Baby's 12-month checkup

Your baby is now one year old! Soon they will be walking and talking. Perhaps they have already taken their first steps and added a few new words to "mom" or "dad". You probably can't wait to tell your child's doctor about all these new changes!

You can expect your child's doctor to:

Check your child's weight, height and head circumference
Perform a physical examination of your child
If possible, get your child vaccinated against measles, mumps, rubella, chickenpox, or another shot of the vaccine your child has already received.
Recommend a flu shot if it is autumn or winter.

Questions your child's doctor may ask you

Is your baby pulling up? Standing? Walking?
What words and how many words can your baby say?
Does your child point to objects and use both hands while playing?

Diet questions you may have

Is it normal if my child doesn't eat sometimes?
Can I introduce whole milk now?
When should I wean my baby off the bottle?

Feeding tips

Your child may be pickier and less interested in food. It's normal at this age.
Feed your child a variety of healthy foods. This is a good time for the development of taste buds.
Remember that a child may not like certain foods at first. But keep trying!
Giving fruit is always better than juice. Limit your juice intake to ½ cup a day. Water is even better.
If your child's doctor does not suggest 2%, your child should start drinking whole milk now because he needs fat for growth.
2 to 3 cups of whole milk a day is a good amount.
If you are weaning your baby from the bottle, wean gradually, first with meals and finally at bedtime.
Simply filling the bottle with water can help with weaning.

Development questions you may have

What are good toys for children at this age?
What can I do to help my child learn?

Child development tips

Your child learns a lot by interacting with people.
Your child may imitate things you do, such as sweeping with a broom or talking on the phone.
Take time to read, play and talk with your child every day.
When you are with your child, say the names of things to help his language skills.
Pull toys, blocks and cubes, and balls are suitable for this age.
Television or mass media are not a good idea. Instead, try turning on some music.
Make sure your home is childproof for the safety of your mobile or close mobile child.
Your child will need to be in a rear-facing car seat until they are 2 years old. Never leave a child alone in a car. Have a good trip!