15 mos check up....

Renee - posted on 09/18/2009

The ped that I have is the best that we have around the area. We only have 2 peds in our entire area due to living in a rural area otherwise there are just family docs. I mostly listen to what our ped says and continue to do what I think is right for my son. He is growing and developing just fine and is a very smart little boy. He is not over weight nor under weight. I give him all the milk he wants to drink so :P~ . I have helped raise enough kids and worked with enough "bad" parents to know what to do and what not to do. My husband on the other hand takes everything our ped says to heart because he has never been around kids until we had our son.

Heather - posted on 09/16/2009

Hi, my little one, who is now 16 months, never really took a bottle. He went straight from nursing to a sippy cup. We buy the ones with the softer tip and he does just fine. Our ped says he is just fine with that. As far as the milk goes, he said to make milk most of what he drinks during the day along with water. It's hard to find 100% fruit juices that are really healthy for them, so that should come from fresh fruit by itself.

Unless your little one has a problem with milk, I would let him have as much as he wants. The first 5 years of a childs life is when they are building and strengthening their bones and it is most important to give them everything they need. My guy is a little low on his weight, so we only give him vitamin D milk and he loves it. As far as it rotting their teeth, I don't believe that unless the child is sleeping with a mouthfull of something. It's not a good idea to give them a bottle or cup to sleep with, but once they fall asleep take it away before putting tem to bed, or put them to bed with out it. They wil learn go to sleep with out it. I have an incredible pediatrician whom we have been with for a number of years. I went through about 8 before I found one I really liked. If your not happy with your current one, don't hesitate to seek a second opinion or ask around for a name of a good one. But be sure they have your child's best interest in mind. Remember you know your child best and you should be able to talk with your ped and feel comfortable when you leave the visit.

Amy - posted on 09/16/2009

We had our 15 mos checkup too. My son is 35 inches long and 29 lbs. The doctor just said 16-24 oz of milk a day. She said the sippy cup was fine and to be sure he is off the bottle. She did say to feed him 3 meals and 2 snacks. That was it.

Michelle - posted on 09/16/2009

My son Dax had his 15 mo. chk last week, measured in at 25 lbs, 31" tall-90th %
Our Dr didn't say anything about sippy cups or anything except his overall development-is he saying more than 2 words ie: mama,dada...stacking 2 blocks..etc...
We think he's awesome and is doing great overall so not too worried about much, just enjoying his growth and life as parents!

Chelle - posted on 09/14/2009

My sons 15 month appt went pretty good. His doctors didn't say anything about him and sippy's. He takes both the straw sippy and soft spout sippys. He weighed 19lbs and 5oz and was 29.75 inches long and head was 48. He was 6 weeks premature. He hasn't grown a single bit since he turned one though and he lost a pound and a half since he turned one. He is supposed to be on Bight Beginning soy pediatric drink and have 2-3 a day. He usually is on soy milk (he has a milk protein allergy) but they wanted to replace his milk w/ the pediatric drink for calories. He is being watched for his development though cuz he is a little behind, but other than that he is good. :D

Shannon - posted on 09/13/2009

At her 15 month checkup, my daughter was 22.11lbs, 30" tall, and 18.25 head. She is still taking 3 bottles per day with milk only, but has been drinking water/juice from a sippy/straw cup for quite a few months. I'm currently weaning her off the bottle now. Lately she seems uninterested in sippies any longer, probably because she sees mommy and daddy drinking in regular cups and water bottles and wants to "do it herself" now. So, I guess it's a sign she's maturing. I guess I see the bottle as kind of the last vestige of "babydom" and now it's time to move on. Bittersweet!

Tara - posted on 09/09/2009

Our doctor says the same about the rotting teeth. I think it has something to do with the sucking mechanism of their mouths and the way that the drink hits their teeth. It does seem strange though! If we brush their teeth 2x daily and take good care of their mouths then why does it affect it sooo much? I know the amount has to do with iron levels, but the sippy thing is crazy! idk about you guys, but it seems nightmare-ish to imagine my daughter running around without a leak-proof sippy in hand!!!! haha

Kate - posted on 09/08/2009

Rar, tell em to bugger off if he's happy, then anything goes in my book. I still give my daughter a bottle twice a day, we are looking to cut that down to one (at 5pm). I'm sick of being ordered around by people honestly, that is how I feel about that. My daughter has only just learned how to drink from a sippy cup, so good on all those babies who can walk around at 1yr old holding a proper cup, mine can't do it without staining my cream carpet (rented flat as well!). Just ask yourself the sensible question, do you think their request is reasonable? If you think it is, then go with it. Otherwise, go with what you think is right for your child. Mine? She will have sippy cups probly until she is about 18mths old. She only has two bottles a day, soon to be one. Sippy cups with only water other than that. She also still has a dummy and would be distraught without it, so yes, that will be difficult in the years to come. Good luck with your outcome. Don't believe what they say is gospel. It isn't. They have got it so wrong for me and mine a few times now. ... .

