Well-Child Checkup: 3 Years
Even if your child is healthy, keep bringing him or her in for yearly checkups. This ensures your child’s health is protected with scheduled vaccinations. And the healthcare provider can make sure your child’s growth and development is progressing well. This sheet describes some of what you can expect.
Teach your child to be cautious around cars. Children should always hold an adult’s hand when crossing the street.
The healthcare provider will ask questions and observe your child’s behavior to get an idea of the child’s development. By this visit, your child is likely doing some of the following:
Recognizing some letters, numbers, colors, and shapes
Singing the alphabet and counting to 5
Speaking understandably most of the time
Pedaling a tricycle
Explaining needs and making choices (for example, it may now be easier to reason with your child than before; tantrums may happen less often)
Playing interactively with other children
Feeding Tips
Don’t worry if your child is picky about food. This is normal. How much your child eats at one meal or in one day is less important than the pattern over a few days or weeks. Do not force your child to eat. To help your 3-year-old eat well and develop healthy habits:
Give your child a variety of healthy food choices at each meal. Be persistent with offering new foods. It often takes several tries before a child starts to like a new taste.
Set limits on what foods your child can eat. And give your child appropriate portion sizes. At this age, children can begin to get in the habit of eating when they’re not hungry or choosing unhealthy snack foods and sweets over healthier choices.
Your child should drink around 16 ounces of low-fat or nonfat milk per day. Besides milk, water is best. Fruit juice should be limited to 4-6 ounces of 100% juice per day. Don’t give your child soda.
Do not let your child walk around with food. This is a choking risk and can lead to overeating as the child gets older.
Hygiene Tips
Bathe your child at least once a week, and more often if needed.
If your child isn’t yet potty trained, he or she will likely be ready in the next few months. Ask the healthcare provider how to move forward and see the box below for tips.
Help your child brush his or her teeth at least once a day. Twice a day is ideal (such as after breakfast and before bed). Use a pea-sized drop of fluoride toothpaste and a toothbrush designed for children.
Bring your child to the dentist at least twice a year for teeth cleaning and a checkup.
Sleeping Tips
Your child may still take 1 nap a day or may have stopped napping. He or she should sleep around 8-10 hours at night. If he or she sleeps more or less than this but seems healthy, it’s not a concern. To help your child sleep:
Follow a bedtime routine each night, such as brushing teeth followed by reading a book. Try to stick to the same bedtime each night.
If you have any concerns about your child’s sleep habits, let the healthcare provider know.
Safety Tips
Don’t let your child play outdoors without supervision. Teach caution around cars. Your child should always hold an adult’s hand when crossing the street or in a parking lot.
Protect your child from falls with sturdy screens on windows and gates at the tops of staircases. Supervise the child on the stairs.
If you have a swimming pool, it should be fenced. Gates or doors leading to the pool should be closed and locked.
At this age children are very curious, and are likely to get into items that can be dangerous. Keep latches on cabinets and make sure products like cleansers and medications are out of reach.
Watch out for items that are small enough for the child to choke on. As a rule, an item small enough to fit inside a toilet paper tube can cause a child to choke.
Teach your child to be gentle and cautious with dogs, cats, and other animals. Always supervise the child around animals, even familiar family pets.
In the car, always use a car seat. All children younger than 13 should ride in the back seat.
Keep this Poison Control phone number in an easy-to-see place, such as on the refrigerator: 800-222-1222.
Vaccinations
Based on recommendations from the American Association of Pediatrics, at this visit your child may receive the influenza (flu) vaccination.
Potty Training
For many children, potty training happens around age 3. If your child is telling you about dirty diapers and asking to be changed, this is a sign that he or she is getting ready. Here are some tips:
Don’t force your child to use the toilet. This can make training harder.
Explain the process of using the toilet to your child. Let your child watch other family members use the bathroom, so the child learns how it’s done.
Keep a potty chair in the bathroom, next to the toilet. Encourage your child to get used to it by sitting on it fully clothed or wearing only a diaper. As the child gets more comfortable, have him or her try sitting on the potty without a diaper.
Praise your child for using the potty. Use a reward system, such as a chart with stickers, to help get your child excited about using the potty.
Understand that accidents will happen. When your child has an accident, don’t make a big deal out of it. Never punish the child for having an accident.
If you have concerns or need more tips, talk to the healthcare provider.
Next checkup at: _______________________________
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