--- title: "12 Month Well Visit: Information for Parents & Caregivers" slug: "12-month-well-visit-information-for-parents-caregivers" updated: 2026-06-29T02:00:53Z published: 2026-06-29T02:00:53Z canonical: "healthhub.cpcmg.net/12-month-well-visit-information-for-parents-caregivers" --- > ## Documentation Index > Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://healthhub.cpcmg.net/llms.txt > Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further. # 12 Month Well Visit: Information for Parents & Caregivers ![](https://cdn.us.document360.io/a196e2c1-0707-4b9f-8164-e8201c779cd7/Images/Documentation/image-O7SB1IRT.png?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-10-14T04%3A33%3A21Z&se=2026-10-14T05%3A33%3A21Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=gcr%2B09yot0gu28nJg6iFmVOe3rM7KpBDh3Ur4Ns1OTw%3D) [![Appointment Info](https://cdn.us.document360.io/a196e2c1-0707-4b9f-8164-e8201c779cd7/Images/Documentation/1650055438388-1650055438388.png?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-10-14T04%3A33%3A21Z&se=2026-10-14T05%3A33%3A21Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=gcr%2B09yot0gu28nJg6iFmVOe3rM7KpBDh3Ur4Ns1OTw%3D)](/v1/docs/appointments-and-contact-information) [![Care Decision Info](https://cdn.us.document360.io/a196e2c1-0707-4b9f-8164-e8201c779cd7/Images/Documentation/1654467115781-1654467115781.png?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-10-14T04%3A33%3A21Z&se=2026-10-14T05%3A33%3A21Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=gcr%2B09yot0gu28nJg6iFmVOe3rM7KpBDh3Ur4Ns1OTw%3D)](https://www.rchsd.org/wait-times/what-type-of-care-does-my-child-need/)

DISCLAIMER: This material is for educational purposes only. You, the reader, assume full responsibility for how you choose to use it. It is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment, nor does it replace the advice or counsel of a doctor or health care professional. Reference to a specific commercial product, service, or external web site does not imply endorsement or recommendation of that product, service, or external web site content by CPCMG. We attempt to keep lists of resources and referrals as up to date as possible; however, this information is constantly changing. Please check with the service provider and your insurance company to verify coverage.

 **Visit our Health Hub at** [**https://healthhub.cpcmg.net**](https://healthhub.cpcmg.net) **to learn more about your child’s health, wellness, and development. Available 24/7!** [YouTube video player](https://www.youtube.com/embed/1eANhf7lwcI?si=Hloh95Bgg2cktl0-) #### **How Your Family Is Doing** - **Do you need help with food and resources for your family?** - Be sure to let your child’s primary healthcare provider know. Please check out [Nutrition Resources for Families](/v1/docs/nutrition-resources-for-families). - Make sure the places your **child lives** and **plays are safe**. - Keep your home and vehicles a **tobacco free zone** and **avoid any smoking, vaping, alcohol use, or drugs.** - Parenting takes a lot of work and patience. - Be sure to take time for yourself and your partner. - **Consider** joining a toddler playgroup or **taking a parenting class.** - **Accepting help** from trusted family and friends **is a healthy thing to do.** - If you have **concerns** about **your mental health or your child’s emotions**, be sure to share this with your child’s primary healthcare provider. - **Play, sing, talk, and read** with your child often. - This helps with bonding, learning, and development. - The **less screen time** at this age **the better**, so do your best to avoid it. - **FREE behavioral and developmental assessments** are available. - San Diego County residents through the First 5 Programs (888) 534-7785 or [First5sandiego.org](http://First5sandiego.org). - Southern Riverside residents through the Healthy Steps Programs (858) 966-8300 or [Healthysteps.org](http://Healthysteps.org). - Riverside and San Bernardino Counties are also served by Inland Regional Center (909) 890-4763. #### Establishing Routines - When you ask your child to do something, keep it simple and short. - **Keep the rules simple** as well. - **Praise your child** often for good, helpful behavior. - Your child feels rewarded by your attention, so use it as a helpful parenting tool. - Paying attention to good behavior encourages it, while ignoring bad behavior helps to decrease it. - Always avoid hitting or spanking your child for bad behavior. - When you hit or spank, your child thinks that is something they should do. - Give short time-outs or consequences. - When your child is getting emotional or upset, offer a toy, playtime or sing a song. - **The amount of time they nap may vary from day to day**. - Most children nap at least once a day at this age. - **Playtime, singing, and reading** to your child are healthy daily activities. - Reading to your child helps them with development. - Playing with your child at their level helps you see things the way they do. - Your child has lots of energy, so allow them to use it. - **Avoiding screen time** is best at this age. - It is never too early to come up with a screen free family plan. - This helps the family stay active and chat during meal times. - Help your child get used to **falling asleep on their own**. - Put them in their bed when they are drowsy, before they fall asleep. - Use the hour before bedtime for a calming bath, soft songs, and reading books. - Building healthy routines and happy habits now helps the whole family as everyone grows up. - Routines help children with what to expect during their day and evening. - This helps reduce their worries and gives them a healthy sense of control. - When your child stays with others, share your routines so your child has healthy meals, fun, safe activities and calming before bedtime. #### Feeding Your Child - Allow your child to **drink plenty of water** and avoid juice and soda. - This is a good age to offer drinks in a sippy cup, if your child is still using a bottle. - **Cow’s milk or unsweetened plant based milks** can be given. - Sticking to somewhere between **12 to 18 ounces** is best. - Cow’s milk can be constipating, so if your child is constipated after starting milk, give less