Your Child's 15-Month Checkup

Checkups are a way to make sure your child is growing properly and help you find out if there are any health problems. After the visit, make an appointment for your child's 18-month checkup.

• Offer 3 meals and 2–3 healthy snacks a day. Pull your child's high chair up to the table during meals and eat together as a family as often as possible.

• As long as your child does not have a food allergy, they can eat most soft foods. Include these in your child's diet:

  • fruits and vegetables (peeled and puréed or cooked until soft)

  • cereals, breads, rice, and pasta

  • iron-rich foods such as beef, pork, chicken, seafood, and tofu

  • whole cow's milk (about 16 ounces [480 ml] a day) and other calcium-rich foods, such as cheese and yogurt

• To help prevent choking:

  • Make sure your child is sitting while eating.

  • Avoid nuts, whole grapes and raisins, popcorn, hard candy, gum, thickly spread peanut butter, hard cheese, hard or raw fruits and vegetables, and hot dogs and sausages.

  • Cut all foods into small pieces (no bigger than ½ inch).

• It's normal for kids this age to eat a lot at some meals and less at others. Offer healthy food choices and let your child decide how much to eat.

• If you have not done so already, wean your child from the bottle and give a cup instead.

• Kids don't need juice. It can lead to tooth decay and weight gain. If you serve juice, give your child no more than 4 ounces (120 ml) of 100% fruit juice a day.

• Help your child get about 11–14 hours of sleep in a 24-hour period, including naps.

• Have a calm bedtime routine that includes a favorite toy, reading, and quiet singing.

• Do not let your child sleep in bed with you or anyone else.

• If your child wakes at night, wait a few minutes to give them some time to settle down. If fussiness continues, go to your child so they know you're there, but try not to pick up, play with, or feed your child. Leave the room after about a minute so your child can try to fall back to sleep.

• Children this age learn best by talking and playing with others and touching things in their world. It's best to avoid screen time such as videos, video games, TV, and phone apps. Video chatting (such as FaceTime or Skype) is OK.

• Help your child use words to name objects, talk about pictures in books, and describe feelings.

• Help your child learn what you want them to do:

  • Give short and simple directions and explanations. Tell your child what to do rather than what not to do ("Use a quiet voice" instead of "Stop yelling").

  • Keep things that you don't want your child to touch out of reach.

  • Reward wanted behaviors with specific praise. For example, say, "I really like the way you put the blocks away" instead of "Good job."

  • When unwanted behaviors happen, be ready to help your child move on to a different activity.

  • Make your home and yard safe so you don't have to say "No" often.

  • Never hit or spank your child.

In the car:

• Put your child in a rear-facing car seat in the back seat until they outgrow the height or weight limit allowed by the car seat manufacturer.

• Follow the manufacturer's instructions on installing and using the car seat, or go to a child safety seat check.

In your home:

• Put gates at the top and bottom of stairs.

• Lower the crib mattress to the bottom position.

• Put window guards on windows above the first floor.

• Keep blinds, drapes, and cords out of your child's reach.

• Keep out of reach:

  • small objects such as toys, button batteries, and coins

  • plastic bags

  • medicines (keep in a locked cabinet, if possible)

  • cleaning supplies

  • anything that is hot, sharp, or breakable

• Set your hot water heater lower than 120°F (48°C).

• Put smoke and carbon monoxide alarms near all sleeping areas and on every level of your home.

• Keep your child within reach if there is water nearby, including tubs, toilets, buckets, and pools. Empty water from tubs, buckets, and baby pools when done.

• Do not allow anyone to smoke around your child.

• A gun in the home increases the risk of accidents and injuries. If you do have a gun, keep it unloaded and locked up. Lock bullets separately from the gun.

• Only leave your child with responsible caregivers, and be sure to review safety information with them.

In the sun:

• Use a water-resistant sunscreen with an SPF (sun protection factor) of at least 30 that protects from both UVA and UVB rays. Re-apply every 2 hours or more often if swimming or sweating.

• Help your child stay in the shade, especially between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.

• Dress your child in a long-sleeved shirt and long pants, a wide-brimmed hat, and sunglasses with UVA and UVB protection.

Prepare for emergencies:

• Take a first aid/CPR class. Be sure you know what to do if your child is choking.

• If you are ever worried that you will hurt your child, put your child in the crib for a few minutes and call a friend, a relative, or your health care provider for help. Never shake your child — it can cause bleeding in the brain and even death.

• Call the Poison Help Line (1-800-222-1222) if you are worried about a poisoning.

• Get all immunizations and tests that your child's health care provider recommends.

• Take care of your child's teeth and gums:

  • Take your child to the dentist every 6 months.

  • Follow your health care provider's recommendations about using a fluoride coating (called a varnish) on your child's teeth.

  • If recommended, give fluoride drops at home.

  • Brush your child's teeth using a soft toothbrush with a smear of fluoride toothpaste (about the size of a grain of rice).

  • If your child is thirsty between meals or at night, give water only. Do not let your child sip juice or milk throughout the day or in the crib because this can cause tooth decay.

• Your health care provider can tell you about help that is available in the community or through a social worker. Talk to your health care provider if you're worried that:

  • You don't have enough food for your child.

  • You don't have a safe place to live.

  • You don't have health insurance.

  • You have a problem with drugs or alcohol.

• Call your child's health care provider if you are worried about your child's health, growth, or development.