Shoes
Shoes protect your child's feet, but are not
necessary when your child is learning to walk inside. When
your child finally needs shoes, choose shoes with a flexible
sole.
Safety Tips
Avoid Choking and
Suffocation
- Avoid foods on which a child might
choke easily (candy, hot dogs, popcorn, peanuts).
- Cut food into small pieces, about half
the width of a pencil.
- Store toys in a chest without a
dropping lid.
Prevent Fires and Burns
- Practice a fire escape plan.
- Check your smoke detector. Replace the
batteries if necessary.
- Put plastic covers in unused
electrical outlets.
- Keep hot appliances and cords out of
reach.
- Keep all electrical appliances out of
the bathroom.
- Don't cook with your child at your
feet.
- Use the back burners on the stove with
the pan handles out of reach.
- Turn your water heater down to 120°F
(50°C).
Prevent Drowning
- Never leave an infant or toddler in a
bathtub alone -- NEVER.
- Continuously watch your child around
any water, including toilets and buckets. Keep toilet
seats down, never leave water in an unattended bucket,
and store buckets upside down.
Avoid Falls
- Make sure windows are closed or have
screens that cannot be pushed out.
- Don't underestimate your child's
ability to climb.
Prevent Poisoning
- Keep all medicines, vitamins, cleaning
supplies, and gardening chemicals locked away or
disposed of safely.
- Install safety latches on cabinets.
- Keep the poison center number on all
phones.
Immunizations
At the 12-month visit, your child may
receive shots. Your child may run a fever and be irritable
for about 1 day and may also have soreness, redness, and
swelling in the area where the shots were given. You may
give your child acetaminophen drops (1 dropperful, or 0.8
ml, every 4 to 6 hours) to help to prevent fever and
irritability. For swelling or soreness, put a wet, warm
washcloth on the area of the shots as often and as long as
needed for comfort.
Call your child's health care provider if:
- Your child has a rash or any reaction
to the shots other than fever and mild irritability.
- Your child has a fever that lasts more
than 36 hours.
If your child received either the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR)
or the varicella vaccine, please note: A small number of
children get a rash and fever 7 to 14 days after these
shots. The rashes usually appear on the main body area and
last 2 to 3 days.
Call your child's health care provider
immediately if:
- The rash changes to purple spots.
Call your child's health care provider within 24 hours if:
- The rash becomes itchy.
- The rash lasts more than 3 days.
Next Visit
Your child's next visit should be at the age
of 15 months. Bring your child's shot card to all visits.
