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Visit our Health Hub at https://healthhub.cpcmg.net to learn more about your child’s health, wellness, and development. Available 24/7!
Tantrums and Discipline
Praise your child often.
Give them hugs, high fives and clap for them when they are a good helper or have good behavior.
Try to ignore the bad behavior.
The more you give your child attention for the good behavior and less attention for the bad behavior the more likely you will see good behavior.
Your attention is a reward to your child so use it for the behaviors you want to see more of in your child.
To avoid having to say “no” a lot, keep your house safe for your child.
Use simple, short phrases to discipline your child and keep them safe.
Avoid ever hitting or spanking your child to teach them these are not good behaviors.
A short time-out or a firm “no” are good options.
At this age, the goal is not to punish your child, it is to help teach them right from wrong.
You are a role model for your child.
The more you take a deep breath to calm and avoid yellling, the more they learn to calm.
Healthy Choices
Usually, your child will eat about three meals per day and two snacks, but this may vary and that is okay.
Never force your child to finish their meal.
Cut your child’s food into bite size pieces and encourage them to feed themselves.
Involve them in meals with the family.
Focus on fruits, vegetables, whole grains (like wheat products), healthy proteins (fish, beans, lean meats, lentils) and dairy products.
Encourage lots of water, avoid juices and soda.
Food Assistance
2-1-1 is an organization that helps families connect with food assistance programs such as CalFresh, local and regional food banks, emergency food services, Women Infant Children (WIC) program and more. Contact them at 211sandiego.org/resources/food-assistance/OR dial 2-1-1 from any phone.
Safety
Watch what your child is attracted to in your house and follow them around.
This will help alert you to any dangerous items your child maybe able to be hurt by or get into in your house.
Make sure lamps are secure, cabinets, doors, drawers and toilets have locks, and stair and pool gates are in place.
Always make sure your child is within reach when you are around any water.
Keep cords, including those for blinds tied up and out of reach.
Make sure windows have locks and furniture is away from them.
Keep working carbon monoxide and smoke detectors in your house.
Check them monthly to make sure they are working.
Change batteries every year or sooner if needed.
Make sure someone is always watching your child.
Keep all chemicals and toxins locked up or out of reach, including those in the garage.
If you think your child has swallowed anything harmful call poison help at: 1-800-222-1222.
Make sure you put poison help in your phone and on the fridge in case it is needed when someone is watching your child.
In case of natural disasters make sure your family has a plan.
Avoid front burners when cooking and never open the oven with your child in the kitchen.
Avoid leaving hot fluids or sharp objects on tablecloths that your child can pull on.
Avoid sunburns by applying a sunscreen with spf of 15 or higher every two hours while in the sun.
Keep a hat on your child and dress them in UV protective clothing.
Your child should be in the backseat in their carseat, rear facing for as long as possible.
They should remain rear facing until they reach the maximum height or weight on their carseat.
Never place your child in the front seat.
If you have guns and ammunition, they should be locked up separately in your house.
A Good Night
Keep bedtime and night time routines consistent.
Reading books, singing lullabies, baths and brushing teeth are good calming activities.
It takes kids awhile to slow down.
Starting quiet time about an hour before bedtime and avoidance of screens can help.
Your child should not have a screen in their room.
Place your child in their bed prior to falling asleep.
This helps them learn how to self-soothe and fall asleep on their own.
Avoid giving your child any bottles in bed, including if they wake up during the night.
For night time awakenings, it is okay to go in and reassure them they are safe.
Keep your time in their room short, say a few words, or offer something comforting like a blanket or toy.
The less attention you give them during night time awakenings, the less they will feel rewarded for waking up and the less likely they are to keep doing this.
Healthy Teeth
Be sure to brush your teeth twice daily with a pea size amount of fluoride toothpaste.
Avoid giving your child anything to drink other than water after brushing their teeth.
This helps them avoid cavities.
Avoid any bottles in bed.
If your child is using a bottle, now is a good time to transition to a sippy cup.
Use a soft bristled toothbrush.
Flouride varnish can be applied at your child’s well visits every 3 to 6 months and now is a good time to have your child see a dentist.
To find Medi-Cal dental clinics near you:
Call: 1-800-322-6384
Visit: Denti-Cal Website here.
Immunizations
Routine vaccines recommended for 15 months are:
DTaP (diphtheria, tetanus, acellular pertussis)
Haemophilus influenza type B (Hib)
During flu season (August through March), it is also recommended your toddler receive flu vaccine. It will be necessary to get a 2nd flu vaccine at or after 1 month to be fully protected if your child did not receive 2 doses the previous year.
To learn about COVID vaccines, please see the recommendations from the American Academy of Pediatrics.
It is safe for your child to be given all of these vaccines at one time.
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 or ibuprofen.
Soreness - can be treated with ibuprofen or cool compress.
Swelling at injection site - can be treated with cool compress.
For more details, visit the immunizations section on our Health Hub.
What To Expect at Your Baby’s 18 Month Visit
We will talk about stranger anxiety and setting limits.
We will talk about toilet training tips.
We will continue to review healthy habits including screen time limits.
We will talk about speech, communication, and reading with your child.
We will talk about keeping your child safe inside, outside and in the car.
We will continue to work as a team.
Immunizations protect your child against serious, life-threatening diseases.
The routinely recommended vaccines at the next well visit are:
Hepatitis A (second dose)
During flu season (August through March), it is also recommended your toddler receive a flu vaccine. It may be necessary to get a 2nd flu vaccine at or after 1 month to be fully protected if they did not receive 2 doses the previous year.
It is safe for your child to be given all recommended vaccines according to the schedule published by the American Academy of Pediatrics.
Vaccines are safe and effective, and proven to save lives.
At CPCMG, we offer combination vaccines whenever possible to decrease the number of injections.
If you have concerns about vaccines, please talk to your child’s primary healthcare provider for accurate information.
Learn more about recommended immunizations from the American Academy of Pediatrics.
📚 References
This content was adapted from American Academy of Pediatrics Bright Futures Handouts.
Reviewed by TT DO, JW MD, Patient Education Committee.