Meat cleaver attack: Grandmother charged with attempted murder

The father of a baby at the centre of a shocking violent assault proudly posted pictures of his newborn within days of becoming a new dad.

Friends told the man how gorgeous the images were - one of the newborn in hospital, and others with the father staring down at his boy or with the child asleep on his shoulder.

The man - who is not named, to protect the identity of his son - was told to enjoy the quieter moments while they lasted.

One friend told the father "he's growing up so fast" on a picture of the child smiling and looking directly at the camera.

The child was visiting Brisbane's northwest from Sydney with his mother this week when he was allegedly attacked, news.com.au reported.

He was found in his cot by his mother with large slash marks to his face and neck. His grandmother, 64, was allegedly found nearby with a large meat cleaver.

The child remains in intensive care in a Brisbane hospital, in a serious but stable condition.

The retired teacher appeared briefly in the Brisbane Magistrates Court on Wednesday charged with attempted murder.

She is accused of trying to kill the four-month-old boy while he was in his cot at a home at The Gap, in Brisbane's northwest.

The matter was adjourned so she could be sent for mental health checks.

The woman will not be required to appear when her matter returns to court on Wednesday, October 25.