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1937] 74
METROPOLITAN BOROUGH OF ISLINGTON
Public Health Department.
Advice on Children's Development and Feeding after the age of 12 months.
When a child is growing out of his babyhood into the toddler stage at about
1 year of age, many parents are uncertain as to how fast baby should progress
with regard to teething, walking, talking, and so on. The question of feeding
also becomes more complicated, and it is hoped that the information on this
card will act as a guide to proper progress.
Parents must realise, however, that no information of this general character
can replace a personal examination by a doctor, where there is any doubt about
the child's health.
The figures here given must be regarded only as general indications; children
may be 2 or 3 months earlier or later and yet be quite normal, but if they depart
further than this, such as not walking or talking at the age of 2 years, they
should most certainly see a good children's doctor. The average child at :—
Age.
Months. Speech. Teeth. Weight [Boys). Height.
12 Stands with support. Says single words 6 21 lbs. 29 J in.
(e.g., mum, dad,
ta, bye-bye).
14 Stands alone.
15 Walks alone. Begins talking. 22} „ 30½ „
18 May stand on one leg. Puts 2 or 3 words 12 24} „ 32 „
together.
21 May walk backwards. Says short sentences.
24 Runs freely. Obeys simple com- 16 27} „ 34 „
mands, and has a
250 word vocabulary.
30 20
Girls are about ½ lb. lighter and ½ in. shorter than boys at these ages,
although, of course, individual girls may be taller and heavier than individual
boys. In both boys and girls, there may be considerable differences from the
figures given above, with the child in perfectly normal health, but it is advisable
to obtain a doctor's confirmation if the departure from the average is very
marked.
Fontanelle : The Fontanelle—or "soft spot" on top of a baby's head—
should close between the fifteenth and eighteenth months.
Fundamentals of Daily Diet—Required by all children every day, soon
after reaching one year of age :—
Milk, about 1 pint. Unsuitable Foods—
1 Egg (if tolerated). sausages and cooked meats, bottled
Leafy Vegetables—greens, brussels, soft drinks, ginger ale, coconut and
kale, lettuce, etc. chocolate, cucumber and radishes,
Root Vegetables—potato, carrot, dried fish and meat, fried foods,
turnip, etc. iced foods, pies, pastries, fish cakes,
Raw Fruits—apple, pear, orange, spices, pickles, mustard, pepper,
grape-fruit, banana. Cooked fruit—
apple, pear, prunes, raisins, figs.
Meat, Fish or Fowl—liver, brains,
kidney, scraped-meat, fine fish, e.g.,
plaice.
Butter—
Additional foods are optional.
Cod-Liver or Halibut Oil should be
given regularly throughout the winter
months.
For Healthy Development a Child Requires : Good Food, Regularity
in Habits, 12-14 Hours Sleep per day, and Daily Fresh Air.
Keep this Card for reference.