Your Baby's 18 Month Visit

NUTRITION

Choose your child’s foods from the basic four food groups.  Serving size of each food group is the size of your child’s palm.

* Milk/Dairy:   12-16 ounces every day in the form of whole milk, cheese, or yogurt.  Discuss other calcium containing options with the doctor if your child can’t tolerate dairy.

* Meats/Proteins: 1 serving at each meal and possibly half servings as snacks. Meat, chicken, seafood, eggs, beans and other legumes, and nut and seed products like nut butters are iron-rich protein sources unlike dairy protein which has no iron.

* Fruits and Vegetables: 2 servings at each meal (one of each) and possibly also half servings as snacks between meals.  Variety is the key when it comes to fruits and veggies.

* Breads, Cereals, Starches: 1 serving at each meal.  Whole grain options are preferable.  Note the serving size discussed above also holds for this food group.  Try to avoid starchy foods as snacks and instead offer fruits, veggies, dairy, and nut butters.


Continue to avoid foods like nuts, hard candy, hot dogs and raw, stringy vegetables as these are still choking hazards.  Try to maintain a family mealtime.  Continue to practice with utensils.

Children this age are growing at a much slower pace than they did during their first year.  Because of this, they may not eat as much, nor do they need as much to grow well.  Don’t get into battles with your child over eating.  Don’t expect them to eat large servings, but remember to keep reintroducing previously rejected foods.  Avoid offering those foods that can spoil your child’s appetite such as desserts, sweets, juices, or soft drinks.

PLAYTIME

Reading stories to your child is always encouraged. Show pictures in the books and have your child name the objects in the pictures.  Avoid using talk radio or the TV as background noise; he needs to learn that talking means communicating and responding, not just chatter.

Rough and tumble play is O.K.  Have your child do small chores, like picking up toys.  Give simple commands with no choices (example: “Please bring me the book.”)  Suggested toys include plastic jars with lids to screw on, a case for carrying toys, pull toys, and toys your child can take apart and build with.

A TODDLER’S MIND

The key to understanding your toddler lies with understanding the development of her thought processes.  Here are some clues to how her bright and curious mind works:

*She has a very short memory.

*She can’t think ahead about what might happen

*She can’t wait for anything because she can’t think ahead.

*She doesn’t understand her own feelings.

*She may not understand as much as you think.

*Her use of the word “no” means she’s fighting for independence.

*She plays next to, but not with, other children.

DISCIPLINE DO’S

  • Ignore the undesirable behavior, if possible.  After several times of this, your child will realize that this behavior doesn’t result in any response, and the incentive to continue such behavior will be much less. If you are in a place where you can’t ignore the behavior, remove her until she is calm and ready to behave properly.

  • Distraction may work with younger children but don’t consider it your job to try to find new distractions to keep your child happy if they are misbehaving.

  • Do not criticize her, only the unwanted behavior.

  • Isolate her briefly with a “timeout:”  No attention, no toys, and no fun for a minute or two.

  • Praise her for good behavior.

DISCIPLINE DON’TS

Never resort to punishments that can physically or emotionally hurt your child.  Spanking, slapping, beating and screaming at children of any age does more harm than good.  Here are some of the reasons:

  • Such actions teach your child that it is O.K. to hit and yell when she is upset.

  • You could hurt your child.

  • Your child will become angry with you and may look for ways to “get back” at you.

  • Punishment from you is an extreme form of attention for your child. He may misbehave just to get attention, even the kind that hurts.

SAFETY

Because they are so curious, toddlers are at high risk for accidents.  Here are a few safety hints:

  • Use an appropriate car seat for every ride. Never leave him alone in the car. The back seat is the safest place to place your toddler, rear-facing until age 2.

  • Don’t leave a chair near a railing, table, counter, stove or window where a toddler might climb and fall, pull objects down, or get burned.

  • Make sure all medicines, household cleaners, and poisons are out of reach.

  • Outside play needs to be supervised.

  • Don’t smoke around your baby.

  • Cover all unused electrical outlets and avoid loose or dangling cords.

  • Never leave him near a bucket of water, bathtub or a wading/swimming pool; he can drown quickly in just a few inches of water.

DEVELOPMENTAL MILESTONES     

  • Uses 7-10 words or "giant words" (phrases of words often heard grouped together)

  • Points to several body parts

  • Follows commands without gestures

  • Turns pages in books without ripping

  • Walks well, stoops, recovers and runs

  • Scribbles spontaneously

  • Uses a cup and utensils

  • Throws a ball

  • Builds a tower of 3-4 blocks