WHAT YOU CAN DO WITH YOUR CHILD

Explore outdoors. Your child should get at least 60 minutes of outdoor activity every day!
Visit your local Outdoor Discovery Center and parks.
Read a book and ask your child to tell you what is happening.
Provide opportunities for your child to play around other children.
Build things with blocks. Show your child how to make a bridge with blocks, boxes or cans.
Have your child point to body parts, such as eyes, ears, nose and mouth.
Teach him or her to follow simple directions such as “Put the book on the table”.
Color, finger paint, and create things out of play dough.
Start a zipper in the middle and ask him to move it up and move it down.
Ask your child, “What is your name?”. Teach your child to answer if he/she is a “boy” or “girl”.
Show your child how to open and close safety scissors. Draw lines and circles on paper and have your child do the same.

KEEP YOUR CHILD 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#.
Children are then required to ride in a booster seat until they are 8 years of age or 4 feet tall (57 inches). It is recommended that they stay in the booster seat until the regular car seatbelt fits correctly; the shoulder harness must rest on your child’s shoulder and not on his/her neck.
Check for proper installation with the manufacturer’s instructions.
Never leave your child unattended or alone in a car.
Model safe behavior by wearing your seatbelt or bike helmet
Require ALL members of your family to use booster seats, seatbelts, bike helmets and protective sports gear.
Everyone in your family should always wear CPSC-approved helmets when bike riding.

Poison Control

Keep household cleaners, soaps, medicines and vitamins locked up and out of reach.
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 center.

Burns

Store matches and lighters out of the reach of your child.
Keep your child away from hot stoves, fireplaces, grills, and fire pits.
Your water heater should be set no higher than 120 degrees Fahrenheit.
Use appropriate barriers around space heaters, wood stoves and kerosene heaters.
Use cool mist humidifiers.
Working smoke and carbon monoxide detectors should be installed on every level of the home and near sleeping areas.

General Safety Tips

Teach your child to play in the yard and away from the road.
Teach your child to ask permission before approaching any dog.
Teach your child to swim and watch your child constantly whenever near water.
Keep your child away from moving cars, lawn mowers, and garage doors.
Never leave your child alone in the house, car or yard. Supervise all play.

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.

KEEP YOUR CHILD 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 child’s hands before meals and snacks.
Teach your child to sneeze and cough into his/her elbow.

Nutrition

Children should have 16-32 ounces of skim, ½% or 2% milk 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 1 or 2 planned healthy snacks each day.
Remember that your child will eat when he/she is hungry. Do not force him/her to eat.
Snacks may include applesauce as well as fresh fruit, cheese, whole grain bread or crackers in small pieces.

Dental Health

Brush your child’s teeth with a soft toothbrush using ½ – ¼ of a pea size amount of toothpaste.
Do not let your child constantly sip on a bottle or walk around with a sippy cup.

Sleep

Children this age need an average of 10-11 hours of sleep at night.
Children will usually nap once a day for 1-2 hours.
A nightlight is helpful if your child is fearful of the dark.
Consistent bedtime and nap time routines are helpful for developing good sleep habits.

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