The First Days: A Virginia New Parent's Guide

Last updated: August 2026 · Sources: Virginia Department of Health, Social Security Administration, Cover Virginia, AAP, Safe Kids Virginia

The first weeks after birth involve a surprising amount of paperwork and decision-making layered on top of caring for a newborn. This guide walks Virginia families through the essential administrative, medical, and safety steps — with exact contact information, costs, and timelines specific to the Commonwealth.

1. Getting Your Baby's Birth Certificate

Virginia's Office of Vital Records (part of the Virginia Department of Health) is the sole issuer of Virginia birth certificates, and the process now has an online option.

Cost

The standard state fee for a birth certificate is $12 to $15 per certified copy — confirm current pricing directly with VDH before paying, as rates may have been updated. An amendment to an existing record costs an additional $10.

How to Apply

• Online: Complete the application through VDH's Office of Vital Records portal at vr-fhs.vdh.virginia.gov, paid by credit card.
• By mail: Send a completed Application for Certification of a Vital Record with payment (check or money order payable to State Health Department) to: Office of Vital Records, P.O. Box 1000, Richmond, VA 23218-1000.
• In person: Visit the Office of Vital Records at 8701 Park Central Drive, Suite 100, Richmond, VA 23227 (walk-in hours 7:00am-4:00pm, Monday-Friday) for same-day service, or your local health department/DMV.
• Expedited (VitalChek): For 2-5 day delivery, use VitalChek Network at 877-572-6333 or vitalchek.com; fees are $20.80 per certified record plus a $12.70 non-refundable service fee, plus delivery options.

Processing Times

• Online applications: Approximately 5 business days from submission.
• Mail applications: Approximately 8 business days from receipt (though some sources cite up to 4-8 weeks depending on volume and season).
• In-person: Same-day at the Richmond office; some local health departments also offer same-day walk-in service.
• Peak season caution: February through September is peak season, so allow extra time during these months.

Key Contact Information

• Customer Care Center: 804-662-6200 (8:00am-4:30pm, Monday-Friday)
• Mailing address: Office of Vital Records, P.O. Box 1000, Richmond, VA 23218-1000
• Website: vdh.virginia.gov/vital-records

2. Applying for Your Baby's Social Security Number

Nearly all Virginia parents can secure their newborn's Social Security number without ever visiting an SSA office, thanks to a federal program called Enumeration at Birth (EAB).

How It Works Automatically at the Hospital

When you complete your baby's birth certificate paperwork at the hospital, you'll be asked whether you want to apply for an SSN at the same time. If you say yes, Virginia's Office of Vital Records electronically transmits the birth registration information to the Social Security Administration, which then assigns an SSN and mails the card directly to you — no separate application, no supporting documents required.

• What you'll need to provide: Both parents' Social Security numbers, if known (you can still apply even if you don't know both).
• Processing time: The national average processing time for EAB cases is about 2 weeks, plus up to an additional 2 weeks for the physical card to arrive by mail.
• Important limitation: EAB is only available for births that occur in a hospital — it is not available for home births or midwife-attended births outside a hospital setting.

If You Had a Home Birth or Missed the Hospital Process

• Use the online application at ssa.gov/number-card, or complete Form SS-5 (Application for a Social Security Card), available at ssa.gov/forms/ss-5.pdf.
• Gather original documents proving your child's U.S. citizenship, age, and identity (typically the birth certificate), plus your own proof of identity and relationship to the child.
• Call 800-772-1213 to speak with an SSA representative, or visit your local Social Security office to complete the process.
• Federal deadline guidance: Under federal policy, parents generally have until the first day of the second calendar month after the birth or hospital discharge to apply — for example, if discharged February 15, you'd have until March 31.

3. Enrolling Your Baby in Medicaid (If Mom Is Enrolled)

Virginia has a "deemed newborn" rule that provides automatic Medicaid coverage for babies born to mothers enrolled in Medicaid or FAMIS at the time of delivery — but "automatic" doesn't mean you can skip reporting the birth.

How It Works

Children born to Cardinal Care Medicaid or FAMIS-enrolled mothers (including those with retroactive Medicaid covering the birth) are automatically eligible for coverage until their first birthday, with coverage retroactive to the date of birth. No full application is required — only the baby's name, date of birth, and gender need to be reported.

• The hospital usually handles initial enrollment: Most hospitals submit the newborn's enrollment information on your behalf via the "E-213" enrollment form.
• You should still confirm it happened. If your baby isn't showing as enrolled within 2-3 weeks of birth, contact Cover Virginia directly.
• MCO coverage continuity: If the mother was enrolled in a Medicaid-contracted managed care organization (MCO) at the time of birth, the baby is covered through that same MCO for at least the birth month plus two additional months.
• No SSN required at first enrollment — it should be reported once received, but its absence doesn't delay initial coverage.