Amber - posted on 09/07/2009

We had Griffin's appt last week. He's been bottle free since 12 mos. because that was the way I did it with oldest son too. He was 35" tall (97%) but only 24.5 lbs...he's a tall skinny one, LOL!!!

Terri - posted on 09/07/2009

my pediatrician said 16-24oz of milk at this age. they didn't say anything negative about the sippy cup. just said not to let her carry it around with her all day but we don't do that anyway. there are so many "rules" and rights and wrongs aren't there?

Beth - posted on 08/27/2009

I had my son's 15 month check on Tuesday. He was born 10 weeks early so my Dr orders seem differant that everyone elses. He is only 16 pounds 10 oz, his height 27.5". She said to continue to give him up to 32 oz of milk or pedisure because it has extra calories. She said to continue to use the sippy cup and didn't mention the straw cup, but my son loves to drink out of a straw so maybe I'll think about getting one. He is to drink only milk and pedisure when possible and is to avoid water a juice most of the time since it does't have as many calories. My sons drinks about 12 oz of milk before bed and I asked f I should continue this. The Dr said yes becuse of his weight if he didn't drink that much before bed he would need to get up in the middle of the night for a feeding. I thought maybe a solid food snack with a small amount of milk would be better but she didn't say anything about that. So now I'm wondering if I need to be concerned about his teeth. He is drinking more than the average toddler and it is all out of soft spout sippys.

Cathralynn - posted on 08/26/2009

Quoting Sheri:

ok your kids get shots at 15 months? Here in Alberta its 12 months and then 18 months we don't do the 15 month ones. Also, we dont go to ped's that much only when they r seriously sick then we take them to ped's. For their shots we have a regional health nurse who does the shots. I say they will transition from bottle to sippy when they r ready. My daughter only gets a bottle when she goes to bed and a sippy/straw cup during the day when she is awake.

My daughter was due to get 8 shots at her 12mo appt. so we split em up and she got five at a year and the next three at her next appt.  Rather than all 8 and then none.  Figured it would be easier on her system.

Sheri - posted on 08/25/2009

ok your kids get shots at 15 months? Here in Alberta its 12 months and then 18 months we don't do the 15 month ones. Also, we dont go to ped's that much only when they r seriously sick then we take them to ped's. For their shots we have a regional health nurse who does the shots. I say they will transition from bottle to sippy when they r ready. My daughter only gets a bottle when she goes to bed and a sippy/straw cup during the day when she is awake.

Ely - posted on 08/19/2009

We just had our 15 mos appt as well. Our pratice said he had to be off the bottle at 12 mos and they don't believe in sippy cups. It has to do with speech. We took him off the bottle at 13mos; cold turkey and started him on a straw cup. We started introducing the straw at 11mos old. Bottom line, it's a hard transition and they may have to go without milk for a day. My ped said when they are thirsty they will drink. It felt like an eternity but really it was only 1 1/2 day. He was eating table food so he wasn't going on with out food, just milk. Until he really got the hang of drinking from a straw cup, I would use a sippy cup at night (last feeding) only. This is to make sure he was still getting at least 8oz which is what my ped said is the minimum. My personal opinion is that I think sippy cups are fine but the problem is people tend to use them too long and get stuck in transitioning onto the next stage which then it can cause problems with their speech. It gets harder as they get older because they know more and can resist. As for the milk, our ped said and other books mentioned that the main source of nutrition should be from solid food and not milk. If you give him too much milk, than he may not eat enough. That may be their concern.

Cathralynn - posted on 08/19/2009

I use a regular cup never used a sippy. You just have to hold it for them. I don't encourage grazing so my daughter doesn't need to have a drink constantly with her. She just asks for it or I offer if its been awhile. She does reallly good with it. She laso drinks from a bottle of water too.

Christie - posted on 08/18/2009

My sons stats match yours exactly. I was told he should be using a sippy cup with a straw verses the other styles because it will help with speech sooner. Of course, no bottles ever...they said after 15 mo. it becomes habitual and extremely hard to break...which is our case. I can't imagine a 15 month old using a regular cup...you'd have a real mess on your hands. However, our son does quite well with a bottle of water as long as we supervise him he doesn't make much of a mess at all.

