Bright Futures Parent Information:
Forms to be filled out by parents:
Routine vaccine(s):
- MMR
- Varicella
- Prevnar
Download: CDC Recommended Immunizations for Children from Birth Through 6 Years Old
Health
Do not put a bottle of breast milk or formula in the crib with your baby. All of these contain sugar and will cause cavities if they are in contact with the teeth while sleeping. If you must put a bottle in the crib, fill it with water only.
If your child has teeth, start brushing them using a soft child-size toothbrush and children’s fluoride containing toothpaste. Use only a pea-sized amount of toothpaste. All children resist this at some point (some very strongly) but it is important to establish the habit twice a day.
Your child should be weaned from the pacifier between 12-15 months. Most children will resist this, but pacifiers can interfere with dental development and speech at this critical age. Pacifiers also cause a pooling of saliva around the teeth that can encourage cavities. Find another “comfort object” your child can use, such as with a doll or stuffed animal.
Shoes are meant only to protect the feet at this point. Expensive shoes will not help your child walk earlier, improve their arch (children are naturally flat-footed) or make them stable.
Many children have one or both feet that point in or point out when they walk. This is normal at this age. Mild bowing of the lower legs is also normal. All of these conditions generally improve with time, and special devices to “correct” them are unnecessary and not used anymore.
Feeding
You may now start giving whole milk to your child. Do not give 2%, 1% or nonfat skim milk. Children need the fat content of whole milk to nurture continuing brain development.
Your child should transition from a bottle to a sippy cup between 12 and 15 months. You can encourage this by only putting water in the bottle and putting milk in the sippy cup.
Most children are picky eaters at some point. Some days they will eat well and other days they will not. Continue to offer a nutritious, well balanced diet. You can supplement with liquid vitamin drops (such as Poly-vi-sol or Gerber Vitamin Drops) once a day.
Safety
Children at this age are walking or will be within the next few months. BABY PROOF YOUR HOUSE.
Get on your hands and knees and crawl around to see what is at their eye-level. Keep doors closed. Put locks on cabinets and drawers that contain cleaners, beauty products, sharp objects or breakable objects.
Secure furniture so it cannot tip over onto your infant. Use electric outlet covers. Adjust your hot water heater to 120 degrees. Put locks on your toilets or keep your bathroom doors closed.
Your baby will soon be moving around the house. Use gates at stairways and doors. Cover sharp-edged corners on furniture. Do not let cords or tablecloths hang off of furniture. Keep small chokable objects picked up.
Do not drink hot beverages while holding your child, or leave them on the table or counter edges, where they can spill onto an infant below.
Remove crib bumpers and mobiles from the crib and lower the crib mattress as your infant will soon be crawling around and pulling up to stand.
Even if your infant has reached 20 pounds, they must remain in a rear-facing car seat until 2 years of age.
Never leave your infant alone in the bathtub or sink.
Development
At this age your child will enjoy pushing and pulling toys and climbing stairs.
Your baby can follow simple commands and expand his or her vocabulary, but he or she may not say “real” words until 15-18 months. Your baby should understand most or all of what you say. Spend time naming objects and describing things. Start to name body parts.
Your baby learns a great deal from books. Board books are great for this age.
Will enjoy stacking objects and putting things into containers as well as dumping them out.
Show a range of emotions. If they are frustrated or upset, showing them how to fix the problem or distracting them are still the most effective responses.
