | Speech development (required for Kita enrolment in some states) |
| U8 | 46–48 months | School readiness assessment begins, coordination |
| U9 | 60–64 months | Pre-school check — language, cognition, social skills |
| J1 | 12–14 years | Adolescent health check — puberty, mental health, lifestyle |
Are the U-Untersuchungen Mandatory?
Technically, participation in the U-Untersuchungen is voluntary at the federal level. However, several German states have introduced monitoring systems that follow up with families who miss checks. In some states, missing multiple checks can trigger a welfare enquiry. Additionally, some Kitas and schools may request the Kinderuntersuchungsheft as part of the enrolment process.
In reality, almost all families take part in these checks. They are free, well-organized, and give you a helpful way to keep track of your child’s development.
Catch-Up Checks for Children Moving to Germany
If your child is too old for some of the earlier U-Untersuchungen when you arrive in Germany, your Kinderarzt will do an initial assessment and see which checks are still possible. Missed checks usually cannot be reimbursed by insurance, but the Kinderarzt will still conduct a full developmental review.
Bring any developmental or health records from your child’s home country, such as growth charts, past health checks, or developmental assessments. These will help your Kinderarzt get a clear picture of your child’s health history.
Vaccinations in Germany
Germany uses the vaccination schedule recommended by the Ständige Impfkommission (STIKO), the Standing Committee on Vaccination under the Robert Koch Institute. This schedule includes all standard childhood vaccinations.
Core STIKO Vaccinations for Children:
- Rotavirus – from 6 weeks
- 6-in-1 vaccine (diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, Hib, polio, hepatitis B) – from 2 months
- Pneumococcal vaccine – from 2 months
- Meningococcal C – from 12 months
- MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) – from 11 months, second dose from 15 months
- Varicella (chickenpox) – from 11 months
- HPV – from 9 years (both boys and girls)
- Influenza – annually recommended for children with chronic conditions.
If Your Child Has Been Vaccinated in India
Bring all vaccination documentation to your first Kinderarzt appointment. Your doctor will review which vaccinations your child has already received and which remain outstanding according to the STIKO schedule. Vaccinations given abroad that are clinically equivalent to the German schedule are generally recognised.
If you do not have proof of a certain vaccination and blood tests do not show immunity, your Kinderarzt may suggest repeating the vaccine. This is done as a precaution, not just for paperwork. Your child’s well-being comes first.
⚠️ Measles vaccination has been mandatory in Germany since March 2020 for all children attending Kita or school, as well as for all staff. Children without proof of measles vaccination (or documented immunity) cannot be admitted to Kita. Ensure your child’s measles vaccinations are up to date before enrolment.
Kita Enrolment and Health Documentation
When enrolling your child in a Kita (Kindertagesstätte — daycare centre), you will typically be asked to provide health-related documentation. Requirements vary by Kita and by state, but commonly include:
- Proof of measles vaccination or immunity (mandatory by law since 2020)
- The Kinderuntersuchungsheft — some Kitas request to see this or a copy
- A medical certificate confirming your child is fit for group care (Kita-tauglichkeit). Some facilities require this, especially after your child has been ill.
Your Kinderarzt can provide all of these documents. Talk about Kita enrolment requirements at your first appointment to avoid any last-minute delays.
Acute Illness and After-Hours Care for Children
If your child gets sick outside normal office hours, the process is the same as for adults: call 116 117. The Ärztlicher Bereitschaftsdienst (medical on-call service) handles paediatric cases, assesses your child’s symptoms over the phone, and tells you where to go for care.
When to Go to the Emergency Department
Go directly to the nearest paediatric emergency department (Kinderklinik Notaufnahme) if your child:
- Is struggling to breathe or has a blue tinge around the lips
- Has a seizure or is unresponsive
- Has a very high fever and is a newborn (under 3 months). Any fever in this age group is a medical emergency.
- Has swallowed something that might be toxic. Also call the Giftnotruf (poison control) at 030 19240.
- Has sustained a serious injury
For everything else that is concerning but not life-threatening, call 116 117 first.
Language and Communication
Paediatric appointments include detailed talks about your child’s development, behaviour, and symptoms. Language can be a real barrier. Here are some ways to handle it:
- Search specifically for English-speaking Kinderarzt practices on Doctolib or Jameda. In larger cities, many paediatric practices have at least one English-speaking doctor.
- Prepare a written summary in German about your child’s development, including milestones, any concerns, medical history, and current medications.
- For the U-Untersuchungen, many assessments are observational. The doctor watches how your child interacts, moves, and responds, so language is less important for these parts.
- You can use the DeepL app during appointments to translate anything you do not understand in real time.
- Ask your Krankenkasse if they offer telephone interpretation. Many do, and it is free for you.
Summary – Key Takeaways
- Register with a Kinderarzt as soon as you arrive, since demand is much higher than supply in many cities.
- Bring all vaccination records and any existing health documentation to your first appointment.
- The U-Untersuchungen are a free, structured programme of developmental checks. Make sure to attend them within the set time windows.
- Measles vaccination is mandatory by law for all children attending Kita or school.
- For non-emergency care outside regular hours, call 116 117. For real emergencies, go straight to the Kinderklinik Notaufnahme or call 112.
- English-speaking paediatric practices can be found in most major cities. Search for them specifically on Doctolib or Jameda.