Sara - posted on 08/17/2009

my son Dustyn went for his 15 month check up today and he weighed in at an even 28 pounds and is 32 iches tall. his dr said he could have 24 ozs of whole milk and to continue with the sippy cup for a few more years. he was 8.6 at birth

Sarah - posted on 08/16/2009

My LO is 20 lbs., 31 in., & 19 in. head. She was a preemie, so she is still catching up. We're down to only one bottle a day & the rest in a sippy cup & when she gets her bottle, it only has water in it. She doesn't like water as much as milk, so this causes her to not use her bottle as much. She loves her sippy cup.

Alicia - posted on 08/15/2009

We had our appt. 23 lbs and 31 inches (35% for both). Doc said "two cups of milk per day" so that is about what we've been doing. I fill his 8oz sippy twice/day. I TOTALLY forgot to ask about sippys being ok for teeth even though I wrote it down. Happens every time I go!! I have heard that if they are eating while drinking, tooth issues are not as big a deal b/c the liquids are not just bathing their teeth. He only really has a sippy when eating so I guess I won't worry. And if he has one at another time, I just do water, no juice. He doesn't seem to drink more when it's juice so I figure I'll just pass on the extra sugar while he still doesn't seem to mind.
I do think I might try taking the valves out of the cups and seeing how he does. He can drink fine, it is just a matter of him not turning it over--seems like good practice for a "real cup". But I swear he keeps it upright until I turn my back and then there's milk everywhere!!!!

Shelley - posted on 08/15/2009

my wee one is only on 9th centile for weight.....18lb something she has to see specialist.they think she has a clicky hip now too. i cant get her weaned off bottle totally altho she only get 16oz milk a day but thats her choice...its all she wants

Nikki - posted on 08/14/2009

We just had our apt today. 19.5 lbs, small but healthy. I've heard that after 15 months it can be very difficult to ween from the bottle, but I've never heard anything about the sippy cup being bad. Sounds like you may need to filter some of your docs info. One interesting thing I learned today is that there are new finding that say to keep your child rear facing until they are 2.

Alicia - posted on 08/07/2009

That's funny about the head size, Renee. My son's big head finally made it on the chart at his 12 month appt. They always measure twice b/c they can't believe how big it is! Currently he is obsessed with wearing his train engineer hat. What size? Well, he did not fit in Baby small, med or large. Did not fit in Toddler small, med, or large. So my 1 year old is in a Child small! I do hope the rest of his body catches up!

Renee - posted on 08/07/2009

My son's height and weight are both in the 76% and his head is off the charts at like 110% area :) We do have a family history of babies with BIG heads.

Nicole - posted on 08/07/2009

Well, my son, also turned 15 months on the 2nd, is not growing right...but when my daughter was this age she drank SO much mile and they told me that they should have 3 cups/day, and to limit it so that she would eat properly. I've never heard of the sippy rotting their teeth...only if they sleep with it, but it does depend on what you put in it. In this children's dental health class I took once, they said that milk and juice should be given during a meal to prevent the sugars in them from corroding the teeth. Or else brush after. Giving a snack with it is good because it somehow dillutes the acid. Maybe that is what your ped is referring to? By the way...what percentile is your son? Just curious if that is how big my son SHOULD be...he's only 29in, and 19lbs...

Alicia - posted on 08/07/2009

Same here...our appt is next week. I am curious about the amount of milk. At the 12 month, our doc said 20 oz/day which is more than most of our friends' docs have said. I asked at 12 mo about how long we should use the sippy and she said something like 3 years and laughed--I think because it seemed way to early to be worrying about getting rid of it! I do wonder how how sipping is worse for their teeth than just swallowing from a regular cup?? But you know, when I see my son sucking on the sippy, i can't help but wonder why this is any better than a bottle??? And it seems pretty standard to start dropping bottles around 1. It make me wonder if I should switch him to a harder spout on the sippy or one that does not require sucking. I guess I'll ask about that! And I'll let you know about cups and milk after our appt.

Allison - posted on 08/06/2009

We are just coming up on our 15mo check up so I can't add anything at the moment. But I will comment that I am a little surprised about the sippy cup. I thought it was normal to have the sippy around until around 2?? Am I completely off on that? I will try to post once we have our check up and let you know what my pedi is saying. . .