12 - 17 Months of Age

WHAT YOU CAN DO WITH YOUR TODDLER

  • Talk, sing and read sturdy books with bright pictures and different textures. Have your child touch the pages. Use both active (playing with toys) and quiet play times (reading, singing).
  • Play with cause-and-effect toys. Roll balls back and forth. Blocks can be stacked or put into a container and dumped out.
  • Give your child push-pull toys like toy lawnmowers or strollers.
  • Read to your child daily. Let him point to pictures in books and turn the pages.
  • Offer dolls and stuffed toys to hug.
  • Show your child how to scribble with a crayon.
  • Play games, tell stories, listen to music, dance and exercise together.
  • Play games to name body parts, such as “Where is your nose?”
  • Encourage your child to repeat words.
  • Teach your child what you expect. Describe the behavior that is desired such as “sit down” instead of “don’t stand”.
  • Allow your child to begin to choose between two things.
  • Teach the importance of “no” for important things such as hot objects.
  • Do not punish your child by spanking, shouting or giving long explanations.

 

KEEP YOUR TODDLER SAFE

Car and Bike Safety

  • Your child is safest if she rides rear-facing in the back seat until she reaches the weight and height limits allowed by the manufacturer of your carseat. She should remain rear-facing until two years of age or 30#.
  • Check for proper installation with the manufacturer’s instruction manual.
  • Never leave your child unattended or alone in a car.
  • Model safe behavior by wearing your seatbelt.
  • Require ALL members of your family to use booster seats, seatbelts, bike helmets and protective sports gear.
  • Make it a family rule that everyone uses a carseat or seatbelt.
  • Everyone in your family should always wear CPSC-approved helmets for bike rides.

Poison Control

  • Keep household cleaners, soaps, medicine and vitamins locked up and out of reach.
  • Know which houseplants are poisonous and remove them.
  • Never call medicine “candy”.
  • If your child eats or has contact with something that could be poisonous, call the Poison Control Center at 1-800-222-1222 immediately.
  • Do not make your child vomit unless directed to do so by the Poison Control Center.

Burns

  • Check the bath water temperature on your wrist to make sure it is not too hot.
  • Your water heater should be set no higher than 120 degrees Fahrenheit.
  • Use appropriate barriers around space heaters, wood stoves and kerosene heaters.
  • Keep your child away from hot stoves, fireplaces, grills and fire pits.
  • Use the back burners on the stove. Turn handles of pans toward the back of the stove.
  • Keep matches and lighters out of your child’s reach.
  • Use cool mist humidifiers.
  • Working smoke and carbon monoxide detectors should be installed on every level of the home and near sleeping areas.
  • Keep electrical cords out of reach and cover electrical outlets with safety plugs.

General Safety Tips

  • Place gates at the top and bottom of stairways.
  • Keep furniture away from windows. Have window guards on second story (or higher) windows.
  • Secure heavy items (such as televisions and furniture) so your child cannot pull them over.
  • Make sure that there aren’t any dangling blind or window treatment cords in the home.
  • Keep your child’s crib mattress at the lowest setting.
  • Keep small or dangerous objects out of your child’s reach (including latex balloons, plastic bags and marbles).
  • Watch your child constantly whenever he/she is near water. Never leave him alone in the bathtub. Always stay close by. Children can drown in pails, toilets and pools. Do not let other young children watch your child near water. Children can drown in only a few inches of water!
  • The kitchen is the most dangerous room for children. Put your child in a playpen or high chair if he/she cannot have your full attention.
  • Children younger than 4 years of age should not eat nuts or popcorn.
  • Review child care and safety with babysitters. Always provide a contact number where you can be reached and emergency number instruction such as 911.

Guns and Sharp Objects

  • The safest thing is to never have a gun in the house.
  • If you have a gun, store it unloaded and locked away. Ammunition must be locked separately away from the gun.
  • Keep knives, scissors and other sharp objects out of reach.

 

strong>KEEP YOUR TODDLER HEALTHY

Fever

  • Fever at this age is a normal response to illness. You may give acetaminophen to relieve any discomfort.
  • Please call our office for an appointment if your child’s fever lasts more than 72 hours or there are symptoms that concern you.

Vaccines

  • Keep your child vaccinated on the schedule recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics and your doctor. Splitting doses can be risky and is NEVER recommended by your doctor! Check with your insurance company before each well visit. Ask about deductibles, maximum benefits and if they pay for ANY PART of the cost of vaccines.
  • It is normal to have a fever for a couple of days after vaccination.

Smoking

  • Do not smoke.
  • Consider stopping smoking.
  • Do not smoke in your house or in your car.
  • Do not allow others to smoke around your child.

Hands

  • Wash your hands often and wash your child’s hands before meals and snacks.

Nutrition

  • Remember that your toddler will eat when he/she is hungry. Do not force him/her to eat.
  • Cut firm foods into thin slices (grapes, carrots, hotdogs).
  • Give your child a spoon and drinking cup to learn to use.
  • Now is the time to take your child off of the bottle.
  • Use whole milk and limit the amount to no more than 24-32 ounces per day.
  • Juice is not needed. If desired, offer 4-6 ounces maximum per day.
  • Offer water if still thirsty.
  • Offer a variety of food each day and encourage to try new foods.
  • Serve your child 3 regular meals each day with 2 or 3 planned healthy snacks each day.
  • Snacks may include fresh fruit cut in small pieces, applesauce, cheese, small pieces whole grain bread or crackers.

Dental Health

  • Brush your toddler’s teeth daily with a soft toothbrush using ½ – ¼ of a pea size amount of toothpaste.
  • Consider scheduling your child’s first dental visit at 12-24 months of age.
  • City water contains fluoride which is important for dental health. If you have well water, check with the health department regarding fluoride levels.
  • Ask your child’s health provider if a fluoride supplement is needed.
  • Do not put your child in bed with a bottle.
  • Do not let your child constantly sip on a bottle or walk around with a sippy cup.

Sleep

  • Setting a sleep routine helps your child to relax and get ready for sleep.
  • Consistent bedtime and naptime routines are helpful for developing good sleep habits.
  • If your child awakens during the night, briefly check on him and settle him back to sleep. This routine can help your child learn to put himself back to sleep. Give your child the chance to learn self-soothing skills by letting him cry himself back to sleep.

Skin Protection

  • Your child’s skin is sensitive and burns easily. Avoid direct sunlight and use sunscreen (SPF 30) and a hat.
  • If needed, insect repellents with a DEET concentration of 30% or less may be used.

NEVER SHAKE YOUR CHILD. THIS CAN CAUSE PERMANENT BRAIN DAMAGE.

Adapted from Bright Futures Guidelines for Health Supervision of Infants, Children, and Adolescents—Third Edition: Joseph F. Hagan, Jr. MD, FAAP; Judith S. Shaw, RN, MPH, EdD; and Paula Duncan, MD, FAAP