Well Child Exam 18 Months

About this topic

- Movement пїЅ пїЅ пїЅ Your child may: - Walk up steps and run - Use a crayon to scribble or make marks - Explore places and things - Imitate your actions

- Hearing, seeing, and talking пїЅ пїЅ пїЅ Your child will likely: - Have 10 or 20 words - Point to something interesting to show others - Know one body part

- Parents need to think about: - Having emergency numbers, including poison control, posted on or near the phone - How to distract your child when doing something you don 't want your child to do - Using positive words to tell your child what you want, rather than saying no or what not to do

Your childs 18-month well child exam is a visit with the doctor to check your child's health. The doctor measures your child's weight, height, and head size. The doctor plots these numbers on a growth curve. The growth curve gives a picture of your child's growth at each visit. The doctor may listen to your child's heart, lungs, and belly. Your doctor will do a full exam of your child from the head to the toes. пїЅ пїЅ

Your child may also need shots or blood tests during this visit. пїЅ пїЅ

General

Growth and Development пїЅ пїЅ

Your doctor will ask you how your child is developing. The doctor will focus on the skills that most children your childs age are expected to do. During this time of your child's life, here are some things you can expect. пїЅ пїЅ

Movement пїЅ пїЅ пїЅ Your child may:Walk up steps and runUse a crayon to scribble or make marksExplore places and thingsImitate your actions
Hearing, seeing, and talking пїЅ пїЅ пїЅ Your child will likely:Have 10 or 20 wordsPoint to something interesting to show othersKnow one body part
Feeling and behavior пїЅ пїЅ пїЅ Your child will likely:Want your love and praise. Hug your child and say I love you often. Say thank you when your child does something nice.Begin to understand "no " пїЅ. Try to use distraction if your child is doing something you do not want them to do.Begin to have temper tantrums. Ignore them if possible. Become more stubborn. Your child may shake the head no often. Try to help by giving your child words for feelings.Be afraid of strangers or cry when you leave.
Feeding пїЅ пїЅ пїЅ Your child:Should drink whole milk until 2 years oldIs ready to drink from a cup and may be ready to use a spoon or toddler forkWill be eating 3 meals and 2 to 3 snacks a day. However, your child may eat less than before and this is normal.Should be given a variety of healthy foods. Let your child decide how much to eat.Should avoid foods that might cause choking like grapes, popcorn, hot dogs, or hard candy.Should have no more than 4 ounces of fruit juice a dayWill need you to clean the teeth 2 to 3 times each day with a wet child's toothbrush. Do not use toothpaste.
Sleep пїЅ пїЅ пїЅ Your child:Should still sleep in a safe crib. Your child may be ready to sleep in a toddler bed if climbing out of the crib after naps or in the morning.Is likely sleeping about 10 to 12 hours in a row at nightMost often takes 1 nap each daySleeps about a total of 14 hours each dayShould be able to fall asleep without help. If your child wakes up at night, check on your child. Do not pick your child up, offer a bottle, or play with your child. Doing these things will not help your child fall asleep without help.Should not have a bottle in bed. This can cause tooth decay or ear infections.
Shots or vaccines пїЅ пїЅ пїЅ It is important for your child to get shots on time. This protects from very serious illnesses like pertussis or some kinds of pneumonia. Your child may need:DTaP or diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis vaccineIPV or polio vaccineHep A or hepatitis A vaccineHep B or hepatitis B vaccineFlu or influenza vaccine

Help for Parents пїЅ пїЅ

Play with your child.Go outside as often as you can.Give your child pots, pans, and spoons or a toy vacuum. Children love to imitate what you are doing.Cars, trains, and toys to push, pull, or walk behind are fun for this age child. So are puzzles and animal or people figures.Help your child pretend. Use an empty cup to take a drink. Push a block and make sounds like it is a car or a boat.Read to your child. Name the things in the pictures in the book. Talk and sing to your child. This helps your child learn language skills.Give your child crayons and paper to draw or color on.
Here are some things you can do to help keep your child safe and healthy.Do not allow anyone to smoke in your home or around your child.Have the right size car seat for your child and use it every time your child is in the car. Your child should be rear facing until 2 years of age.Be sure furniture, shelves, and televisions are secure and cannot tip over and hurt your child.Take extra care around water. Close bathroom doors. Never leave your child in the tub alone.Never leave your child alone. Do not leave your child in the car, in the bath, or at home alone, even for a few minutes.Protect your child from gun injuries. If you have a gun, use a trigger lock. Keep the gun locked up and the bullets kept in a separate place.Avoid screen time for children under 2 years old. This means no TV, computers, or video games. They can cause problems with brain development.
Parents need to think about:Having emergency numbers, including poison control, posted on or near the phoneHow to distract your child when doing something you don 't want your child to doUsing positive words to tell your child what you want, rather than saying no or what not to do
Your next well child visit will most likely be when your child is 2 years old. At this visit your doctor may: Do a full check up on your childTalk about limiting screen time for your child, how well your child is eating, and signs it may be time to start potty trainingTalk about discipline and how to correct your childGive your child the next set of shots

When do I need to call the doctor?

Fever of 100.4 пїЅ пїЅF (38 пїЅ пїЅC) or higher
Has trouble walking or only walks on the toes
Has trouble speaking or following simple instructions
You are worried about your childs development

Where can I learn more?

American Academy of Pediatrics пїЅ пїЅ

http://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/baby/Pages/default.aspx пїЅ пїЅ

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention пїЅ пїЅ

http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/parents/downloads/milestones-tracker.pdf пїЅ пїЅ

Last Reviewed Date

2015-02-02 пїЅ пїЅ

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Consumer Information Use and Disclaimer

This information is not specific medical advice and does not replace information you receive from your health care provider. This is only a brief summary of general information. It does NOT include all information about conditions, illnesses, injuries, tests, procedures, treatments, therapies, discharge instructions or life-style choices that may apply to you. You must talk with your health care provider for complete information about your health and treatment options. This information should not be used to decide whether or not to accept your health care provider 's advice, instructions or recommendations. Only your health care provider has the knowledge and training to provide advice that is right for you. пїЅ пїЅ