A Newsletter for Parents Next Visit 18 Month Check Up years2 of age Well Child Appointments can be made online at AustinRegionalClinic.com. Your baby’s length, weight, head size, along with health screens and immunizations performed will be in the After Visit Summary (AVS) that your baby’s provider or nurse will give you at the end of the visit. You can also view this information on MyChartARC.com your child’s development, but as parents NUTRITION we need to avoid falling into a pattern Remember this year is an important of offering only what the child “likes” time when your child develops food or offering less nutritious alternative preferences that may predict their foods because your child refuses what is Online Access: Day or Night eating preferences for life. As early as offered to them. View your child’s medical records 12 months, your toddler’s diet begins ▪ mirroring some of the unhealthy eating 3. One way to remember how to give your ▪ Print your child’s shot records any time child nutritious, healthful choices is to patterns seen in older children and ▪ Book your child’s next appointment adults, including eating limited fruits utilize the MyPlate visual diagram to ▪ Review your child’s After Visit Summary and vegetables and consuming too include all 5 food groups in meals and much sugar and fat. It is important snacks. For the 3 meals of the day try to that as parents we provide a variety of make half their plate fruits and vegeta- — Enroll Today — healthy, nutritious foods at mealtime bles. Remember: it can take up to 12–15 Visit MyChartARC.com and snack-time to avoid developing times of presenting a vegetable before a an unhealthy eating pattern for your child will eat it. Never force a child to eat child. Families have a tremendous a vegetable—this will just create a battle DEVELOPMENT influence on developing their children’s and control issue—and try not to reward food preferences, so please model the a child eating their vegetables with Social/Emotional healthiest eating habits you can. dessert. Remember: the child decides Successful parenting of an 18 month how much to eat. Parents decide to old requires patience, consistent limits, Here are a few tips: keep offering it to them. For more and daily routines. Communication and 1. Children thrive with structure and information and tips please visit www. social skills are developing rapidly in predictability. This fosters a sense of ChooseMyPlate.gov. most 18 month olds. Despite this rapid security for your child. A set schedule 4. Snacks: Today, the most popular snack development, most 18 month olds still of 3 meals and 2–3 snacks per day choices among toddlers and preschool- have limited communication skills and should be part of your child’s diet. With ers are crackers, cookies, and candy. But tend to get frustrated easily. The defiance set times for meals and snacks you can children’s stomachs are small and they and negativism of children this age reflect avoid your child grazing throughout the will not eat very much at each meal, so a desire for choice and independence. day. Grazing can lead to unhealthy snacks should be thought of as “mini- At the same time, children need to have eating. Your child may not be hungry meals.” Fruits, vegetables, and protein are strong emotional ties and feel loved by every meal. Many children this age only better choices for snack times to keep parents. To venture out into the world and eat 1-2 meals per day, since their rate of your child’s diet healthy. Sweets can be test independence, a child must know that growth is slowing down. part of a healthy diet, but they should be they have a safe and emotionally secure 2. “Parents provide and the child thought of as an occasional treat and not place at home. decides.” This is an important, easy-to- offered everyday. remember expression for us as parents. As a parent, our job is to provide optimal nutrition for our child. Parents are responsible for what the family eats, when the family eats, and where the family eats. Your child’s job is to decide how much of the correct portion to eat. Children are responsible for whether they eat what For more information on how to encour- is offered or wait until the next meal/ age healthy habits for children 0–5 years of snack. Picky eating and food refusal (or age, please visit: www.healthychildren.org/ “food jags”—liking something one day growinghealthy and not the next) are normal parts of 17.0823 1 09012016 To help with emotional and social Respond to nonverbal communication with development, allow your child to make the appropriate word or phrase, “Look at the simple choices, such as which fruit for snack- doggie!” Soon your toddler will add “dog” or time or what book at nap time. Praise your “doggie” as they point to the puppy. Developmental Concerns? child when you see them being cooperative Most 18 month old children say 10–25 If you believe that your child is delayed or has a condition that could and friendly. Comfort your child when they words. Soon after 18 months, language have fears or are afraid. Reassure your child lead to delays, please ask your doctor abilities explode. By 2 years most children to refer you. that you are there. can say at least 50 words. Reading at least You may also call 1-800-628-5115 While your child may engage you in play, 30 minutes a day to your child will help or visit the ECI website at children don’t generally involve other speech and language development. The dars.state.tx.us/ecis children in their imaginary play until around more words your child hears, the more for the ECI program closest to you. 2 ½ years. However, children this age often words the child will learn. enjoy having another child around during Talk to you child, and ask questions about play. They watch each other and learn from the pictures and stories as you read. There each other by imitation. It is not expected are many apps or shows for kids that aim to that your child will share at this age. improve their development, but your voice CARE OF YOUR CHILD Around 18 months, children begin explaining their world around them is more developing a sense of self awareness. They helpful than any product. Dental are learning that they are individuals with Children benefit from learning two their own feelings, thoughts, likes, and languages at the same time. This is a dislikes. Next, they realize that other people wonderful opportunity for your child and have their own feelings, thoughts, and is a way to bond with their community and preferences as well. This helps children learn culture. Don’t worry when you hear some empathy. They start to imagine how another language mixing. Eventually they will sort person feels. To help your child develop out the words. empathy: Talk about other’s feelings. “Susie is sad because you took her doll. Let’s give Now we know that dental caries (“cavities” Susie her doll back and we can find you or tooth decay) are an infectious disease another one.” Demonstrate empathy: “Oh transmitted from other people. Babies no, Johnny hurt his knee. Let’s bring him usually pick up the germs that cause cavities some ice.” from family members. Not sharing spoons, forks and drinks with your baby will help Learning reduce cavities. For the same reason, do not Children this age enjoy imaginary play clean your toddler’s pacifier with your mouth and will eventually involve other people and put it back in their mouth. This will share in their pretend play. Provide toys that your mouth germs and cause more cavities encourage imaginary play such as simple for them. dolls, toy phone, cars, musical instruments, Brush your child’s teeth twice daily with play kitchens, and dress-up clothes. Join small amount (smear) of fluoride-containing in the fun if your child wants you to play. Movement skills toothpaste. You can play puppy, wear a silly hat, or Your child’s ability to move about and let your child serve you “food.” Enjoy such effectively use their arms and legs is rapidly Eliminate all bottle use. It is time for the “cold moments. improving. Most 18 month olds run well, turkey” approach if your child is still using a bottle. Bottle use at this age, especially This is also an age when children become can throw objects while standing up, and during the night, causes cavities. Breast- problem-solvers. You will see your child seat themselves in a small chair. Over the feeding during the night also causes cavities. filling and dumping, opening and closing, next few months your toddler will start shaking and throwing, as they explore and carrying large objects, squatting while Make healthy food choices throughout the try to make sense of their world. Three playing and going up stairs placing both day. Frequent sweets, including fruit juices, and four piece puzzles or blocks also help feet on each step. increase tooth decay. Dentists recommend develop problem solving skills. that your toddler drink their milk (or juices) Hand and finger skills at meal-time and drink only water between Talking skills Your child’s ability to use their hands and meals to get less cavities. fingers are rapidly improving. By this age, Communication skills should be rapidly For more information about dental care look your child should be able to use a spoon improving at this age.