THE DOCTOR WILL ...
- weigh and measure your baby to make sure he's growing at a healthy, steady rate.
- give your baby his next round of immunizations (he'll probably get vaccines for DtaP or DTP, Hib, polio, and MMR). It's time for the Varicella vaccine (chicken pox) if you want your baby to get it.
- answer any questions you have about vitamins, if you want your baby to have them.
- address any of your concerns about your baby's health, including how to treat colds, coughs, cuts, and bumps and falls.
- offer information on how (and how not to) discipline your child.
- make sure your baby is continuing to learn new skills and not losing old ones.
- give some insight into your baby's development, temperament, and behavior.
- check your baby's eyesight and hearing.
QUESTIONS THE DOCTOR MAY ASK:
- How is your baby sleeping? (Your baby may be waking up often at night these days. He misses the fun and companionship of daytime and will be reluctant to go back to sleep. The doctor may have some helpful suggestions, especially if you have detailed
information on how much he sleeps and when. Most 12-month-olds are sleeping a little more than 11 hours at night and just under three during the day.)
- How is your baby eating? (Twelve-month-olds can feed themselves with their hands and drink from a cup. Most babies have tripled their birthweight by their first birthday. If yours is little ahead or behind that marker, your doctor may have suggestio
ns for adjusting what and how much he's eating.)
- How many teeth does your baby have? (At this age, many babies have two or three teeth. Your baby may suffer from red, swollen, and tender gums when his teeth are erupting, and your doctor can suggest ways to soothe them.)
- Is your baby pulling himself up? Standing? Walking? (By now your baby is probably an experienced cruiser and can stand on his own. He may even have taken his first steps. If not, don't worry - many children don't walk until they're 14 or 15 months o
ld. But if he can't bear his own weight on his legs, tell the doctor. In addition to pulling up and standing, your baby should also be crawling or getting around some other way; if he's not, let the doctor know.)
- Does your baby point at objects? (Between the ages of 9 and 12 months, most babies start pointing at things that catch their attention such as dogs, and toys. It's a non-verbal way of trying to communicate with you and an important step in language
development.)
- What does your baby say? (At this age your baby can join syllables together and is jabbering wordlike sounds. He can say "mama" and "dada," and maybe a couple of other words as well. Let the doctor know what your baby understands. By now he should k
now and respond to his own name and other familiar words and show an interest in others' conversations; if he's not making any sounds or is making fewer than he was before, tell the doctor.)
- How are your baby's social skills developing? (Most 1-year-olds enjoy playing games with others, including peek-a-boo and patty-cake. Your child will imitate everyday actions such as sweeping the floor or brushing his hair and will be exuberant and
curious most of the time. He'll probably seek out interaction with familiar people, but will be anxious when separated from you or around strangers.)
- How are your baby's fine motor skills developing? (Twelve-month-olds like to point at things and can use both hands together when they play with things. If your baby isn't using both hands equally, tell the doctor.)
- How is your baby's vision? (If either or both of your baby's eyes are crossed, or if he seems to have any problems with his sight, the doctor should know.)
- How is your baby's hearing? (If your baby doesn't turn toward sounds, be sure to tell his pediatrician; the sooner potential hearing problems are investigated, the sooner they can be treated.)
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THE DOCTOR WILL...
- weigh and measure your child to make sure she's growing at a healthy rate.
- give your toddler another round of immunizations (if she didn't get vaccines for DPT or DTaP, polio, or chicken pox at her 12-month checkup, she'll get immunized for them now).
- address any health concerns that he notices. (Ear infections, colds, and the flu are common in toddlers, especially if they attend daycare or preschool where they're exposed to many children.)
- answer any questions you may have about toilet training or discipline.
- give some insight into your toddler's development, temperament, and behavior
- look at your child's eyesight and hearing.
QUESTIONS THE DOCTOR MAY ASK:
- How is your child sleeping?(Most toddlers this age sleep about 11 hours at night, and nap for about two hours during the day. Bedtime is usually a battle, though, since children this age prefer being active and on the go. Your child may also fight s
leep because she's afraid of the dark and of being alone.)
- What are her eating habits? (The doctor will ask this question to find out whether your child is getting a balanced diet. He may suggest some healthy snacks to serve, or ways to get your busy child to sit long enough to eat, since most 18-month-olds
resent being buckled into a highchair for mealtimes.)
- Is your child showing any signs of toilet training readiness? (Many toddlers develop the physical and cognitive skills necessary for toilet training, such as being able to pull their pants up and down easily, between 18 and 24 months of age, but som
e aren't ready to start until they're as old as four.)
- Is your child walking? (By now, your toddler should have taken his first steps. Children learn to walk between nine and 18 months. If she's walking on her toes, or lists to one side, mention this to the doctor so he can evaluate her motor skills.)
- Has she been saying "no" a lot or throwing temper tantrums? (Most 18-month-olds have discovered the joy of saying "no," and they like wielding this powerful word. It's a sign of independence and language development.)
- Is your child talking a lot?(By this time, most toddlers know and use at least six words - mama or dada among them. A few tots can even string two words together to form a basic sentence, such as "Mama go" or "Carry me." The doctor can also give you
tips on how to encourage your child's language development.)
- Does she respond to simple commands? (Eighteen-month-olds are usually mature enough to understand and follow simple directions such as "Please pass me the ball" or "Bring me your shoes," so if she doesn't follow basic commands, or doesn't appear to
hear you, tell the doctor.)
- What games does she like to play? (The activities your child enjoys gives the doctor information on how she's developing. Many toddlers this age love peekaboo, a sign that they're developing mental skills, and playing with balls, which helps them be
come better coordinated.)
