In your preparation for Baby’s one-year appointment, there are a few things it’s helpful to make a note of so that you can tell the doctor off the top of your head. How often Baby wakes up during the night, how many teeth they have, or if you’ve noticed anything strange about their sight or hearing may all be important for your healthcare provider to know.
The other big piece of the one-year checkup, though, besides Baby’s physical and full set of measurements, is the questions you’ll have for the doctor. Now that Baby is a little older and a little bigger, they won’t need to go in for quite as many checkups. The next one probably won’t be until they are about 15 months old, so now’s the time to get those questions in while you can.
- Do I need to make any changes in their diet?
Whether you’re wondering because you’re not sure if Baby has been getting the nutrients they need recently, or they're been completely on-track nutritionally so far, and you just want to stay ahead of the curve when it comes to the needs of their growing body, this appointment is a great time to check in about Baby’s nutritional needs. - When should I schedule their first dentist appointment?
This is around the time when many parents schedule their children’s first dentist appointments, but if Baby’s teeth are taking a little bit longer to come in, it might not be quite time yet. - When/how should I wean Baby off the bottle?
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends weaning Baby off of bottle-feeding by the time they are 18 months old. So now that Baby is fast approaching their first birthday, it could be time to start thinking about upgrading their tableware. Many children form emotional attachments to the bottle though, and if you think the weaning process could be difficult, there’s no harm in asking the doctor for advice. - Should I be thinking about introducing discipline with Baby, and if so, how?
Now that Baby isn’t the helpless infant you first brought home, but is instead a grabby, curious, mobile almost-toddler, it might be time to start thinking about introducing some gentle discipline into their life for safety reasons, and the doctor may have some Baby-specific tips to help you get started. - How can I help Baby learn and encourage their next developmental milestones?
Of course you want to help Baby grow and learn, and your doctor may have some insight into what Baby is going to turn their mind to next, and could have some insight into how you can help them.
