What are the typical developmental expectations for a 16 months old (months old) patient?

From the Guidelines

A 16-month-old child should be able to walk independently, sit without support, and pull to stand, as well as demonstrate fine motor skills like transferring objects and picking up small objects with a 2-finger pincer grasp, according to the most recent and highest quality study 1. At this age, children typically can walk independently and may say several words. Their diet should include a variety of foods from all food groups, with whole milk recommended until age 2. They need 11-14 hours of sleep daily, including naps. Developmentally, they should be able to:

• Follow simple commands
• Point to body parts
• Show increasing independence
• Roll over supine to prone
• Sit without support
• Pull to stand
• Come to sit from lying
• Crawl
• Reach for cubes and transfer
• Rake small objects with 4 fingers
• Pick up small objects with a 2-finger pincer grasp Regular well-child visits are important to monitor growth, development, and receive scheduled vaccinations which may include MMR, varicella, hepatitis A, and DTaP. Parents should childproof their home thoroughly as toddlers are curious explorers with limited understanding of danger. Reading to the child daily, engaging in interactive play, and providing opportunities for both gross and fine motor skill development are beneficial for cognitive and physical development. If there are concerns about development, parents should discuss them with their pediatrician promptly, and the pediatrician should perform a standardized developmental test, such as the one described in 1, to assess the child's developmental milestones. Additionally, the pediatrician should also consider the child's motor history, including any delayed acquisition of skills, involuntary movements, or regression of skills, as outlined in 1. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends regular surveillance of developmental milestones, auditory skills, parental concerns, and middle-ear status, as well as objective standardized screening of global development with a validated assessment tool at 9,18, and 24 to 30 months of age, or at any time if there is a concern, as stated in 1.

From the Research

Medical Evaluation and Treatment for 16-Month-Old Children

• Parental consent is generally required for the medical evaluation and treatment of minor children, including those who are 16 months old 2.
• However, in emergency situations where a parent or legal guardian is not available to provide consent, medical screening examinations and necessary medical care should not be withheld or delayed 2.

Antibiotics for Acute Otitis Media

• Acute otitis media (AOM) is a common disease in childhood, and antibiotics are often prescribed to treat it 3.
• Research suggests that antibiotics may not be necessary for all cases of AOM, especially in high-income countries where most cases spontaneously remit without complications 3, 4.
• The benefits of antibiotics must be weighed against the possible harms, including adverse events such as vomiting, diarrhea, or rash 3.

Treatment of Upper Respiratory Infections

• Upper respiratory infections (URIs) are common in children, and most are caused by viruses, not bacteria 5.
• Antibiotics are not effective against viral URIs, and their use should be discretionary, especially for non-severe cases 4, 5.
• Ibuprofen may be used to treat symptoms of URIs, such as pain or fever, and may also have a positive impact when combined with antibiotics for the treatment of acute otitis media 6.