How to Report the Birth (Do This Even If the Hospital Says They Will)

• Call Cover Virginia: 1-855-242-8282 (TDD: 1-888-221-1590), Monday-Friday 8:00am-7:00pm
• Call your local Department of Social Services (DSS) — find yours at dss.virginia.gov/localagency
• Managed Care Helpline: 1-800-643-2273 (TTY: 1-800-817-6608), Monday-Friday 8:30am-6:00pm
• Deadline: Report within 60 days of birth to ensure smooth enrollment.

If Mom's Income Changes or She's on a Marketplace Plan

If your income at delivery exceeds Medicaid limits, your newborn may instead qualify for FAMIS (Virginia's CHIP program, for children up to 205% of the Federal Poverty Level) or Cardinal Care for children (up to 148% FPL). If the mother is on a Marketplace or COBRA plan rather than Medicaid at delivery, the birth triggers a 60-day Special Enrollment Period during which the newborn must be added separately.

Renewal

Coverage continues without an income review until the child's first annual renewal, which occurs around their first birthday. Renewal forms can be completed online at commonhelp.virginia.gov, by phone with Cover Virginia, or by mail to Cardinal Care Correspondence Center, P.O. Box 1820, Richmond, VA 23218.

4. Choosing a Pediatrician and Scheduling the First Visit

What to Look For

• Availability for a prenatal "meet and greet." The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends finding a pediatrician before your baby arrives, so you're not scrambling during the newborn period.
• Hospital affiliation. Confirm the pediatrician's practice has privileges at (or a close working relationship with) the hospital where you plan to deliver, since your baby may see a hospital-based pediatrician immediately after birth before transitioning to your chosen practice.
• Same-day sick visit availability and after-hours/weekend coverage, since newborns and infants get sick unpredictably and often need to be seen quickly.
• Feeding support philosophy. Ask whether the practice has an on-staff or closely connected lactation consultant, since feeding concerns are among the most common early newborn issues.
• Office logistics: location relative to your home, parking, average wait times, and whether sick and well-child visits are separated.

When to Schedule the First Visit

The American Academy of Pediatrics' guidance ties the timing of the first newborn visit specifically to when your baby was discharged from the hospital:

In practical terms, most healthy full-term babies see the pediatrician 3 to 5 days after birth. Earlier or more frequent follow-up is required for higher-risk infants, including those born at 35–38 weeks gestation, with jaundice appearing in the first 24 hours, blood type incompatibility, exclusively breastfed with feeding/intake concerns, a significant cephalohematoma or bruising, a previous sibling who needed phototherapy, East Asian ethnicity (a recognized risk factor for jaundice), or discharge before 48 hours of age.

The First-Year Visit Schedule

Following the initial newborn visit, the AAP's standard periodicity schedule includes visits at 1, 2, 4, 6, 9, and 12 months. Each visit covers a mix of growth/feeding monitoring, vaccinations, developmental milestone screening, and safe sleep or safety guidance appropriate to the child's age.

5. Virginia's Mandatory Newborn Screening Panel

Virginia law requires every infant born in the Commonwealth to undergo a specific panel of screening tests, administered by the physician or certified nurse midwife in charge of the infant's care after delivery.

Dried Blood Spot Screening (Heel Prick Test)

Virginia's core panel currently includes screening for 33 heritable disorders and genetic diseases, including:

• Metabolic disorders: PKU (phenylketonuria), MSUD (maple syrup urine disease), homocystinuria, tyrosinemia type I, and multiple fatty-acid oxidation and organic acid disorders (MCAD, VLCAD, LCHAD, GA I, IVA, PROP, and others)
• Endocrine disorders: congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) and primary congenital hypothyroidism (CH)
• Hemoglobin disorders: sickle cell anemia (Hb SS), Hb SC-disease, and Hb S beta-thalassemia
• Other conditions: cystic fibrosis (CF), biotinidase deficiency, galactosemia, severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID), Pompe disease, mucopolysaccharidosis type I (MPS I), spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), and X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy (X-ALD)

Additional Required Screenings

• Hearing screening: Required for all Virginia newborns under the Virginia Early Hearing Detection and Intervention Program.
• Critical congenital heart defect (CCHD) screening: Required via pulse oximetry (or another Board-approved method based on AAP standards) between 24 and 48 hours of age, or prior to discharge if the baby leaves the hospital before 24 hours old.

Religious Exemption

Parents or guardians may decline screening on religious grounds; this exemption applies to both the dried-blood-spot panel and the CCHD screening.

Contact for Questions

• VDH Newborn Screening / Genetics program: 1-800-523-4019, vahealth.org/genetics

6. Car Seat Inspection Stations in Virginia

Correct car seat installation is one of the highest-impact, most commonly overlooked safety steps for new parents — studies consistently show a majority of car seats are installed incorrectly without professional guidance.

