4 Things Every Parent Should Know About Their Child's 12-Month Checkup

Going to the hospital or clinic for your child’s 12-month checkup is exciting, isn’t it? Your child’s growth and development are indeed your number one priority, especially for all you first-time parents out there, so this is a huge milestone for you too!

Nothing beats this feeling!

But before that, there is also a lot for you as parents, to know and learn regarding your baby’s monthly development. This is important to prevent you from worrying should your child be a bit behind in hitting developmental milestones such as walking and so on. 

Babies only require 12 months to grow into active toddler¹. In fact, during this 12 -month transformation period, they will go through an extraordinary phase. From sleeping all day to being very active toddlers.

Child Development: 0 – 3 Months

It should be noted that at this stage, babies develop physically and mentally to prepare for the outside world. They may begin to do things such as²:

#1: Newborn physical development

• During tummy time, the child holds his head up
• Able to move both arms and both legs
• Can briefly open his hands

#2: Cognitive development

• Follow and watches movements as you move
• Able to look at a toy for several seconds

#3: Emotional development

• Being calm and smile in response to a voice or sound or when being picked up
• Able to look at your face
• Seems happy to see you when you walk up to him
• Reacts when you talk or smile at him

#4: Language or communication development

• Able to make other sounds than crying
• Have reactions to loud noises

Child Development: 4 – 6 Months

During this period, your baby will probably learn more and even manipulate the world around him. Babies will also begin to master the use of hands and explore their vocal abilities.

That’s why some of them tend to ‘vocalise’ a lot at this stage. It’s almost like they’re training to become professional singers!

During these 4 to 6 months, your baby will probably^3,4:

• Roll from tummy to back
• Babble or chatter, that sounds a lot like real conversations
• Laugh or giggle
• Reach for and pick up objects, manipulate toys and other items by hand
• Have great head control when holding him

Child Development: 7 – 9 Months

This is the second phase of the first year when your baby becomes more active.

At the age of 7 to 9 months, after learning that they can move around by rolling, your baby will then begin to learn how to move back and forth.

That’s not all, during this phase your baby can also⁵:

• Start sitting up without support
• Respond to familiar words that sound like their names. He will start saying ‘Mama’ and ‘Dada’
• Enjoy clapping activities or games such as peek-a-boo

Child Development: 10-12 Months

Do take note that the last developmental stage of a baby’s first year is considered a transitional phase. In fact, during this period they will learn to do things like⁶:

• Start feeding themselves. Toddlers at this stage of development will begin to master the movement of the pincer grasp – where they can hold small objects such as biscuits between their thumbs and forefingers
• Walk around the house using their feet by holding on to furniture
• Say 1 or 2 words. ‘Mama’ and ‘Dada’ are the most common nicknames for parents. Your child may also stop at his track at the word “No” and look at you.

In any case, parents are reminded to always be sensitive of your baby’s growth and pay attention if he is not reaching the level of development as he should. Most importantly, always trust your instincts.

If you are unsure of anything regarding your baby’s growth or well-being, please bring him to see a paediatrician immediately. Don’t wait too long, okay?

Child Examination After 12 Months

New parents out there should be aware that their new monthly routine is to bring their baby for checkups with a doctor or specialist at the hospital. It starts from the first month until the 12th month.

Your child has now turned a year old, so instead of just coming in and listening to what the doctor has to say, why don’t you prepare yourself with these 4 important questions to ask the doctor?

#1: Vaccines

Ask your doctor if he or she can give you something to ease your child’s pain after a vaccine injection.

This is because at a 12-month examination, there are vaccine injections that are offered according to Malaysia’s Child Immunisation Schedule, for example Measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) vaccine⁷. 

There are also additional vaccines that are recommended by the Ministry of Health which are taken at 12-month old as well, for example⁸:

• Varicella (chickenpox)
• Influenza (flu)
• Meningococcal
• Hepatitis A (HepA)

These are a few of the many vaccines available for your child, do check with your doctor about the other vaccines offered for more information.

Before you decide on getting any vaccine injections, let us share some useful information on why mums and dads are advised to get their children immunised.

Vaccines for babies are important because babies have weak immune systems⁹.

