18-Month Visit - 18 Months Features - Guiding Your Child Through The Early Years

Name:____________________

Date Of Visit:____________________

Weight:____________________

Length:____________________

Head Circumference:____________________

Ask for an update on your child's health
Examine your child
Ask about possible exposure of your child to lead and test for lead, if indicated
Discuss your child's risk of anemia (iron-poor blood) and test for anemia, if indicated
Ask about possible exposure to tuberculosis (TB) and test your child, if indicated
Recommend one or more immunizations: varicella (chicken pox), MMR (measles, mumps, rubella), DTaP (diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis/whooping cough), Hib, polio, pneumococcus, hepatitis B, influenza
Give you an opportunity to ask questions

Your child's growth and nutrition.

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Your child's behavior and development.

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Your child's sleeping habits.

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Any concerns about your child's hearing or vision.

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Your child-care arrangements.

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Any other concerns you have.

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Always use a car seat , and only place a car seat in the back seat.
Childproof your home. Keep small and sharp objects, plastic bags, hot liquids, poisons, medications, outlets, cords, and guns out of reach.
Watch your toddler carefully when she is around water, including buckets, pools, toilets or bathtubs.
Offer your toddler healthy foods, including fruits, vegetables and whole milk.
Let your toddler drink from a cup and feed himself.
Do not give your child foods that could cause choking, such as peanuts, popcorn, carrot sticks, whole grapes, raisins, whole beans or hard candy.
Brush your child's teeth and gums with a soft brush and a small (pea-sized) amount of fluoride toothpaste.
Delay toilet training until your toddler shows signs that he is ready.
Go on short, simple family outings; just doing things together, even errands, is important.

Schedule an appointment for your child's next visit, usually at 24 months of age.

Based on health-supervision guidelines from the American Academy of Pediatrics and from Bright Futures, which is funded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, under the direction of the Maternal and Child Health Bureau.