Age: 18 Months

Lead in items from other countries

MEDICINES AND HOME REMEDIES

  • Middle East
    • Alkohl, Bint Al Dahab, Bint Al Zahab,Bokhoor, Murrah, Farouk, Santrinj
  • Asia, India
    • Bali Goli, Ghasard, Kandu, Deshi Dewa
  • India, Tibet
    • Ayurvedic Medicine, Tibetan Herbal Vitamins, Kushta
  • China
    • Jin Bu Huan, Po Ying Tan, Bo-Baw-San,Litharge, Cordyceps, Hai Ge Fen
  • Southeast Asia
    • Koo Sar, Pay-loo-ah
  • West Africa
    • Calabash Chalk (Nzu, Calabar Stone, Poto, Ndom, Mabele, Argile, or La Craie)
  • Mexico, Central America
    • Azarcon (Alarcon, Coral, Luiga, Maria Luisa, or Rueda), Litargirio, Greta, Albayald

Collection of herbs in wooden bowls with mortar and pestle

Picture of Cordyceps in a wooden spoons

Two spoons, one holding red Azarcon and the other holding yellow Greta

A plate of spiced grasshoppers

Jar of Allspice

FOOD, CANDY, AND SPICES

  • Middle East
    • Lozenna
  • Mexico
    • Grasshoppers (Chapulines), Tamarind candy, Chili Powder, and Spices
  • Eastern Europe, Republic of Georgia
    • Svanuri Marili, Kharcho Suneli
  • Asia, India
    • Kuzhambu

COSMETICS

  • Asia, India
    • Sindoor
  • Middle East, India, & North Africa
    • Surma/Kohl/Al Kohl, Henna

A jar of kohl, with some of the black powder poured out

Two clay-based coffee cups

POTTERY AND COOKWARE

  • Ceramic glaze used in pottery may contain lead and enter food stored or prepared in the pottery.

TOYS AND JEWELRY

  • Products bought from many stores have been found to contain lead. Visit www.cpsc.gov for more information.

Child wearing colorful toy rings

Tips for your 16-18 month old baby

HELP ME BE HEALTHY.

At this checkup, the doctor will:

  • Weigh and measure me.
  • Check me from head to toe.
  • See how I walk.
  • Check my teeth.
  • Check my eyes and ears.
  • Give me any vaccines I missed before.

Take my health journal with us to write down my height and weight and any vaccines I might get.

KEEP ME SAFE.

  • Close the bathroom doors so I don’t play in there.
  • I can feed myself, but it’s still easy for me to choke on food. Don’t give me small foods like peanuts, popcorn, marshmallows, or gum drops. Other foods that aren’t safe for me to eat are raw carrots and celery, grapes, hot dogs, and Vienna sausage. Always watch me while I eat. Help me get into the habit of sitting quietly while I eat.
  • Now I can climb. I can push a chair to climb into the cupboards, over the porch railing, or to an open window! I don’t know what trouble I can get myself into. Put screens in the windows and make sure they are latched tight. Only open the top section of the window so I can’t get out.

HELP ME CONTROL MY BEHAVIOR.

  • Show me things that are okay for me to do. If I’m fighting with another child over a toy, take away the toy or give us each a toy. If I’m doing something you don’t want me to do, take me away from the area and give me something else to play with. Hitting me and yelling at me won’t teach me what I should do.
  • Join a parenting class to learn more ways to help me behave. Call the local county extension office or a nearby elementary school to find out about parenting classes.

PLAY WITH ME, IT HELPS ME LEARN.

  • When I point, tell me the word I am trying to say. If I point to the cat, say “It’s a cat,” so I can hear the words that I’m trying to say.
  • Let me help you. Let me take a spoon to the table or put dirty clothes with the clothes to be washed.
  • Let me play in the bath to learn to pour and squeeze. I like to use plastic bowls and containers in the tub. Never leave me alone in the tub.
  • Remind me again and again what I can and cannot touch. I’m just learning how things work. I can’t remember what I should not touch.
  • Teach me to take care of my teeth. Help me brush my teeth with a child-sized, soft-bristled toothbrush and water. I’m still too young to use toothpaste. Let me watch you when you brush your teeth so I can learn from you.

