THE EIGHTEEN MONTH VISIT
The Eighteen Month Visit
This is the age where your little baby starts to become not quite so little. This is also the time to ensure that they have a solid developmental foundation and good nutritional habits. At the eighteen month visit, we will:
- Take your child’s height, weight, and head circumference.
- Offer the first Hepatitis A vaccine. Read about benefits and potential side effects of this vaccine.
- Conduct a standard autism screening, which consists of a few developmental questions.
GUIDANCE
Development: Your blossoming toddler should be walking well and imitating various activities. They should also be able to use a cup and spoon or fork.
Eating: On prior visits we discussed food, and hopefully your little one has gotten the message that you are not a short-order cook. They should also have a hearty appetite for a variety of foods. If not, this your last chance to take action before things get much worse. Read our picky eating chapter.
Boundary settings: Remember those “time outs” we talked to you about? Hopefully, you have done a few of them and that now they’re the last resort since your tot understands you mean business. If you have not used “time outs” consistently, then chances are you have used re-direction to avert bad behaviors instead of dealing with a confrontation. If this is the case, trouble could be on the way. Smoothing things over soon won’t work, and you will have to tackle those boundary issues when your little one is older and more sophisticated. So, if you’ve been slacking, it’s time to get to work. Read on…