Routine health check-up: at 18 months of age

Routine preventive baby check-ups at this age include a screening of growth, development (with re-application of the development assessment questionnaires) and of your child's health. The planned revaccination will be performed and recommendations for the further successful progress of the child will be given.

Your child is already walking and pulling toys as he walks. Now s/he already understands verbal orders without showing them, and uses more words in communication. S/he probably imitates the gestures you make and tries to involve you in the game. S/he began to express his or her will more strongly and sometimes doesn’t want to obey your orders. S/he has learned a lot, but s/he will not always show it. 

Preparing for the visit 

  • In addition to the usual things you carry for the child, check if there is anything from the medical documentation that should be taken to the doctor. 

  • Bring your favorite toy or booklet and a bottle of water. 

  • prepare questions to ask your doctor. 

  Contents of the preventive visit 

  • You might be given a developmental assessment questionnaire to fill while waiting for the check-up . 

  • Growth monitoring: measurements of body length, body weight and head circumferenceץ

  • Introductory interview and counseling:  The doctor will check how much the child has grown in the meantime and whether there are any eating problems. It will be a good opportunity to discuss how much time the child is physically active and how much s/he spends in a sitting position, sleeping, how to protect a child from an injury, whether the child is attending preschool. The doctor/nurse will also talk about the importance of reading to the child, playing together with other family members in and out of home.

  • Assessment of communication abilities (to rule out early signs of autistic disorder). 

  • Medical examination and assessment of development: The doctor will perform a regular clinical examination of your child, talk to him/her and monitor how s/he behaves.

  • Healthy life style: The team will talk to you about prevention of exposure to tobacco smoke, prevention of early media exposure, Do not put your baby to bed with a bottle especially bottle containing formula or sweetened beverage, safe exposure to sunlight, and how to transport your baby safely in car.In addition the team will discuss the advantages and benefits of the child participation in family meals. Issues of teeth and oral hygiene are also discussed.

Vaccination  

  • A doctor/nurse will check which vaccines your child has received so far. If s/he has received all the necessary vaccines in accordance with the valid immunization calendar, medical staff will check how s/he reacted to the received vaccines and whether s/he has shown an allergy to any food or medicine in the meantime. 

  • Between 12-18 month of age (depending on the national immunization schedule of each country) the children get the following vaccinations:
    • The vaccine against measles, mumps and rubella (and possibly also against chickenpox).
    •  Revaccination against the bacterium Streptococcus pneumoniae. 
    • The fourth dose of the combined vaccine against diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, polio and Hemophilus influenza B

Final opinion 

  • Based on all the information acquired during the visit, the doctor will share with you his/her opinion on the growth, development and health of your child.  

  • If some development areas need stronger and more professional support, your child will be referred to other specialist or developmental counseling center 

  • You will be informed when to plan your next visit in the third year, preferably around the 30th month.

Remember that a preventive routine health check-up was introduced in order to monitor the health and progress of your child in an appropriate way and to continuously support it. Don't miss the opportunity!