Diet:
- Continue your child on whole milk. He or she should get about 16-24 ounces (2-3 cups) of whole milk per day.
- Switch your child to nonfat or 1% milk when your child is two years old.
- Juice is optional. Your baby does not need juice. If you give juice, give no more than 4 ounces a day. Give juice only in the cup, not the bottle. Give juice only once a day.
- If you are still breastfeeding, you may continue to do so.
Sippy Cup:
- Your child should be using a sippy cup instead of a bottle now.
- Finish weaning your child off the bottle (if you have not already done so).
Car Seat:
- Your child should continue to ride in a car seat facing backwards in the back seat of the car until 2 years old.
Safety:
- Continue home childproofing: electrical outlet covers, poison prevention, choking prevention, drowning prevention.
Development:
- Normal development for children between 18 months and 2 years of age:
- Continues to learn new words
- Puts two words together by two years old
- Walks well, runs, climbs
- Scribbles, imitates others, points to body parts
- Parallel play: children play next to but not with other children
Guidance:
- Language development: Read to your child everyday, point to pictures in books. Talk a lot to your child. Teach new words and give your child simple directions to follow.
- Brush your child’s teeth with a toothbrush and either water or baby tooth and gum cleaner (without fluoride).
- Protect your child from the sun. Use sunscreen SPF 30 or higher, with UVA and UVB protection.
Flu Vaccine:
- Flu vaccines are available every fall for all children 6 months and older
- The first year that young children get the flu vaccine, they need two doses given at least one month apart to be protected.
Next Checkup: In 6 months when your child is 2 years old
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