By giving vaccines to babies according to a set schedule, you can help protect your baby from dangerous diseases such as¹⁰:

• Tuberculosis (TB) – Can cause serious infections such as pneumonia, meningitis and can continue to spread to other organs. 
• Diphtheria – Toxins released by bacteria may lead to blocked airways¹¹.
• Pertussis (whooping cough) – Can cause whooping cough and lack of oxygen to the brain¹².
• Tetanus – Bacterial poisoning that causes cramps in the muscles of the body and affects the ability to open the jaw (braces).
• Haemophilus influenzae type B (Hib) – This bacterium can cause infections of the lungs (pneumonia), respiratory tract and meningitis.
• Hepatitis B – This virus can cause severe damage to the liver and increases the risk of the individual getting liver cancer in the future.
• Polio – This virus can cause paralysis and even death.
• Measles – This virus can cause fever, diarrhoea, vomiting, infections of the brain (encephalitis) and lungs (pneumonia)¹³.
• Mumps – This virus can cause viral meningitis and infection of testicles (orchitis)¹⁴.
• Rubella – The rubella virus can spread among humans, pregnant women, especially during the first three months of pregnancy and can cause miscarriage, fetal death, stillbirth or birth defects (congenital rubella syndrome)¹⁵.
• Pneumococcus – This bacteria can cause severe lung infections and meningitis.
• Rotavirus – This virus can cause severe diarrhoea and dehydration.
• Human Papillomavirus – This virus can cause cervical cancer and genital warts.
• Varicella (Chickenpox) – This virus can cause a blister like rash and fever, which can also cause shingles later as adults if the virus reactivates¹⁶.
• Influenza  – This virus can cause epidemics of flu diseases or flu season¹⁷.
• Meningococcal – This bacteria can cause deadly infections of the lining of the brain, spinal cord (meningitis) and bloodstream¹⁸. 
• Hepatitis A – This virus can cause short term infection of the liver¹⁹.

#2: Growing Up Little Ones

Surely you want to keep track of your child’s growth. The 12-month growth chart is an interesting way to track your child’s growth progress.

For boys at 12 months old, doctors will observe a weight of around 7.8 kg to 11.8 kg, and a height of 71.3 cm to 80.2 cm. 

Girls are slightly smaller than boys, so doctors will usually observe a weight of around 7.1 kg to 11.3 kg and a height, 69.2 cm to 78.9 cm at 12 months old. 

Head girth is also measured to ensure a child’s head size is within a healthy range.

Here is the baby development chart for your own reference:

Baby boy development chart^20,21,22

Table adapted from World Health Organization

Baby girl development chart^23,24,25

Table adapted from World Health Organization

The doctor will also examine the child’s other limbs to make sure that everything is normal and healthy. 

#3: Development Check

Another thing that the doctor will assess is your child’s development. However, remember that each baby is unique and grows at his own pace. So don’t fret too much about this. In general, a 12-month-old child should already be able to²⁶:

• Take a few steps or even walking
• Feed themselves food 
• Putting things into containers and taking them out
• Babbling words like ‘mama’ and ‘papa’
• Shaking their head no
• Able to wave goodbye
• Pick up things with their fingers

#4: Prepare to See a Doctor

Provide all necessary information to the doctor. For example, bring along your child’s vaccination records. Also, be sure that you’re prepared to talk about your child’s health problems, if any.

If your child goes to a daycare centre or nursery, get all the information you need to know from the teacher/guardian first, perhaps regarding their developments or problems while at the centre. This way, should there be any issues with your child, you can discuss it together with the doctor during your visit. 

List down the questions you would like to ask the doctor so that you have everything you need to know in order. You may also include tips on how to help increase the child’s weight or what to do if your child falls and hurts his head, for example. 

It’s always a good thing to be prepared, don’t you think?

Try these tips and don’t forget to share your experience with us! 

MY-ROT-00219 Jun/2022

References:

