Nutrition
Family meals are important for your baby. Let him eat
with you. This helps him learn that eating is a time to
be together and talk with others. Don't make mealtime a
battle. Let your baby feed himself. Your child should
use a spoon and drink from a cup now.
Development and Discipline
Children at this age should be learning many new words. You
can help your child's vocabulary grow by showing and naming
lots of things. Children have many different feelings and
behaviors such as pleasure, anger, joy, curiosity, warmth,
and assertiveness. It is important at this age to praise
your child for doing things that you like.
Normal Development: 18 months
Toddlers sometimes seem out of control, or overly stubborn or
demanding. At this age, children often say "no" or refuse
to do what you want them to do. Here are some good methods
for helping children learn about rules and to keep them
safe:
- Child-proof the home. Go through every room in your
house and remove anything that is either valuable,
dangerous, or messy. Preventive child-proofing will stop
many possible discipline problems. Don't expect a child
not to get into things just because you say no.
- Divert and substitute. If a child is playing with
something you don't want him to have, replace it with
another object or toy that he enjoys. This approach
avoids a fight and does not place children in a situation
where they'll say "no."
- Teach and lead. Have as few rules as necessary and
enforce them. These rules should be rules important for
the child's safety. If a rule is broken, after a short,
clear, and gentle explanation, immediately find a place
for your child to sit alone for 1 minute. It is very
important that a "time-out" comes immediately after a
rule is broken.
- Make consequences as logical as possible. For example,
if you don't stay in your car seat, the car doesn't go.
If you throw your food, you don't get any more and may be
hungry.
- Be consistent with discipline. Don't make threats that
you cannot carry out. If you say you're going to do it,
do it.
- Be warm and positive. Children like to please their
parents. Give lots of praise and be enthusiastic.
When children misbehave, stay calm and say "We can't
do that. The rule is ________." Then repeat the
rule.
At 18 months, most toddlers are not yet showing signs
that they are ready for toilet training. When toddlers
report to parents that they have wet or soiled their
diaper, they are beginning to be aware that they prefer
dryness. This is a good sign and you should praise your
child. Toddlers are naturally curious about the use of
the bathroom by other people. Let them watch you or
other family members use the toilet. It is important not
to put too many demands on a child or shame the child
during toilet training.
Safety Tips
Avoid Choking and Suffocation
- Keep plastic bags, balloons, and small hard objects out
of reach.
- Cut foods into small pieces.
- Store toys in a chest without a dropping lid.
Prevent Fires and Burns
- Keep hot appliances and cords out of reach.
- Don't cook with your child at your feet.
- Keep hot foods and liquids out of reach.
- Keep matches and lighters out of reach.
- Turn your water heater down to 120°F (50°C).
Pedestrian Safety
- Hold onto your child when you are near traffic.
- Provide a play area where balls and riding toys cannot
roll into the street.
Prevent Drowning
- Never leave an infant or toddler in a bathtub alone --
NEVER.
- Continuously watch your child around any water,
including toilets and buckets. Keep toilet seats down,
never leave water in an unattended bucket, and store
buckets upside down.
Avoid Falls
- Check the stability of drawers, furniture, and
lamps. Avoid placing furniture (on which children
may climb) near windows or on balconies.
- Install window guards on windows above the first
floor (unless this is against your local fire
codes.)
- Make sure windows are closed or have screens that
cannot be pushed out.
- Don't underestimate your child's ability to climb.
Poisons
- Keep all medicines, vitamins, cleaning fluids, etc.
locked away.
- Put the poison center number on all phones.
- Purchase all medicines in containers with safety caps.
- Do not store poisons in drink bottles, glasses, or
jars.
Immunizations
At the 18-month visit, your baby may receive shots. Your
baby may run a fever and be irritable for about 1 day after
the shots. Your baby may also have some soreness, redness,
and swelling in the area where the shots were given. You
may give your child acetaminophen drops (1 and 1/2
dropperfuls, or 1.2 ml, every 4 to 6 hours) to prevent fever
and irritability. For swelling or soreness, put a wet, warm
washcloth on the area of the shots as often and as long as
needed for comfort.
Call your child's health care provider if:
- Your child has a rash or any reaction to the shots
other than fever and mild irritability.
- Your child has a fever that lasts more than 36 hours.
Next Visit
Your child's next visit should be at the age of 2 years.
Please remember to bring your shot card.
Written by Robert Brayden, MD, Associate Professor of Pediatrics, University of Colorado School of Medicine.
This content is reviewed periodically and is subject to
change as new health information becomes available. The
information is intended to inform and educate and is not a
replacement for medical evaluation, advice, diagnosis or
treatment by a healthcare professional.
Copyright © 2006 McKesson Corporation and/or one of its subsidiaries. All Rights Reserved.