POCKET GUIDE - Bright Futures - American Academy of Pediatrics

15 monThs
Interview Questions
■ Are you breastfeeding your child? Are you giving her
bottles? Milk in a cup? What kind of milk does she drink?
how much?
■ how much fruit juice or how many sweetened drinks
(fruit drinks, soft drinks) does your child drink? is the
juice 100% fruit juice? When does she drink them?
■ Which foods does your child like to eat? Are there any
foods she doesn’t like?
■ Describe your child’s mealtimes. Does she eat with
the family?
■ Does she ask for food between meals and snacks?
if so, how do you handle this?
■ Does your child throw tantrums over food? if so,
how do you handle them?
■ What kinds of physical activities does your child enjoy?
■ What concerns do you have about your child’s weight?
Screening and Assessment
■ evaluate the child’s progress in developing large motor
skills. Children should be actively playing with a
parent daily.
Anticipatory Guidance
discuss with Parents
■ offering their child food every 2 to 3 hours. (Children’s
capacity to eat at any one time is limited.)
■ giving their child opportunities to develop eating skills
(chewing, swallowing) by offering a variety of foods and
eating at a family table.
■ offering age-appropriate foods (cut food into small
pieces) and continuing to monitor the size of foods.
(Chewing and swallowing functions are not completely
developed until about age 8.)
■ Making eating easier for their child by using spoons,
cups, and dishes with steep sides (bowls).
■ Being patient as their child’s skill at eating a variety of
foods increases.
■ Providing a relaxed atmosphere during meals and
snacks. (Children should not be rushed, because trying
new foods takes time.)
■ Discouraging television viewing and encouraging
interactive activities (talking, playing, singing, and
reading together).
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Bright FUTURES
Early Childhood