What happens at the 18-month checkup?

Our ped doesn't do 15-month checkups, so the girls haven't been in since November. Their 18-month checkup isn't for a few weeks, but I was just wondering about it. Are there shots? (I imagine so.) What developmental milestones are they going to ask about?

ETA: When I say haven't been in since November, I mean except for those sick-child visits every week or so all winter.

 

I would say they are looking more at the speech patterns...how many words. We do have a 15 month appt and my Ped prefers to get the shots out of the way at that point.

The big thing he was looking at was checking them out physically and speech patterns. We haven't gotten to the 18 month point yet.

 

we had shots at 15 months but none at 18. our pedi doesn't go too much into details - he just asked generallly about development and specifically about talking and whether they were running yet.

 

I remember questions about how many words, whether they're saying simple two-word phrases, and if they can run. There will be shots but those were the last until kindergarten for us.

The thing I noticed that was different about their 18-month appointment is that they recognized the doctor's office and were NOT happy to be there.

 

We had shots at 15 but none at 18 so I would assume you would have to get shots. I think we had 3 or 4. The doctor asked several devolpmental questions( EX: can the walk backward, how many words do they use, do they try and help with chores). They did weight, height and head circumfurence checks(mine had grown ALOT like almost straight up on the growth curve!) He checked their teeth and did basic well baby stuff and made sure we had new prescriptions for their allergy meds. He observed them for a bit.

 

Well, they've been at the doctor's office a lot over the past few months and have done well with it so far, so fingers crossed. I think what's more likely is that they'll get shots this time, and then they'll be really unhappy to be there the NEXT time.

They're supposed to walk backwards? :unsure:
Actually, I guess Amy sort of does, though we assumed it was accidental.

 

Our 18 month visit was miserable! Bea screamed from the moment the nurse weighed her. She did not stop! The doctor could barely examine her. There were shots, I wasn't expecting it. For some reason I thought 18 month was a shot-free check-up.
We see a family doctor, not a pediatrician. He's more interested in general development, not so much all those little particulars like "Can they pick up a cheerio while twirling around backwards?" We didn't get to talk much because of Bea screaming the whole time.

 

QUOTE
They're supposed to walk backwards?


The concept is that they can move in reverse rather than just forward and they're looking for steps (not walking backward across the room... although that's OK also ). The expected timeframe for doing this is tied to when they begin to walk.

I'm trying to remember what else we covered at 15 months. I think that was when she asked about pretend play (using a comb for a telephone, for example), whether they can remove any clothing other than their diaper, and if they try to help around the house.