Month 36 · 3 notes
The 3-year well-child visit is a big one, with developmental assessments and vision screening. Keep that appointment. If preschool is coming, your pediatrician can help you gauge readiness. Every child develops on their own timeline, and "ready for preschool" looks different for every kid.
Three years. You built this. Every late night, every worry, every decision led to this kid standing in front of you, telling you their name and what they dreamed about last night. Well done.
By age 3, child should be speaking in 3+ word sentences, playing with other children, following 2-3 step instructions, and running well. Notable gaps may warrant evaluation.
Review CDC milestones for 3 years. Discuss any concerns with your pediatrician. Early intervention services are most effective when started early.
Children should remain in a forward-facing car seat with harness as long as possible (typically until age 4-5 or max weight). Don't rush to a booster seat.
Keep child in a harnessed forward-facing car seat. Don't switch to a booster seat yet. Verify your car seat's weight and height limits.
By age 3, children test boundaries constantly. Inconsistent rules cause confusion and can increase challenging behavior.
Agree on rules with all caregivers. Be consistent in enforcement. Use natural consequences when possible. Explain rules simply: 'We hold hands in the parking lot because cars can hurt us.'