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An eighteen-month-old should come for a routine health check. All body systems are examined thoroughly: breathing and heart sounds are listened to, and the abdomen and genitals are checked. Length, weight and head circumference are measured, and the ears and throat are examined.
Simple assessments for strabismus can be performed. If necessary, the child may be referred to an eye doctor for a more detailed examination. Development is also assessed, including how many words the child can say, how much they speak and how well they understand what is said. Vaccines due at eighteen months are then administered.
Average measurements are approximately 11 kilograms in weight, 80 centimeters in length and 48–49 centimeters in head circumference. The parents' height and weight are also important factors; it is more appropriate to assess each child within their own family context.