WATCH HOW I GROW.

I learn new skills at my own pace.

I need help in lots of ways to practice my new skills. By the time I’m 18 months old, I should be able to do most of the things in the list below. If you are worried about what I can do. talk to my doctor or nurse. To find a nearby Early Childhood Intervention program, call the DARS Help Line toll-free at 1-800-628-5115.

Watch for me to:

  • Walk by myself! I have good balance. I don’t tip from side to side and I hardly ever fall down.
  • Help around the house. I can put something on the chair when you ask me. I can get what you ask me to get. I can put something away if you remind me.
  • Drink from a cup or glass by myself, maybe spilling a little of it.
  • Say “No” and shake my head from side to side.
  • Roll a ball back and forth with you.
  • Say at least 3 words other than “Dada” and “Mama.”
  • Scribble on paper with crayon and pencil. This keeps me busy for a few minutes. Watch me carefully because I might chew on the crayon.
  • Try to brush my own teeth, but I’m too young to do it by myself. I still need your help.
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Important information about your 18 month old

Family

Set firm, fair rules and keep them the same to teach your child respect and discipline. Timeout should happen in a neutral area of the house (one minute for each year of age). Also, praise them for things that they do correctly and for good behavior. Eat meals as a family and encourage physical activity, whether as a family or with others. Support emerging independence but reinforce limits.

Development

Use simple words to describe pictures in the books that you read. Allow your child to choose between two options. Use simple, clear words and phrases to promote language development. Make sure to describe feelings and emotions. At this age, your child will have stranger anxiety and more separation anxiety when away from you. This is because they are perceiving and understanding more movements. They also enjoy imaginary play, so engage your child with different toys and pretend play.

Health

There should be no smoking in the home of the child or in the car. Your child should have a night routine, including reading, singing, brushing teeth. They should also be brushing their teeth twice a day with child’s toothpaste and a soft toothbrush. There should be no TV at meals, and if you choose to introduce media at this age, we recommend less than 1 hour a day of high quality applications (i.e. Daniel Tiger for parent app) and always with a parent. Do not use TV as a means to calm your child. Excessive media use in children has been associated with obesity, lack of sleep, aggression, and behavior problems.

Nutrition

Your child should have 3 meals a day with 2-3 snacks per day. They should be eating healthy meals with no junk food. Encourage them to feed themselves and choose what they want to eat off of the plate. They should be off of the bottle, but, if not, continue to wean them off of it, only putting water in the bottle and don’t give them their bottle while they are in bed.

Safety

Make sure your home is childproofed and that your child still sits in a rear-facing car seat in the back seat. Around water, you should never be more than an arm-length away from your child, and think about signing them up for swimming lessons. No smoking in house or car. If your family owns any guns, they should be kept unloaded and locked away. The hot water heater should be set to 120 °F or below. Keep hot liquids out of reach and be careful when cooking in the kitchen.

Poison Control: 1-800-222-1222

After Hours and Weekends
After 4:00 PM and before 8:00 AM
For medical advice when People’s is closed call After Hours Nurse line at 512-478-4939

Download PDF here.

The Magic of Everyday Moments (18-24 Months)

Remember, everyday moments are rich bonding and learning opportunities. Enjoy the magic of these moments with your child.

Logo for Johnson and Johnson Pediatric Institute LLC

Johnson & Johnson Pediatric Institute, L.L.C., is a company solely
dedicated to improving maternal and children’s healthcare through the advancement of continued learning and research in pediatrics, child development, parenting and maternity care. Through partnerships with leading healthcare professionals, developmental specialists and international organizations, Johnson & Johnson Pediatric Institute, L.L.C., identifies, develops and implements initiatives and programs that help shape the future of children’s health around the world.

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ZERO TO THREE is a national nonprofit organization of renowned pediatricians, educators, researchers, and other child development experts who specialize in the first years of life.

