15 MONTH CHECK-UP
GROWTH
· Most babies gain 1/4 - 1/2 lb. per month (about 6 lbs. per year).
· Most babies grow about 1/4 inch per month (about 3-4 inches per year).
DEVELOPMENT
· Most toddlers are walking and even running.
· Can usually stoop and pick up objects.
· Usually says about 4-6 words.
· Can follow most directions.
NUTRITION
· Should be on whole milk until 2 years of age. Should be using cup well and be off of bottle. Prolonged bottle feeding can lead to tooth decay. Encourage toddler to feed self and allow to use utensils. Appetites often decrease at this age. Don't be alarmed by decrease in food intake as long as their growth is normal. You can't make your child eat. All you can do is offer him/her nutritious foods, relax, and be reassured that this is normal.
TEMPER TANTRUMS
· You may notice a dramatic increase in negativism and temper tantrums at this age. This is a normal and healthy response to the increasing independence of toddlers. We recommend ignoring tantrums - not giving any positive or negative attention to this behavior. Sometimes it is easier to avoid the places and situations that you know your child will not do well in - such as restaurants, malls and grocery stores. This behavior will not last forever!
TOYS/ACTIVITIES
· Toddlers love imitative play such as sweeping, dusting, playing and caring for dolls, etc. Offer toys for reciprocal play - balls, cars, push-pull toys. May begin to enjoy water and sand play. They usually like to be read to at this age and this is an excellent way to increase language skills.
Next check-up is at 18 months.
18 MONTH CHECK-UP
GROWTH
· Average weight gain is about 1/4 -1/2 lb. per month.
· Average height increase is about 1/4 inch per month.
DEVELOPMENT
· Your child usually:
-Can run, climb, and walk up and down stairs.
-Throw a ball overhand, and turn pages in a book.
-Has a vocabulary of 5-10 words.
-Is able to follow a 2 step direction.
TOILET TRAINING
· Most girls are 2-2 1/2 years and boys often 2 1/2-3 years before they are ready for toilet training. However, if your child expresses an interest (heightened awareness of wet or soiled diapers) you can get a "potty chair" and allow child to imitate parents. We encourage you to follow your child's lead and use positive reinforcement for successes and have a neutral attitude when accidents occur. Toilet training is usually very easy when your child is ready.
DISCIPLINE
· You have probably already observed a change in your child's behavior such as temper tantrums and negativity. This is normal and expected behavior of an 18 month old. We recommend trying to "pick your battles" and try to make your house as baby-proof as possible so that you don't have to constantly say "no." Usually the best reaction to discipline problems is distraction or removing the child from the source of frustration, such as another child, the grocery store, etc. However, you may start to use a modified "time-out" for certain behaviors. Time-out is a discipline technique that is used to interrupt unacceptable behavior by removing the child from the scene to a boring place, such as a corner of a room, a certain chair, or the bedroom. Sometimes the child will have to be held on the parent's lap in order to introduce the concept. Time-outs should last about 1 minute per year of age and not last more than 5 minutes. Time-outs should be followed by "time-ins"-spend one-on-one time with child and praise child for the next episode of positive behavior that occurs.
TOYS/ACTIVITIES
· Books, crayons and paper, playdough, sand and water play, simple puzzles, and push/pull toys are favorites. Children like pretend play, rough and tumble play, and to have assigned little chores to complete.
Next check-up is at two years of age.
2 YEAR CHECK-UP
GROWTH
· Child usually gains about 1/4 -1/2 lb. per month and increases about 1/4 inch per month in height.
DEVELOPMENT
· Your child probably:
-Uses some 2 word sentences with pronouns such as "I, you, or me."
-Jumps in place with both feet off floor.
-Assists with dressing/undressing.
-Builds a tower of 6-8 blocks.
NUTRITION
· Your child is probably handling spoon and cup well. You may change from whole milk to lowfat or skim milk now. Try not to get into mealtime battles; your child will probably win! Remember, most children will eat what and how much their body's need. Sometimes dinner time is their worst meal of the day because they may be tired or not hungry. Children should be drinking city tap water (for fluoride) on a daily basis-if child refuses water, dilute frozen concentrated juices with water. If child drinks well water, they usually need a fluoride supplement (ask your health care provider for a prescription).
DISCIPLINE
· Time-out is a form of discipline that is used to interrupt unacceptable behavior by isolating the child in a boring place for a brief period of time (usually about a minute per year of age). Appropriate behaviors to use time-outs for include aggressive, harmful (safety issues), or disruptive behaviors that can not be ignored. Time-out is much more effective than spanking, threatening or shouting and can be used without parents losing control or feeling guilty. After the time-out is over, the child is given a "clean slate" and is praised for the next acceptable behavior that occurs.
TOILET TRAINING
· By age 3, most children have become toilet-trained. We encourage you to take this process slowly and not push your child. Allow child to imitate you by sitting on his/her own potty chair. Praise the successes and portray a neutral attitude towards the inevitable failures. If your child seems to be resisting the process, back off totally from the training for at least a month and try again.
TOYS/ACTIVITIES
· Children enjoy pull-able, and musical toys. Most 2 year olds participate in "parallel" play where child plays alongside another child and is completely aware of the other child's activities, but does not interact much with other child. It is important to provide opportunities for peer contacts and imaginative play.
Next check-up is at 3 years old.
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