18 MONTH VISIT
Links to resources:
- 18-month checklist
- Healthy Beginning Play Resource Number 8
- Healthy Beginnings Physical Activity Planner
- Healthy Beginnings – Food Labeling Resource
- Go for 2&5 – Children and Young People Go for 2&5
Toddler Tantrum Toolkit – NSW Department of Community Services
Good Day 4 Toddler – Routines – NSW Department of Community Services
Key Area One: Infant Nutrition
Key discussion points:
- Family foods – normal family diet
- Fruit and vegetables
- Portion sizes
- Eating together
- Snacks for toddlers
What is your child eating? Discussion with mother about the importance of healthy food and drinks.
Key discussion points:
- Reinforce the continuation of breastfeeding – immunological effects, cognitive development, obesity & nutrition, bone density, dental, mother-child attachment, effects on mother
- Drinks for toddlers
What is your child drinking? If breastfeeding, encourage and support sustained breastfeeding for as long as possible.
Key Area Two: Your Baby and Physical Activity
Key discussion points:
- Child development (motor skills, emotional, social, and language)
- Physical activity guidelines
- Planned play
- Unplanned play
- Providing play areas
- Toddler independence
- Screen time
Toddler playtime: Discuss toddler behaviour with mothers placingan emphasis on playtime and activity. Helping mothers understand toddlers need lots of activity, several hours a day. The more they move the more confident and independent they become.
Key Area Three: Your Physical Activity and Nutrition
Key discussion points:
- Benefits of family physical activity
- Stages of change
- Enablers and barriers to physical activity
- Goals
- Ideas for being active as a family
Family physical activity: Encouraging mothers with their physical activity and reaching goals.
Key discussion points:
- Incorporating fruit and vegetables into your diet
- What to drink
- Recipe tips and ideas
- Food labeling
Nutrition for adults: preparing meals for the family.
Key Area Four: Social Support
Key discussion points:
- Toddler behaviour
Social support: Discuss toddler behaviour.