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Checkups at 12 Months

What Can Your Baby Do?

  • He walks while holding on to furniture and possibly by himself. He pulls to a standing position.
  • She should be saying at least 2 words.
  • He begins to try many new activities on his own and can easily become frustrated, angry, or fearful.
  • She can grasp with her thumb and first finger.
  • He points to objects, plays pat-a-cake, peek-a-boo, and waves bye-bye.
  • She will place one object inside another. She will look for dropped or hidden objects.

What Can Your Baby Eat?

  • Your baby can eat junior food and almost any table food that is relatively soft.
  • He may enjoy making messes while eating.
  • You should be weaning your baby from the bottle. He should be able to drink from a cup.
  • Your baby's appetite may decrease at this age since he will not grow as rapidly in his second year of life as his first and so will not need to eat as much.
  • His milk should be limited to 16-24 ounces per day. You should give your baby whole milk until he is 2 years of age.
  • If your home does not have fluoride in the water, a fluoride vitamin should be prescribed for her by your doctor.

Immunizations

The following immunizations may be given in the second year of life:

  • Measles- along with polio, measles is probably the most dangerous of the childhood diseases. This is a viral infection that causes high fever, an impressive rash, extensive cough, and brain inflammation. Some babies have a rash and mild fever about 2 weeks after receiving the vaccine.
  • Mumps- a mild disease in children that causes swelling of the salivary glands, but is also a frequent cause of brain inflammation. Adults also may have joint swelling and painful inflammation of the ovaries or testicles.
  • Rubella- also called the 3-day measles, is a very mild illness of limited importance except that it causes severe birth defects if acquired in the first trimester of pregnancy.
  • Chickenpox- a viral illness that causes a rash of tiny vesicles (blisters) all over the body. Severe cases also lead to pneumonia and brain swelling. The vaccine may cause a few vesicles to appear around the site of the injection or other parts of the body.
  • Polio- a viral infection that caused paralysis in thousands of children yearly in the 1950's. Your baby may receive the oral form this year assuming that she has previously received the killed vaccine.
  • Diphtheria- a respiratory and heart disease that used to kill thousands every year.
  • Tetanus- a bacterial infection of dirty wounds that can be life-threatening.
  • Pertussis- also known as whooping cough, this respiratory illness is particularly dangerous for young babies and is always in the community in a small number of cases.
  • Hemophilus- the bacteria that was the most frequent cause of meningitis and other serious infections of the blood and lungs until widespread use of this vaccine.
  • These vaccines are usually combined together to reduce the number of injections. Improvements in the vaccines have reduced the fever and other side effects that babies had before.

Tests to Be Done

A tuberculin (TB) skin test may be needed if your baby has been exposed to someone with TB, a chronic cough, IV drug use, HIV disease (AIDS), recent prison time, time in a developing country, or if required by school or insurance.

A hematocrit will be done to make sure that your baby is not anemic.

Your baby should also have a lead test. The risk for lead poisoning is high if:

  1. He lives or regularly visits a house built before 1960, an old house with peeling or chipping paint, a home with lead plumbing, a home on a major highway, or one near a lead-producing or battery recycling plant.
  2. You have given her any home remedies that contain lead.
  3. Any of his friends or brothers or sisters have had lead poisoning or he eats paint chips or dirt.
  4. She is around an adult who works with lead in construction, welding, pottery, bullets, fishing weights, a firing range, stained glass, refinishing furniture, or car repair.

Accident Prevention

  • Protect your baby from hot liquids, dangling cords, and pulling on tablecloths. Be careful while cooking. Your baby will grab at everything, often pulling hot liquids on himself or you. Turn the handles of pots to the inside away from his reaching little hands.
  • Remove poisonous plants or plants with sharp stems or leaves from places that he can reach.
  • The kitchen is often the worst location for poisons in the house.
  • Never keep lye cleaners (such as toilet bowl cleaners or drain openers) in your home. They can cause severe burns in your baby's eyes and mouth causing blindness and scarring of her throat.
  • Protect him from common household poisons such as liquor, mothballs, furniture polish, drain cleaners, weed killers, insect and rat poisons, kerosene, bleach, cosmetics, and dishwasher detergents.
  • Remember that 25% of childhood poisonings occur at the grandparent's house. This is because they may not have their home child-proofed and because they are often on dangerous drugs for heart disease, high blood pressure, or sleep problems.
  • Use safety latches on drawers and cupboards containing dangerous objects.
  • Only use medicine bottles with safety caps. Use safety latches on drawers and cupboards.
  • Iron vitamins are a very common cause of death by poisoning in children.
  • A plastic lock box with a combination lock is inexpensive and will protect your baby from the most dangerous drugs for years to come.
  • Buy Syrup of Ipecac to induce vomiting in your baby when needed. Do not give her Ipecac without speaking your doctor or Poison Control at 1-800-POISON 1 (1-800- 764-7661).
  • Keep toilet seats down to keep your baby from hurting his hands or being trapped by a falling lid. Do not keep any vats of liquid uncover where your baby might fall in.
  • Stairs should have gates to protect him from falls.
  • Place her in car restraints. Do not put young children in the front seat of a car with airbags.
  • Do not smoke indoors, since it causes her to have more colds and ear infections.
  • Do not leave your baby unattended in her tub or in any place other than her crib or playpen with the sides up and locked.
  • Cover electrical outlets.
  • Place smoke detectors in your home.
  • Do not let her hold an object that is small enough for her to swallow because she might choke on it. Also do not give her any object that has small pieces that can break off easily.

Emotional and Social Development

  • This is a very important time for you to discuss your views with your spouse on disciplining your child. Your views and patience are about to be tested!
  • Praise desired behavior by your baby.
  • His attempt at independence is a normal developmental stage.
  • Avoid confrontations with your baby by distracting her from bad behavior. After giving her a firm "No!" try to involve her in a game, read a book with her, or play with her toys.
  • Temper tantrums will occur soon. Try to ignore them at her age if possible. If you become upset, it reinforces her tantrum.
  • Your baby may occasionally wake up at night. A night-light might help him to sleep better.
  • It is normal for your baby to start having a favorite security object such as a blanket or stuffed animal.
  • It is normal for her to suck her thumb or finger.
  • Spend at least 10 minutes a day with your baby reading, playing games, or looking at books.
  • Encourage your baby's speech by talking with him. Name common objects and point to body parts as you say their name.
  • You need to set limits for her and begin some mild verbal discipline.
  • Your baby may not like having his diaper changed at this age. Giving him a toy as a distraction while you are changing him is often helpful.
  • She should sleep in a different room from her parents if possible.

 

Height ________ percentile ________

Weight ________ percentile ________

Head Circumference__________ percentile ________

 

 

The information contained within this website is no substitution for timely medical care.

Feel free to copy the information on this web site and give to friends and family. Contact Dr. Glenn Wood at Carousel Pediatrics (512) 744-6000
We are located at 7112 Ed Bluestein Blvd., #100 - Austin, TX 78723

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