Baby's 18-month checkup

By now, your toddler can probably say about 10-20 words, walk, point to body parts, and follow simple directions, including "no." It's normal that your child is trying to push boundaries. Be sure to be disciplined and discuss any concerns your pediatrician may have.

You can expect your pediatrician to:

Weigh and measure the child
Perform a physical examination of your child
Get all vaccinations, including flu shot in autumn/winter.
Please have your child's developmental screening

Questions your pediatrician may ask

Did your child have tantrums?
Does your child talk a lot? Pointing? Write?
Do they sleep well and doze off?
Do they seem to understand what you are saying?
Were they at the dentist's?
Do they still take the bottle?

Questions you may have about daytime sleep

My baby doesn't want to take a nap. What can I do?
How can I prevent afternoon nap problems?

Sleeping tips

Try quiet music or a sound machine to help your child sleep easier.
Stick to a routine so your child knows what to expect.
Starting your nap earlier and limiting it to 3 hours will help you sleep better at night.
Expect to wean from sleeping up to once a day.

Questions you may have about potty training

My child seems to be interested in toilet training. Is it too early to start?

Potty training tips

Many children are physically ready between the ages of 18 months and 2 years.
Girls are usually ready earlier than boys.
If your child shows interest in the potty or stops activities to "go potty", he may be ready.
Your child must understand the instructions for using the potty and control the muscles involved, as well as remove pants and underwear.
Put a potty in the bathroom and take them with you when you go. This will pique their interest!
Some parents use sweatpants to transition from diapers to underwear. Or you can go "cold turkey" if you're okay with some mess while they're learning.
It can take a long time for your baby to stay dry at night, so you can leave him in sweatpants for a while at night.
Celebrate and congratulate your child if they use the potty.
If it doesn't work, don't worry. Please try again in a few months.
Remember that your child may be enthusiastic at first. But then they may begin to find their own activity too interesting to break away from it and sit on the potty.

Questions you may have about the conversation

How can I encourage my child to speak and learn words?

Conversation tips

Read to your child often. Television and videos cannot compete with reading or interacting with a child.
Read the same book over and over again if your child asks. Repetition helps them learn.
Read interactively. Ask questions about the characters. Have your child point to shapes or objects, or have them tell you where the shapes or objects are. Ask them to tell you what the characters are doing.
If your child cannot sit still for a long time, continue reading while playing or moving around.
Choose books with lots of illustrations about activities like bedtime or bathing.
Music also helps in the development of speech.
Introduce your child to all kinds of music, not just children's songs.
Compose songs for everyday activities like brushing your teeth.
Talk to them during the day. Explain to them what you are doing, like folding laundry or cooking dinner.

Talk to your pediatrician if your child:

Prefers to use gestures to communicate
Has problems with simulating sounds
Does not understand simple instructions such as "take a book".
Isn't walking

Remember that television and media must be limited. This time will fly by quickly and you will want to use precious moments to stimulate their brains. Television will take so long. Music, reading and interactive games are great ways to help develop their brains.