3-Year Well Child Check
Safety
- Your child always needs adult supervision within arm’s reach when in or near water of any kind. A child can drown in any amount of water. Pools should be completely surrounded by a fence that separates it from the house and has a self-locking gate.
- Your child has great climbing and exploration abilities now. He can fall off play equipment, stairs, windows and anything that can be climbed on. Make sure the surfaces underneath play objects are well padded. Close doors and use gates as needed. Your child may be able to ride a tricycle and should wear a helmet when riding. They may also be able to get to other objects that can cause burns, such as stovetops and hot liquids.
- The front yard and near the street can be a dangerous place for your child to play. He should have constant adult supervision preferably with you between him and the street. Be aware of where your children are when backing up in your car. This is also a good time to start teaching your child about “stranger danger” and appropriate touches.
- Your child is at an age of great exploration and curiosity about the world around him, and he’s becoming more coordinated. Be sure to keep all cleaners, chemicals and medications out of sight and out of reach. Keep cabinets locked or latched to prevent exploration injuries. If your child does eat or drink something that could be poisonous call the Poison Help Line at 1-800-222-1222 if he is conscious. It is important not to make him vomit.
- Continue to put your child in a forward-facing car seat in the back seat until he weighs 40 pounds. Make sure the seat is installed correctly. Never leave your child alone in a closed car, even with the A/C on.
- Keep all firearms locked in a secure place. The key location should be hidden from the child and the ammunition should be locked separately from the firearm.
- To prevent a sunburn, keep him out of direct sunlight, dress him in clothes that cover the body, and use children’s sunscreen of at least 30 SPF.
Feeding & Nutrition
- Continue to give your child skim or 1% milk at mealtimes. He should drink water the rest of the day. This is a good time to transition your child to a regular cup.
- Mealtimes are a great social interaction time for the family. Your child is probably getting very good at eating now and can be much cleaner. He may still be picky about what he eats and still have a decreased appetite. Remember that it’s not what he eats for each individual meal, but more of a total throughout a few days. Encourage a balanced diet and limit junk foods and sugary drinks.
- He may be better at eating most foods, but he may still choke on some hard foods such as nuts and hard candies.
Health
- Any smoke in the house is dangerous to kids. We encourage parents never to smoke around their child, and to not to smoke at all for their own health.
- A regular sleep schedule and bedtime routine will promote healthy sleep patterns. Many toddlers stop taking naps at this age. This can lead to overtiredness later in the day, which can be combated with restful activities and routines before bedtime.
- Continue to floss and brush your child’s teeth twice a day with fluoride toothpaste. You can prevent cavities by never putting them to bed with a bottle or cup.
- Be aware of the influence that all media can have over your child and limit the amount of screen time your child has. Encourage outdoor activity to prevent against obesity. You can model healthy living activities.
Development
- Your child’s language skills continue to develop and expand. Direct conversation about all subjects will stimulate further development and help you get to know your child better. Books should still be incorporated into any activity. Encourage writing, drawing and story telling. Your child may ask a lot of “Why?” questions. This is a time when your child is very receptive to learning and you can work on school readiness.
- Your 3-year-old can run well, jump, climb stairs and throw a ball. Continue to encourage activities that strengthen his muscles and develop his coordination. Have him help get dressed, color and paint to help develop fine motor skills.
- Children at this age start to play with other children, but they are still learning about sharing and other social activities. Spend time with other children to help his social development. Most children are daytime potty-trained at this age, but it is normal not to be.
Discipline & Behavior
- Rewarding good behavior reinforces it, ignoring bad behavior discourages it.
- Your child will be trying to become independent in many things he does. Many parents often have behavior questions and struggles at this age. Give clear messages at his level about what he can and can’t do. Brief (up to 3 minutes) “time-outs” can be effective.
- There are many different effective discipline techniques. Parents need to find the one that works well for their individual child. Most children thrive when they have limits and a routine, but they still need to fulfill their exploration needs. The biggest key is to be consistent with enforcing limits with your child.
Next Visit – at 4 years of age
