12 Month - Longwood Pediatrics printable pdf download

TWELVE MONTHS

Name

Date

Weight

Length

Head Circumference

IMMUNIZATIONS (note: your child's doctor may modify the immunization schedule at times)

MMR—protects against measles, mumps, rubella (German measles).

Varicella—protects against varicella (chickenpox).

Pneumococcal Conjugate—protects against a type of meningitis and blood infection, and some ear infections.

Hepatitis A—protects against infection with hepatitis A virus

The vaccines may cause fever or a sore spot on the thigh. Reactions to the MMR and Varicella vaccines may include

a fever and/or red, bumpy rash that occur up to six weeks after the vaccine. None of these reactions is harmful, but

you may give your child acetaminophen (e.g., Tylenol) for fever or discomfort.

DEVELOPMENT

Your toddler is having a love affair with the world, but he expects you to be there when he falls. He may treat you

more as a consultant than a constant companion, calling on you only when he needs help. Your availability will teach

your child to turn to adults for advice on problem solving. Your child's sense of self is developing so give him social

approval for small achievements ("Hurray, you did it," etc.). Exploring the world around him takes up most of the

baby's day. Separation anxiety is usually still present.

Most children will be "cruising" by now, that is pulling up to a standing position and walking while holding onto the

furniture. Children usually take their first steps without holding on between 12 and 16 months. Your baby should

have a neat pincer grasp (picking up small objects between thumb and index finger) by now and can also bang two

objects together. Most children can say a few words at this stage, including "mama" and "dada", which are now

sometimes even directed at the right people!

Talk to your child using complete thoughts (i.e., not just "pick it up" but "pick up the ball"). Read to her every day.

Talk about picture books. Name familiar objects and parts of the body (yours and the baby's).

Autonomy is an important achievement for the one-year-old. With your child's increasing independence, limit-setting

becomes important, primarily for safety reasons. The best form of limit-setting on the baby's behavior is a firm verbal

"no" and substitution; remove the baby from the undesirable situation and substitute it with a behavior that is

acceptable (e.g., take the baby away from the stereo but allow her to play in the sink with bubbles).

Choose your

"no's" carefully—use them for dangerous or truly unacceptable behaviors like biting or hitting—but stand firm.

Consistency and immediacy are most important in behavioral intervention.

EATING

You may introduce regular whole milk at this time in place of breast milk or formula. The baby should have between

16-32 ounces of whole milk or milk products per day now. You should offer the use of a cup now and wean the baby

off the bottle altogether soon (at least over the next few months). If you use a bottle at all, only put milk or water in it

(not juice) and don't let your child lie down with the bottle, rather hold her or sit her in a high chair while drinking.

Babies who walk around with juice bottles may make a habit of it which is very hard to break, are prone to cavities,

and have less appetite for nutritious foods.

Now that your child is no longer receiving iron through breast milk or formula, we recommend a daily multivitamin

with iron for example Poly-Vi-Sol with iron or half of a crushed chewable multivitamin with iron.

Longwood Pediatrics, LLP

319 LONGWOOD AVENUE, BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS 02115

Phone: 617-277-7320

Fax: 617-277-7834

12 Month - Longwood Pediatrics

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