My Pediatrician said that a led test was routine for 9-12 month old

Alisha - posted on 04/07/2011

Yes I would do the lead test, it's just like a finger or heal prick and they test their blood to make sure they did not injest any lead from paint on old houses mostly. It is very poisonous and can kill them so it is worth doing. My daughter is 5 and still gets tested!

Amanda - posted on 03/11/2011

It depends on each state. In NY they require it at age 1 and age 2. But each state is different.

Jenny - posted on 03/08/2011

We had routine lead testing around 12 months (one year ago). I assumed it was standard, but am interested to see so many people saying it may change depending where you live. Both our pediatrician and the WIC office asked for it. The old housing theory could fit here, as my town/surrounding towns are quite old (many, many victorian homes and spanish missions, which I assume probably used lead paint at some point). It was just a finger prick for us as well; not pleasant but not as bad as vaccines.

Jamie - posted on 03/08/2011

My daughter had a lead test when she turned 1, four years ago. My son however, was not required to get one when he turned one, 6 months ago. It might depend on your insurance too.

Jamie - posted on 03/08/2011

My daughter had a lead test when she turned 1, four years ago. My son however, was not required to get one when he turned one, 6 months ago.

Raquel - posted on 03/07/2011

yes lead testing is done during the range 9-15 months. Most do it prior to the 15month mark, but say your child missed a visit or something it may be done at the 15 month visit

Lexi - posted on 03/07/2011

interesting. My sons doc hasn't suggested any blood tests at all. The only thing he's had done was the iron level test at his last WIC appointment. Seems like every doctor is different. It might vary by area, maybe you're town has a history of lead poisoning being an issue?

Raquel - posted on 03/07/2011

Also a routine blood count will usually be done to detect any blood disease or abnormalities like sickle cell, or leukemia or anemia.

Raquel - posted on 03/07/2011

Yes.I have worked in pediatrics for several years and yes this is a state requirement between 9-15 months usually done. We did ours at at our office at 9 months if abnormal it may have to be repeated

Amber - posted on 03/07/2011

We had to get the test done as well, and may I recommend you get it done sooner than later. We got out son's done at 15 months due to moving across country and the delay in finding a new pediatrician and at 15 months they took his blood like they would an adult! It was very traumatic for him. Thankfully everything was normal.

Becky - posted on 03/07/2011

I'm pretty sure it has to do with where you live. None of my mom friends have had this for their kids and our ped said nothing about it - most of us have kids that are close to 18 months.

Susan - posted on 03/07/2011

If you live in a lead belt community then it is routine...my daughter is two and a half and since we live in a lead mines area she has to betested twice a year...it's actullay a law in Missouri for your child to be tested if you live in a area that has high lead levels or in a house that was built during the times of lead paint....it's a simple test and won't hurt them at all...it's a good idea to know what your child's lead levels are...

Brittney - posted on 03/07/2011

MY pediatrician has me fill out a little survey to see if lead would be a problem. With my ODD she had to be checked for lead because she went to a daycare that was in an old building and I didn't know how old it was. With my YDD she didn't have to be checked for lead because she stays with my mom. They alwas do routine bloodwork around this age to make sure the iron levels and all that are normal. Lead is just an extra precaution. Old homes may have lead base paint in them and if it starts to chip your child can get sick from it.

Samantha - posted on 03/06/2011

I had to have my kids lead tested because we live in a old house even though the house was tested, but not a "routine" thing. Know that my oldest is in school they want me to test him again cause the test was so old they wanted to make sure...did you do a survey that where you answered a question that you house should have lead or you have aim in the house?

Jessica - posted on 03/06/2011

My sons have never had a lead test but their doctor asked every time we go for a checkup if we live in a house biult before a certain year(can't remember the year70's i think) and it's an option to have the test if we are concerned.

Sarah - posted on 03/05/2011

i had to fill out a questionnairre when my daughter was 9 months old to determine how "at risk" she was for lead poisoning and because her childcare center and our home are older buildings they did the finger prick at a year old.

Amber - posted on 03/05/2011

i believe in most states a lead test at age one and age two are mandatory and thank goodness they are, my sons test at age one was fine but soon after that we moved and started renting a old farm house, when he had his 2 year test sone it came back elivated, and the health department had to come out and check the whole house. thank goodness because we would have just sat here not knowing about the lead and his level could have kept on going up and up, its a very very scary ordeal but definatly manageable if lead ends up being a problem.

