Enhanced 18-Month Well-Baby Visit

Emergent Literacy Program

Help bring early literacy support to families during the Enhanced 18-Month Well-Baby Visit

Join the Emergent Literacy Program

Role of the health care professional during an 18-month well-baby visit

• Complete the Rourke Baby Record 2020 Ontario Version, an evidence-based guide to be used by primary health care workers in delivery of the enhanced well-baby visit
• Promote the LookSee Checklist by NDDS (previously Nipissing District Developmental Screen), a parent-completed developmental checklist designed to identify areas of concern requiring further attention
• Discuss healthy child development, and the provision of information about local parenting and community programs to promote healthy child development, with all parents
• Facilitate referrals to specialists for children with developmental concerns, and other community-based services for families with more complex needs

Additional recommended interventions

• Promote early literacy activities (reading, speaking and singing to babies) for all families
• Read, Speak, Sing: Promoting early literacy in the health care setting
• Support positive parenting in the early years
• Relationships matter: How clinicians can support positive parenting in the early years
• Screen for parental well-being, and offer support or referrals as needed for mental health, family conflict, anger, abuse / neglect, substance misuse, physical illness, housing / food insecurity and other adverse childhood experiences