Your Baby’s Progress - Month 15
What’s Going on This Month?
Your Baby
- Says one or more words.
- Likes to imitate activities.
- Walks well; stoops and recovers objects from the floor.
- Your toddler is gaining more independence every day.
- She may show jealously of others who get attention especially siblings.
- She likes to do things by herself and may become a little bossy and resist your suggestions.
Caring for Your Baby
- Take your toddler to your baby’s doctor or nurse for a 15-month well-child checkup and shots.
- Ask your doctor or nurse about when and how to toilet train your child.
- To make bedtime easier, keep to a regular routine.
- Between 15-18 months, your baby should get the DTaP vaccine.
Keeping Your Baby Safe
- To prevent drowning, never leave your child alone in the bathroom or near a bucket of water.
- Remember to cut foods into small pieces, no larger than the tip of your little finger.
- The shape of food is important. To prevent choking, don’t give your toddler small round pieces of food such as candy, nuts, seeds, popcorn, raisins, raw carrots or grapes.
Nutrition
- Your toddler should be off the bottle by now, so serve whole milk in a plain cup (no spout).
- It’s normal for toddlers to eat less and for their appetites to change from day to day, so serve a variety of foods in small amounts, but remember your toddler may refuse to eat new foods or even favorite foods.
- Toddlers still benefit from breastfeeding a few times each day.
Growth and Development Activities
- Encourage your child to repeat one- or two-word phrases that you say such as bye-bye.
- Help your child make music with items such as spoons and pots.
- Have your child point out objects and say words.
- Teach your child the names of body parts as you bathe and dress her.
- Let your child try to undress by herself.
- Show your child how to use a spoon.
- Show your child how to feed, love and care for a doll.
- Take your child to the zoo or park and talk about what you see.
- Give your child pull toys to play with while walking.
- Teach your child to throw and catch a soft or light weight ball or beanbag.
- Because your toddler is so busy and is often frustrated, she will need a lot of comfort and reassurance. She will need your warm voice, a hug and comfort.
This page last updated on 3/17/08.