15 Months

Immunizations:

Safety:

Feeding and Nutrition:

Development:

• At age 15 months, children receive the DTaP, HIB and Prevnar immunizations. 20 to 30 percent of children may experience a sore arm, fever and crankiness for one to three days after the shot.
• You may treat symptoms with infant Tylenol®.

• Always use an approved car seat in the back seat of your car. Continue to have it rear facing as long as possible.
• Supervise your child closely. This is the high maintenance stage! Your toddler is a true explorer.
• Never leave your toddler alone in the bathroom or around any standing water, including a pool, tub, or bucket of water.
• Gates should be placed on stairs; supervise your toddler going up and down.
• Set water temperature for your house at 120°F degrees.
• Use a bike helmet if your child is riding with you on a bike.
• All medicines and cleaning products should be kept out of your toddler's reach.
• The number for the Poison Control Center is 1-800-222-1222; keep it by your phone.
• Install smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors on every level of your home. Check smoke detectors twice a year.

• Toddlers are often picky and small eaters. It is normal for a toddler to have four or five small meals a day instead of three large meals. They may seem to "live on air" at times. Don't look at their diet one day at a time, but rather over the whole week. Offer healthy food; avoid introducing junk food. Offer a variety of foods. Don't be alarmed if your child likes the same five or six foods, or if he/she skips meals at times. Toddlers are not growing as much now and don't need to eat as much!
• Fruits can be a substitute for vegetables at this age. Many toddlers stop eating many veggies.
• Eliminate bottles. Your child should be using only cups or "sippy" cups.
• Don't let your child walk around the home eating or drinking, as this can be a choking hazard.
• Avoid small and hard foods: no popcorn, peanuts, raw carrots or other foods that could cause choking.

• This is a great age: your child is learning new skills each day and has boundless energy! Toddlers are getting more coordinated; they love to run and climb.
• Small motor skills are also improving.
• Language is starting to emerge. As with all skills, children exhibit a wide range of developmental ability. Some 15-month old toddlers will be just starting to talk and may say three words; others will have twenty or more words. Toddlers have a better ability to understand words; this develops before speaking. Your toddler will be able to follow one-step commands.
• Temper tantrums often start and are normal. The best strategy is to ignore tantrums as much as possible and redirect children to a different activity.
• Maintain a nighttime ritual for bedtime.

Next visit: when your child is 18 months old.