When your child starts to talk, it opens a whole new world and ends a lot of guessing games. Most children this age can use several words. This reduces a lot of frustration for you and your child. It can also be a very exciting time as you see a vocabulary “explosion” with new words every day. The more you talk with her, the more words she learns. She’ll also have more confidence in her ability to communicate.

Of course, more words doesn’t mean an end to all parenting challenges. You may experience what many call the “terrible two’s” (which often starts before 18 months!) But while toddlers can be exhausting and infuriating at times, they aren’t “terrible.” They are just eager explorers, testing out different behaviors without yet understanding right from wrong; and, without the self-control to stop themselves from doing what they want, even if they’ve been told countless times what is and isn’t okay. So choose your battles and decide what is important to address. When you do lay down the law and are met with angry protests and tears, remind yourself that you’re doing the right thing. Although it’s never fun to be the “heavy,” children thrive on clear and consistent limits. Limits help children learn what is and isn’t acceptable and helps them make good choices as they grow.

Download The Magic of Everyday Moments™ (18-24 Months)

Your Guide to Raising a Healthy Eater

Having young children is one of the hardest and most rewarding times of your life! Between working and taking care of your family’s needs, it’s sometimes easy to forget to make sure everything is on track. That’s where this guide comes in handy. Written with information from doctors, nutritionists, and moms who have been there, this is a great guide to help your child become a healthy eater. The more your kids grow, the more you will want to know!

In this guide, you will learn:

Helping Your Child Develop Healthy Food Habits

Healthy Foods for a Healthy Plate

Physical Activity for your Child

Behaviors That Help Families Stay Healthy

Download Guide

How to set rules for your child

Your child can crawl, now they need rules to stay safe.

Set Rules When Your Child is 6 Months Old

  • When you can, say do instead of do not.
    • Do share the toys (instead of do not take the toys away).
    • Do be gently to other people(instead of do not hit).
    • Do hold my hand (Instead of do not run away).
  • Speak directly to your child. Talk to her at eye level.
  • Say what you want your child to do in simple clear words.
  • Say your rules firmly. You can be firm without yelling.
  • Say the rule every time you need to until your child learns it. It will take many times and some patience!

Make Sure to:

  • Inform everyone taking care of your child to use the same rules.
  • Write the rules down as it can help
  • Start with 2-3 rules to keep your child and others safe.
  • Add more rules later about not breaking things and being polite.

Parents are Teachers

Here are some things parents can do to teach their 6 month to 3 year old about safety and respect.

Baby Proof Your Home

  • Move things that can break out of reach.
  • Put things your child can play with down low.
  • Use gates and lock drawers to keep your child in a safe place.

Change the Subject

  • Use a toy, favorite food, or silly game to distract your child.

Pick your Battles

  • Be firm about safety rules.
  • Ignore thigs that are not dangerous like tantrums, whining, or interrupting.

Use the Power of "No"

  • Move close to your child.
  • Look directly into your child’s eyes.
  • Do not smile.
  • Say “no” or “stop.”

Guide Your Child

  • If your kid will not go where you tell them, pick them up or lead them by their hand.
  • Say “I am going to help you go to your room” for example.

Use a Short Time-Out

  • This can stop or change behavior.
  • Move your child to a boring place.
  • Keep it short. It should be one minute for each year of age.
  • Say “Time out is over. Come back and play.”

Protect your children from lead poison

LEAD IS POISON TO:

  • Red Blood Cells
  • Kidneys
  • Reproductive Organs
  • Bones
  • The Brain
  • Even Children Who Are Not Born Yet!
  • Children, Especially Under the Age of 6

LEAD IS FOUND IN:

  • Some Peeling Paint
  • Batteries
  • Lead Pipes
  • Bullets and Lead Weights
  • Folk Remedies
  • Food Grown in Contaminated Soil
  • Lead-Glazed Pottery or Pewter Dishes

YOU CAN PROTECT YOUR CHILD!

  • Have your child’s blood tested for lead.

Peeling Paint

  • Cover areas that have peeling paint with paneling, wallpaper, or sheet-rock
  • Do not remove peeling lead-based paint yourself. Lead dust can be deadly if you breathe it in.