1. Stanford Children’s Health. The Growing Child: 1-Year-Olds. Available From:  https://www.stanfordchildrens.org/en/topic/default?id=the-growing-child-1-year-olds-90-P02260. Last Accessed 15 June 2022.
2. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Important Milestones: Your Baby By Two Months. Available From:  https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/actearly/milestones/milestones-2mo.html. Last Accessed 12 May 2022.
3. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Important Milestones: Your Baby By Four Months. Available From:  https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/actearly/milestones/milestones-4mo.html. Last Accessed 12 May 2022.
4. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Important Milestones: Your Baby By Six Months. Available From: https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/actearly/milestones/milestones-6mo.html. Last Accessed 12 May 2022.
5. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Important Milestones: Your Baby By Nine Months. Available From: https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/actearly/milestones/milestones-9mo.html. Last Accessed 12 May 2022.
6. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Important Milestones: Your Baby By Twelve Months. Available From: https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/actearly/milestones/milestones-1yr.html. Last Accessed 12 May 2022.
7. Immunise4Life. The Malaysian National Immunisation Programme (NIP). Available From: https://immunise4life.my/the-malaysian-national-immunisation-programme-nip/.  Last Accessed 21 Jun 2022.
8. Immunise4Life. 5 Additional Recommended Vaccines for Children. Available From:  https://immunise4life.my/5-additional-vaccines-for-children/. Last Accessed 13 Jun 2022.
9. MyHealth. Immunisation: Facts and Myths. Available From: https://www.myhealth.gov.my/en/immunisation-facts-myths/. Last Accessed 02 Jun 2022.
10. UNICEF. Vaccines and the diseases they prevent. Available From: https://www.unicef.org/parenting/health/vaccines-and-diseases-they-prevent. Last Accessed 12 May 2022.
11. Mayo Clinic. Diphtheria. Available From: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/diphtheria/symptoms-causes/syc-20351897. Last Accessed 10 June 2022.
12. National Health Services (NHS). Whooping cough. Available From: https://www.nhsinform.scot/illnesses-and-conditions/infections-and-poisoning/whooping-cough. Last Accessed 10 June 2022.
13. Mayo Clinic. Measles. Available From: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/measles/symptoms-causes/syc-20374857. Last accessed 09 June 2022.
14. National Health Services (NHS). Mumps – Complications. Available From: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/mumps/complications/.  Last accessed 09 June 2022. 
15. World Health Organization (WHO). Rubella. Available From: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/rubella. Last accessed 09 June 2022. 
16. MyHEALTH. Chickenpox. Available From: https://www.myhealth.gov.my/en/chickenpox/. Last Accessed 01 June 2022.
17. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Types of Influenza Viruses. Available From: https://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/viruses/types.htm. Last Accessed 17 June 2022.
18. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Meningococcal Disease. Available From: https://www.cdc.gov/meningococcal/index.html. Last Accessed 17 June 2022.
19. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). What is Hepatitis A. Available From: https://www.cdc.gov/hepatitis/hav/afaq.htm#overview. Last Accessed 17 June 2022.
20. World Health Organization. Simplified field tables. Length-for-age Boys Birth to 2 years (percentiles). Available From: https://cdn.who.int/media/docs/default-source/child-growth/child-growth-standards/indicators/length-height-for-age/sft_lhfa_boys_p_0_2.pdf?sfvrsn=5dc03c62_16. Last accessed 15 June 2022.
21. World Health Organization. Simplified field tables. Weight-for-age Boys Birth to 2 years (percentiles). Available From: https://cdn.who.int/media/docs/default-source/child-growth/child-growth-standards/indicators/weight-for-age/sft-wfa-boys-p-0-5.pdf?sfvrsn=5e38c11_16. Last accessed 15 June 2022.
22. World Health Organization. Simplified field tables. Head circumference-for-age Boys Birth to 2 years (percentiles). Available From: https://cdn.who.int/media/docs/default-source/child-growth/child-growth-standards/indicators/head-circumference-for-age/sft_hcfa_boys_p_0_5.pdf?sfvrsn=f99eee22_7. Last accessed 15 June 2022.
23. World Health Organization. Simplified field tables. Length-for-age Girls Birth to 2 years (percentiles). Available From: https://cdn.who.int/media/docs/default-source/child-growth/child-growth-standards/indicators/length-height-for-age/sft_lhfa_girls_p_0_2.pdf?sfvrsn=96f22dfb_11. Last accessed 15 June 2022.
24. World Health Organization. Simplified field tables. Weight-for-age Girls Birth to 2 years (percentiles). Available From: https://cdn.who.int/media/docs/default-source/child-growth/child-growth-standards/indicators/weight-for-age/sft-wfa-girls-p-0-5.pdf?sfvrsn=b0026de7_18. Last accessed 15 June 2022.
25. World Health Organization. Simplified field tables. Head circumference-for-age Girls Birth to 2 years (percentiles). Available From: https://cdn.who.int/media/docs/default-source/child-growth/child-growth-standards/indicators/head-circumference-for-age/sft_hcfa_girls_p_0_5.pdf?sfvrsn=3a42b3da_16. Last accessed 15 June 2022.
26. Mayo Clinic. Infant development: Milestones from 10 to 12 months. Available From: https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/infant-and-toddler-health/in-depth/infant-development/art-20047380. Last accessed 15 June 2022.