Statewide Coordination: Safe Kids Virginia

Safe Kids Virginia is the umbrella coordinating body, based at Children's Hospital of Richmond at VCU:

• State Coordinator: Corri Miller-Hobbs, (804) 628-2077
• Injury Prevention Specialist: Kelsey Baer, (804) 628-1603
• Address: 401 N. 12th Street, P.O. Box 985917, Richmond, VA 23298-5917

Regional Safe Kids Coalitions

Sample Inspection Station Locations and Schedules

• Roanoke area (Carilion Children's / Safe Kids Southwest Virginia): Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital (1st Tuesday monthly, appointment only); Roanoke City Fire Station 6 (3rd Thursday, 4-6pm, walk-in); Tanglewood Center (2nd Wednesday, 3-5pm, walk-in); Christiansburg Fire Station (last Thursday, 4-6pm, walk-in). Contact: 540-981-9435.
• Virginia Beach: AAA Tidewater Virginia, 5366 Va. Beach Boulevard — Monday-Friday 9:00am-4:00pm by appointment, contact Holly Dalby at 757-233-3833.
• Richmond: Richmond Ambulance Authority, 2400 Hermitage Road — call 804-254-1150 (Monday-Friday 8am-4pm) or visit raaems.org/outreach.
• Fairfax County: Multiple appointment-only locations through Fairfax County Police and Sheriff's Office; call 703-360-8400 (Mason District) or 703-246-5005 (Sheriff's Office).
• Remote/virtual checks: VDH offers remote safety seat checks by video call in select areas — submit a request at redcap.vdh.virginia.gov or call 804-864-7268.

Find the Full, Current List

Because inspection schedules change, always check VDH's official, regularly-updated PDF list of Safety Seat Check Stations at vdh.virginia.gov/child-passenger-safety, or call 804-864-7268 for the current statewide directory.

Free or Low-Cost Car Seats

The Virginia Department of Health Low-Income Safety Seat Distribution and Education Program promotes, purchases, and distributes free child safety seats to eligible families who cannot afford them — locate a participating checking station through VDH's website.

7. Safe Sleep Guidelines and SIDS Prevention

Virginia runs an active, statewide safe sleep education campaign built around a simple, memorable framework.

Virginia's "ALONE, APART, ALWAYS" Campaign

The Virginia Department of Social Services' Safe Sleep 365 campaign asks parents and caregivers to pledge to the following practices for every sleep period:

• ALONE: Baby sleeps alone in their own crib or bassinet, though within the same room as their caregiver for at least the first six months.
• APART: Baby's sleep space is apart from toys, blankets, pillows, crib bumpers, or other soft objects that could cause suffocation — VDH specifically promotes a "#ClearTheCrib Challenge" to reinforce this.
• ALWAYS: Baby is always placed on their back for every sleep, in a drug- and alcohol-free environment, on a firm, flat, level surface covered only with a fitted sheet.

Regional Safe Sleep Crib Programs

Several Virginia health districts operate low-income crib distribution programs alongside safe sleep education. For example, the Piedmont Safe Sleep Program serves Amelia, Buckingham, Charlotte, Cumberland, Lunenburg, Nottoway, and Prince Edward counties, providing free cribs to income-eligible families (or those on Medicaid, WIC, SNAP, SSI, or TANF) through their local health department — contact 434-408-1447 for details, or check with your own local health district for a similar program in your area.

Additional Resources

• Cribs for Kids Safe Sleep Academy: Free short educational videos on infant sleep safety, referenced by Virginia health districts as a parent resource.
• National Institutes of Health "Safe to Sleep" campaign: Additional national-level guidance referenced by Virginia health departments.
• Richmond and Henrico Health Districts Low-Income Safety Seat Program: Also provides safe sleep education alongside car seat distribution.

8. Parent Support Resources

Early Intervention: Infant & Toddler Connection of Virginia

This is Virginia's formal early intervention system, serving children birth through 36 months who show delayed functioning, atypical development, a behavioral disorder affecting development, or a diagnosed condition with high probability of resulting delay.

• Phone: 1-800-234-1448
• Website: infantva.org
• Services include speech/language therapy, occupational therapy, physical therapy, assistive technology, and guaranteed service coordination for every enrolled family, provided regardless of a family's ability to pay.

Virginia's Information and Referral System

For families of infants and toddlers with special health care needs, Virginia's Information and Referral System (I&R) offers broader connections to services.

• Phone: 1-800-230-6977
• Website: vaiandr.com

Children with Special Health Care Needs (CSHCN) Program

• Phone: 804-864-7706
• Website: vahealth.org/specialchildren

General Community Resource Finder

• 211 Virginia: Dial 211, or text "CONNECT" to 247211, for help locating housing, food, healthcare, and other family support resources statewide.

Postpartum Mental Health and Crisis Support

• Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: Call or text 988.
• Local Community Services Boards (CSBs) provide regional mental health crisis lines — for example, in the Richmond area: RBHA 804-819-4100, Henrico CSB 804-727-8484, Chesterfield CSB 804-748-6356. Contact your local CSB for your specific region's crisis line.

Quick Reference Summary