Food

  • Feed your child three healthy meals and two nutritious snacks each day. Your child’s stomach absorbs more lead when it is empty.
  • Give your child foods high in iron (like beans, fortified cereals, and raisins) and calcium (like milk, yogurt, and cheese). Calcium and iron help keep lead out of your child’s blood.
  • Wash fruits and vegetables before eating. Wash hands before meals.

Other

  • Do not use water from the hot tap for drinking, cooking, or preparing infant formula.
  • Do not cook or store food in cans, pottery, ceramics, or leaded crystal. Some cans have seams made with lead. Some pottery (including Mexican beanpots), ceramics, and crystal also contain lead.
  • Do not let your children play near abandoned autos or with automobile batteries or radiators.
  • Plant grass and shrubs over bare dirt in the yard.
  • Damp-mop floors often and clean surfaces with a strong household cleaner.

Who can I call if I have questions about lead?

  • Your local health department
  • Your doctor
  • Texas Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program at 1-800-588-1248

Baby Blues

Baby Blues

Very common; can go away on its own, but talking to a health care provider can help.

Signs:

  • Crying
  • Not Sleeping
  • Feeling overwhelmed
  • Not wanting to eat
  • Short temper/mood swings

Postpartum Depression

Common anytime during baby’s first year; goes away with help from a health care provider.

Signs:

  • Sadness
  • Not wanting to touch or hold baby
  • Not wanting to talk to family or friends
  • Thoughts of hurting yourself or baby

Postpartum Anxiety

An intense worry that takes over your life; seek help as soon as possible.

Signs:

  • Uncontrolled worry
  • Not being able to sleep when baby does
  • Afraid that something will hurt baby
  • Afraid that YOU will hurt baby
  • Afraid to be alone with baby
  • Chest pain
  • Dizziness
  • Sweating/shaking

Postpartum Psychosis

Not common; SEEK HELP IMMEDIATELY.

Signs:

  • Hallucinations
  • Feeling very confused
  • Speech that doesn’t make sense
  • Severe insomnia
  • Thoughts about hurting yourself or baby right now

Where to seek help?

Postpartum Depression Hotline: 1-800-773-6667 (24-hour hotline)

Any Baby Can – Postpartum Support and Groups: 512-334-4444 (Parent Helpline); 512-454-3743 (Main phone)

Postpartum Support International: 1-800-944-4773

2-1-1 Texas from your cell phone: 1-877-541-7905

Postpartum Support International: www.postpartum.net

DSHS Pregnancy, Parenting and Depression Resource List

The National Women’s Health Information Center: www.womenshealth.gov

Parents Anonymous: www.parentsanonymous.org

Depression During and After Pregnancy

The Online PPD Support Group: www.ppdsupportpage.com

Choosing the Right Seat for Your Child

REAR FACING CAR SEAT

  • Children under the age of 2 years should ride in an infant-only carrier-type rear facing car seat in the back seat.
  • Convertible car seats can also be used, but the rear facing setting should be used for children under 2 years old and under the maximum requirement for rear facing.

Illustration of a rear facing car seat

FORWARD FACING CAR SEAT

  • Forward-facing car seats are for children between 2-4 years old and 40-80 pounds.
  • Forward-facing car seats should only be used in the back seat.

Illustration of a forward facing car seat

BOOSTER SEAT

  • Booster seats should be used with children after age 4 and over 40 pounds.
  • Booster seats must be used with the adult lap and shoulder belt.
  • Booster seats should only be used in the back seat.

Illustration of a booster seat

SEAT BELT

  • Seat belts can be used after age 10 and your child is 4’9” tall.
  • Lap belts should be positioned low over the hips and tops of thighs.
  • Shoulder belt should cross the center of the shoulder and chest.

Illustration of a seat belt in a car

ALL children younger than age 13 should ride properly restrained in the back seat.

NEVER place a car seat in the front passenger seat.

For additional information and assistance contact EMS Car Safety Checks and Infant Safety Education at 512-972-7233 or www.atcems.org.

For other car seat check option call Dell Children’s Medical Center 512-324-8687 or Safe Riders 1-800-252-8255.

Never leave a child alone in a car!