Maternal and child health - visit 7 - twelve month visit

What happens at my twelve month maternal and child health visit?

At this visit, your baby's growth, health and development will be reviewed. You will also be asked to answer My Health, Learning and Development – green book. It is under the Parents' Evaluation of Development Status (PEDS) section. Try to complete these questions before your visit.

This visit will focus on:

• addressing the PEDS questions in your green book
• helping your child to eat healthy food
• taking care of your child's teeth
• being sun smart (learning how to protect your child from the sun)
• how play helps learning and development
• family relationships and wellbeing
• immunisations
• social communication.

Remember, you and your nurse can talk about other issues or concerns if they arise.

Tip sheets for this visit

• Healthy eating and play for toddlers 1-2 years (pdf) - Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria
• Baby teeth are important: tooth tips 12-18 months (pdf), (available in multiple languages) from Dental Health Services Victoria

What is my baby doing at this key age and stage?

At this key age and stage, your baby is becoming more social and loves to go for walks outdoors. They are learning to feed themselves and they enjoy sharing in family meal times.

They might be:

• waving 'bye bye'
• saying one or two clear words
• pulling to stand up, holding onto furniture
• following simple instructions like 'come to mummy'
• pointing to people or familiar objects.

What to tell your nurse

Please tell the nurse if your baby is:

• NOT enjoying eye contact or cuddles with you
• NOT interested in sounds
• NOT letting you know what they want
• NOT seeming to understand you
• NOT crawling or standing holding on
• NOT pointing.

Activity ideas for this key age and stage

Try some of these ideas to help your baby learn and develop:

• play music, sing and dance with them
• read books with them and help them to hold the book and turn the pages
• take them out and about – try your local library's free story time sessions
• talk to them about the things they look at and point to
• play with them at their level and laugh and be a bit silly!

How often should I visit?

You will be asked to see your maternal and child health nurse at 10 key ages and stages in your child’s health, learning and development. These include:

• following discharge from hospital (home visit)
• two weeks
• four weeks
• eight weeks
• four months
• eight months
• one year
• 18 months
• two years
• three and a half years.

Families can access the service at other times by telephone or through a centre visit. Most centres offer a range of times when families can access the service. They typically operate through scheduled appointments, open consultation sessions and some after-hours appointments.

Return to the Maternal and child health services main page

Where to get help

• Your local maternal and child health service
• Your GP (doctor)
• Your local council early childhood and family services
• Maternal and Child Health Line Tel: 13 22 29 – available 24 hours a day for the cost of a local call throughout Victoria
• Aboriginal Health Service (VAHS) Tel. 03 9419 3000
• Parentline Tel. 13 22 89
• Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS National) Tel.131 450 – available (24 hours, 7 days a week) for callers who speak other languages.
• National Relay Service (24 hours a day, every day) – Speak and listen Tel: 1300 555 727, TTY Tel: 133 677, SMS relay Tel: 0423 677 767.