IMMUNIZATIONS

If your child is up to date, no immunizations are needed today.  If it is flu season, we recommend flu vaccination for your child and all caregivers and family members.

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FEEDING

 

Continue breastfeeding or using formula. Your child should get at least 16-24 oz of formula or nurse well 3-4 times/day. Your baby should eat three meals a day, getting a balance of foods from all the food groups. Iron rich foods are increasingly important, so work on adding red meat, beans, and green vegetables into your baby’s diet. You may introduce some dairy, but continue to avoid milk and eggs. Allow your baby to feed him or herself finger foods. Do not offer your child foods that could cause choking including peanuts, sunflower seeds, raw vegetables, popcorn, grapes, and hot dogs. Avoid sugary and salty foods. NO fruit juice. Continue working with a sippy cup and start weaning bottles and pacifiers.

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TEETH

Your baby may or may not heave teeth yet. To help with teething, use Tylenol or Motrin and teething rings or cold wet washcloths. Gently wipe the teeth and gums daily with a soft cloth.  You may use a small soft toothbrush to help with teething and to get used to “brushing teeth”. It’s important for oral health to eliminate bottles/nursing overnight.

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SAFETY

 

• Your baby needs to be rear facing in the car seat until about 2 years of age.  If he or she has exceeded the weight or length limit of the infant carrier, you will need to buy a convertible car seat that can be used forward and rear facing. The best place for the car seat is always the back seat.

• Remember to keep medicines and chemicals out of reach and not under sinks, even if doors are latched.

• Don’t leave your child unattended in or around pools, tubs, buckets of water, toilets or water of any kind.

• Be burn cautious. Don’t carry hot liquids and your child at the same time. Don’t leave hot liquids near the edge of tables. Keep your child away from hot surfaces such as fireplaces, stoves, floor heaters, and curling irons.

• Keep the poison control number near the phone.  1-800-222-1222.

• Secure top-heavy furniture (bookshelves, dressers, TV stands, etc) to the wall and remove tablecloths & table runners.

 

DEVELOPMENT

Appropriate toys for your baby include stacking toys, plastic cups, pails, empty boxes, large dolls, cars, trucks, balls and books. Be sure to read to your child regularly. We discourage TV until at least 2 years of age.

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PHYSICAL

 

• starting to crawl, may pull to stand, walk along the furniture, and may even take a few steps

• uses pincer grasp (picking things up with the thumb and one finger)

• finds hidden objects readily, plays peek-a-boo

• imitates gestures (waving, may learn some simple sign language)

 

SOCIAL

• prefers mother (primary caregiver) over others; may be shy with strangers

• feeds self finger foods

• extends arms and legs to help when being dressed

 

LANGUAGE

• babbles, may say “mama” and “dada”, uses exclamations like “Oh-no!”

• responds to simple verbal requests like “NO”

• pays increasing attention to speech, tries to imitate words

 

Next appointment is at 1 year of age!