Texas Health and Human Services / Texas Health Steps
Interactive Anticipatory Guidance Provider Guide
Early Childhood icon

15-Month Checkup

  • Family Well-Being
    • Keep a usual family routine
    • Make one-on-one time for each child in family
  • Keeping Child Safe
    • Do not shake or hit child
    • Choose safe, quality child care
    • Keep child in rear-facing car seat in back seat of car until at least 2 years old or until child is over the height and weight limit set by seat maker
    • Do not leave alone in bathwater
    • Stay within arm’s length when child is near water
    • Assess home risk for exposure to lead
    • Ensure home is safe from fire, carbon monoxide poisoning and choking hazards
    • Keep cleaning supplies and medicines away from child
    • Install stair gates and window guards
    • Lock up guns
    • Cover electrical outlets
  • Healthy Feeding
    • Do not put child in bed with bottle
    • Provide three nutritious meals and two snacks a day
    • Limit sweets and high-fat foods
  • Regular Care and Routines
    • Clean teeth with soft toothbrush two times a day
    • Establish a consistent bedtime routine
  • Healthy Development
    • Establish consistent limits, rules and consequences
    • Praise good behavior
    • Limit TV and screen time to one to two hours a day
    • Encourage supervised outdoor play
    • Promote language with simple words
    • Provide age-appropriate toys
    • Provide reassurance to reduce separation anxiety
    • Offer favorite toy for self-soothing during sleep time
    • Use distraction or choice of two appropriate options to avoid/resolve conflicts
    • Read books and talk about pictures and story using simple words
    • Discipline constructively using time-out for one minute per year of age