- Do you clean her teeth and gums? (Your child may still be waiting for her molars to come in, but as soon as she has any teeth, good oral hygiene becomes important. Your doctor may also recommend flouride drops. If he doesn't bring them up, ask about
them.)
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THE DOCTOR WILL...
- weigh and measure your child to make sure she's growing at a healthy rate.
- give your toddler another round of immunizations (if she didn't get vaccines for DPT or DTaP, polio, or chicken pox at her 12-month checkup, she'll get immunized for them now).
- address any health concerns that he notices. (Ear infections, colds, and the flu are common in toddlers, especially if they attend daycare or preschool where they're exposed to many children.)
- answer any questions you may have about toilet training or discipline.
- give some insight into your toddler's development, temperament, and behavior
- look at your child's eyesight and hearing.
QUESTIONS THE DOCTOR MAY ASK:
- How is your child sleeping? (Most toddlers this age sleep about 11 hours at night and nap for about two hours during the day. Some kids may have given up naps altogether, preferring instead to sleep one long nighttime stretch. If your child has been
waking up with nightmares, tell your doctor. Nightmares and night terrors are common at this stage, but your doctor may suggest ways you can comfort your child.)
- What are his eating habits? (Until now you may have been able to limit the amount of sugary foods your child eats, but as he spends more time around other kids, in daycare or at play dates, for example, he's probably becoming more interested in samp
ling junky food. If you find yourself constantly battling his sweet tooth, speak to the doctor, who may have some healthy snack suggestions for you, or may be able to ease your concerns about your child's diet.)
- How is toilet training going? (Most toddlers have started toilet training at this point, although many haven't mastered it yet. Your doctor may have some advice on easing the transition out of diapers.)
- Have you noticed anything unusual about the way your child walks? (Many toddlers walk knock-kneed at this age because their legs are still developing, but the problem usually resolves itself around age seven.)
- Is your child physically active? (By now a toddler has more control over his arms and legs, and is better coordinated overall. He should be able to kick a ball effortlessly, build block towers, climb furniture, and walk up and down stairs. Make sure
he has plenty of opportunities to move and explore.)
- What new words is he learning? (Most toddlers this age have discovered the word "why." Sometimes all he wants is an explanation, and other times he's merely trying to continue his conversation with you. His vocabulary is expanding, too, and he'll be
trying out new words every day. The doctor may test your child's language abilities by asking him questions, too, this month.)
- Does he respond to two-step commands? (Two-year-olds are usually mature enough to understand and follow two-step directions such as "Go to your room and grab your bear" or "Go to daddy and give him a hug." If your child doesn't follow your commands,
or appears not to hear you, tell the doctor.)
- What games does he like to play? (The activities your child enjoys give the doctor insight into how he's developing. Many toddlers this age enjoy putting together simple puzzles, scribbling on paper, sorting objects by color, and filling and emptyin
g boxes.)
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THE DOCTOR WILL...
- weigh and measure your child to make sure she's growing at a healthy rate.
- check her blood pressure.
- give your child a round of immunizations if she missed any, including the DtaP or DPT, polio, and chicken pox vaccines.
- address any health and safety concerns that he notices. (Colds and the flu are common among toddlers, especially if they attend daycare or preschool where they're exposed to many children. Scrapes and bruises are common, too, since three-year-olds a
re so active.)
- answer any questions you may have about toilet training, discipline, or if your child has brothers or sisters, sibling rivalry.
- ask about any changes in your child's routine (for example, if she now attends preschool).
- talk to your child about which activities she enjoys, what books she reads, and who her friends are, to assess her hearing and language skills (if your child talks too loudly or too softly, for example, she may have a problem with her hearing).
- give your child some simple directions to follow (if your child doesn't follow your commands, or appears not to hear you, tell the doctor.)
- provide some insight into your child's development, temperament, and behavior.
- check your child's eyesight and hearing.
QUESTIONS THE DOCTOR MAY ASK:
- Is she having trouble sleeping? (Older toddlers have an active imagination, fueling their fears about the dark, strange noises, or being alone, all of which make falling asleep difficult. Once they're sleeping, they could be awakened by nightmares a
nd night terrors, which may still crop up around this time. Three-year-olds sleep an average of 12 hours a day, and some may still need one afternoon nap.)
- What does she like to eat? (Your child needs to have a varied, healthy diet so she has the energy to sustain her during her busy days.)
- Is she left- or right-handed? (By age three, most children pick a dominant hand to use. Children who seem to be confused over which hand they prefer could have some coordination problems. The doctor may ask her to draw on a piece of paper so he can
observe her.)
- How's toilet training going? (By now, many toddlers have gotten the hang of using the potty, although they'll still have accidents and may need to use diapers overnight. But some toddlers aren't ready to start toilet training until they're as old as
four.)
- Does your child play well with others? (Three-year-olds normally have a hard time sharing their toys with others. The doctor will ask whether your child has become overly aggressive with other kids; hitting and biting are common ways to express frus
tration. He may also have some tips on curbing aggressive behavior and, if it's a concern of yours, suggestions on how to encourage generosity.)
- How does your child react when you leave her at school or with someone else? (Although your child still prefers you to others, it should be easier for her to separate from you now than when she was one or two years old. Adjusting to being away from
you is a sign that she's maturing emotionally and is a fairly secure child.)
- What games does she like to play? (The activities your child enjoys give the doctor information about how she's developing. Children this age enjoy fantasy play - for example, pretending to host a tea party for stuffed animals. They also like readin
g books, coloring pictures, and drawing.)
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