Well-baby visit: 18 months-2 years

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Article Summary

Your baby has come a long way and a well-baby visit can bring home just how far your toddler has progressed. They can also be a handful when what you really want them to do is stay still while they are checked over!

Dress your toddler in a two-piece outfit that comes off easily. Plan to keep them on your lap or near you for most of the examination. Take one or two familiar toys. Snacks will also help you get through this visit.

Early appointments are better than afternoon ones. Avoid naptime.

At this visit you may find:

Your child is weighed.

You are given insights into your toddler's development and emotional growth.

Your toddler's development is reviewed to make sure they're on track.

You can talk about discipline issues.

Your health professional can answer questions you may have about surviving the 'terrible twos'.

Discussion turns to toilet training, nursery school and childcare.

Other things that may be discussed:

Has your baby seen a GP since the last visit? If so, why? What was the     outcome of that visit, and was any medication or treatment prescribed?
How are your baby's walking, running and climbing skills? Can they walk     backwards?
How about language abilities? What are they saying?
Does your baby understand one-step commands such as 'Get your shoes' or    Bring me a nappy'? Can they listen to and follow a simple story? Does your     baby look at the pictures in a book?
How does your baby play? The type of play a child engages in tells us about     cognitive abilities. Do they imitate you at household tasks? Can they stack     blocks?  
Is your baby starting to say 'no' and have temper tantrums? These are good     signs of emotional and cognitive growth.
Can they kick a ball? Can they walk up and down the stairs using both feet or     one foot at a time?
Is your toddler shy around strangers, at least at first?
Can they follow a two-step command? 

Exactly what you chat about from the list above will depend on your baby's age and development stage.



Talk it over

Most parents are concerned about three things at this age: diet, discipline and getting their child to bed. These confusing and troublesome issues are all related to your baby's growing sense of independence. Other concerns may include how to manage temper tantrums, and how to get your child to eat

Diet. Let your health professional know what your child is eating these days. If you're giving your baby good food, their diet is probably fine. Weight gain will indicate if they're eating enough. Appetite and rate of growth fall off in the toddler years.

Discipline. Let your health professional know if your toddler seems hard to control. Discuss the steps you take when you discipline your child - what works and what doesn't.

Sleep. Sleep issues are common at this age. Try keeping a diary of your child's sleeping patterns for at least three days and take it to the visit. Your health professional may be able to suggest solutions for you. Helping children settle down means developing good patterns. Don't allow bottles in bed.

If your child is extremely fearful and/or has a difficult time with other children - ask for advice.

You may want to say if your child doesn't know how to scribble on paper with large crayons. Most children can draw a rough circle at around this age.

Bringing up children can bring great joy, but as every parent knows, it is also very challenging. If you're feeling stressed out, talk it over with your health professional. This is extremely important if you: .

Feel out of control.
Hit them when you feel out of control.
Leave a mark or bruise on your child.

There are many programmes that can help you cope with the challenges you face with a growing child.


Speak up!

Your busy toddler will probably bruise their shins and bump their head. But you should ask your child about bruises anywhere on their body that can't be reasonably explained. If you have any concerns about your child's injuries, tell your health professional immediately. They can look at the bumps and bruises and tell you whether they appear to be from normal activities. Do this before you let any childminder or babysitter take care of your baby again.

Raise any concerns you may have. Such as:

if your baby has a wandering eye that still wanders, even once in a while
if your baby gets very close to things to see them better, especially if poor     vision at early ages runs in the family
if your baby seems especially sensitive to light or sound
if your baby isn't walking yet, is walking on their toes, or limps or tilts to one     side when t hey walk
if your baby seems to be using only one hand when they play, handle things or     reach for objects. If your baby is already very right or left handed, they will use     one hand more often when they eat and point. But they should use both hands     equally when they play.
if they can't put two objects together in play - are still playing with one object at     a time
if they don't take a spoon when you offer it to them
if they don't feed themselves
if they've lost skills they had before.
if they use no real words
if they show no affection


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