for a few weeks or as long as needed. - Usually whole cow’s milk is a good option, unless your child’s primary care provider gave you other advice. - Look for plant based milks that have vitamin d and other nutrients. - Allow them to feed themselves as often as possible to help them with development and independence. - At this age, most children eat about **three meals per day** and two to three snacks. - Just like adults they may eat more one day and less another and that is okay. - Try to include them at family meals. - Offer healthy foods like **fruits, veggies, whole grains and proteins** like chicken and eggs. - Eating healthy keeps them healthy. - When your child is done, don’t force them to eat more. - Use small plates and bowls. - Foods to avoid so your child doesn’t choke are: - popcorn, hot dogs, grapes, nuts and hard raw vegetables. - If your child doesn’t like something, don’t give up. - Continue to put it on their plate with foods they like. - **Taste buds change** and the more they see it and try it, the more likely they are to like it. #### **Healthy Teeth** - As soon as your child **has a tooth** you can **brush it**. - Use a **rice grain amount of fluoride toothpaste** twice a day with **brushing**. - You can **take your child to a dentist** once they have their first tooth. - Once your child **has teeth**, **avoid** giving them **anything but water** after brushing their teeth. - If your **child is nursing** beyond 12 months, **avoid any night time nursing** as well. - **Fluoride does** help **protect the teeth** from cavities. - **Fluoride** can be **applied every 3 to 6 months**, as recommended by dentists. - This can be **done at your child’s well visit.** - To find **Medi-Cal dental clinics** near you: - **Call:** 1-800-322-6384 - **Visit:** Denti-Cal Website [here](https://dental.dhcs.ca.gov/). #### **Safety** - Make sure your **home has working smoke** and **carbon monoxide detectors.** - **Avoid** any **tobacco product, drug or alcohol** use around your child. - Make sure that someone is **always watching** your child. - They are curious and can **get into things fast**. - Make sure you **have a gait for any stairs** and around any **pools**. - **Avoid** the use of **walkers** as they can **cause injuries.** - They are a known **cause of head injuries** and children **can tip over** in them and **injure other body parts**. - Make sure **all chemicals, medications, poisons and sharp objects** are **locked up** or **high enough** that your **child can’t reach** them. - If you think your **child** may **have consumed anything dangerous** call **poison help at: 1-800-222-1222.** - **Keep** all **small objects, balloons, and plastic bags** away from your child, as these are **choking dangers.** - Make sure **drawers, toilets, and windows** have **locks on** them. - Keep **all furniture away** from **windows**. - Keep all **cords**, including those for blinds are **out of reach.** - Make sure anything like **TVs and lamps** are **secured** so they **cannot fall over** on your child. - **Empty** anything **with water** in it after you are done, like buckets, pools, and tubs. - Children **can drown** in small amounts of water. - When you are **around any water**, make sure your child is close enough for you to **reach them with a hand.** - When **cooking,** make sure you **know where your child** is at all times. - Keep anything **sharp, hot, or dangerous** out of your child’s reach. - **Never** open an **oven** with your **child in the room**. - Use **back burners for any cooking** so your child cannot **grab pot or pan handles.** - Keep your **child covered** when out **in the sun** to **avoid any burns**. - Use **sunscreens** of **15 or higher SPF**, apply every **2 hours while in the sun** and one hour prior to swimming. - If **swimming or boating** have a **Coast Guard approved personal flotation device** for your child. - If you think your **child has been burned**, call your child’s primary healthcare provider. - Your child is **safest in the car** when **rear-facing in the back seat** in their car seat . - **Avoid** turning them to **forward facing** until they have **reached the maximum weight and height** noted on their carseat. - **Never place** your child in the **front seat.** - **Keeping guns** out of the home is best. - If you **have guns,** keep the **guns and ammunition locked separately**. #### Immunizations - **Routine vaccines** recommended for 12 months are: - Hepatitis A, Varicella (chicken pox), MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) and Prevnar (pneumococcal) - **It is safe** for your child to be given all of these vaccines at one time. - Flu Vaccine is recommended during flu season, which is typically September-March/April. - Vaccines are **safe and effective**, and proven to save lives. - If you have concerns about vaccines, **please talk to your child’s primary healthcare provider for accurate information**. - Your child may have a **fever, be more fussy, or more tired** for two to three days after vaccines. - Your child may have a rash one to two weeks after the MMR vaccine, and that is a normal reaction to the vaccine. It is usually a red blotchy rash. - Fever - can be treated with [acetaminophen](/v1/docs/acetaminophen-tylenol-dose-chart) or [ibuprofen](/v1/docs/ibuprofen-advil-motrin-dosage-table). - Soreness - can be treated with [ibuprofen](/v1/docs/ibuprofen-advil-motrin-dosage-table) or cool compress. - Swelling at injection site - can be treated with cool compress. - **For more details, visit the** [**immunizations**](https://healthhub.cpcmg.net/docs/cpcmg-vaccines) **section on our Health Hub.** #### **What To Expect at Your Baby’s 15 Month Visit** - **We will talk** about your child’s **development and feelings** and **temper tantrums**. - **We will talk** about **healthy habits** and brushing teeth. - **We will** offer helpful **sleep** and **discipline tips.** - **We will talk** about **safety** in your home and **recommended vaccines.** - **We will** continue to **work as a team**. ## 📚 References This content was adapted from [Bright Futures](https://www.aap.org/en/practice-management/bright-futures/bright-futures-family-centered-care/). Reviewed by TT DO, JW MD, Patient Education Committee.