Angela - posted on 03/03/2011

um lead test???? no i have never heard of that! i know they check iron levels to make sure the is no anemia, but never a lead test!

Jessie - posted on 03/03/2011

I have never heard of such a thing. And he has never had an iron test either and he was breastfed for well over a year. I really think it depends on your doctor for this kind of thing

Jessica - posted on 03/03/2011

That isn't a routine test. Ask more questions and when they pull the trust thing tell them that for you to trust your doctor they need to trust you. some doctors have private routines but never take "routine" as an explanation. their is a reason for every "routine" and you need to know it.

Kendall - posted on 03/02/2011

I live in North central Iowa and my son was given a lead test when he was about 6 month.

Deena - posted on 03/02/2011

My sons doctor had us do one at 1 year. He also said it was routine. I'm so glad we did because he found other abnormalities with his blood test that we would have never known about.

Jenny - posted on 03/02/2011

I believe it depends on your pediatrician. Some believe in having it done and some don't. My son, who is 13 months old, has never had this test done, nor has his doctor even mentioned it. However, my sisters kids have all had lead tests done, so I really think it depends on whether or not your childs doctor thinks its a test that needs to be done.

Racheal - posted on 03/02/2011

Yes this is routine especially important if you live in an older house. Lead levels that are high in young children can have bad consequences. I am a pediatric RN too and they will test for it where I work too. Hope his helps....if u r worried about the poke don't worry your baby wont remember

Krystal - posted on 03/02/2011

This is very common. Kids put so much stuff in their mouth and if you have lead in your house it could easily be injested by your infant. I would recommend getting it done...

Sabrina - posted on 03/02/2011

My pediatrician did the lead test for my kids as well. It depends on your living conditions and area. He did a simple test for us and said if it came back positive they'd do a more "hard core" one.

Elizabeth - posted on 03/02/2011

Yes. Our ped (new york) indicated this was a national mandate but I might be remembering it wrong. In any case, we obviously elected to do it since lead poisoning can be devastating to brain development. We live in a pre-war apartment so I wasn't without *some* level of worry. Thankfully, V's results were fine.

Stacia - posted on 03/02/2011

it has become routine because of the lead that has been found in certain products... both my kids got it as soon as they were old enough to start picking things up and putting them in their mouth...they do it more so in children that live in older homes *that may have been painted before 1975 i believe* when they still used lead based paint...

Briana - posted on 03/01/2011

Meghan - The doctor had told me it would be a finger prick but when i got to the hospital where they drew it the nurse said apparently it takes longer when they do the prick on the finger because they have to keep squeezing it and the blood clots so they don't get good results. Also the blood isnt as pure so there would be a good chance they would have to do it again. I was a bit surprised too, the needle seemed pretty big, but the nurse was done in less than 5 seconds. I live in upstate New York. The doctor said he needed to get it done because of where my husband works.

Rhenna - posted on 03/01/2011

Yes with my daughter at 12 mths. It just started b/c of all the toys from china with led paint. It's a precaution & she said they've never had 1 come back with high led levels

Nicole - posted on 03/01/2011

yea it is normal for the lead test but i thought more around 18 months, thats when my daughter got it, it is pretty fast and easy

♥♪Megan♫♥ - posted on 03/01/2011

Depending on the person drawing blood the experiance for a child isn't as traumatic as the parent will make it seem. In my experiance the parent can make it worse (My mom freaks at the sight of blood and my fiance has nearly passed out, but I've had routine blood draws since I was 6). I usually tell my daughter to look at me, close her eyes and just sit still. Never tell your child this won't hurt because we all know it's not true. Tell them it'll pinch, but it'll be over quickly. There's a lot you can do as a parent to take the fear out of getting a shot or a blood draw.
Briana, I'm surprised the lab you were at did a vein draw on a 13 month old, that's not routine here in NY. I'm amazed they could find a butterfly needle small enough for him/her.

Sherry - posted on 03/01/2011

My question to all of you here is: has anyone's child received a positive test result for lead? I live in California and my pediatrician wanted to take a blood test for lead when my daughter was around 1. I didn't want to subject my daughter to the trauma of drawing her blood. She is 3 now, and I probably will not subject her to a blood test anytime soon.

Mary - posted on 03/01/2011

I work in the Lab, and I have a 5 year old, and a 8 month old. Depending on the area you live, and the pediatrician, they order a lead test. Basicly, we live in older houses, and they are testing for lead paint.

Briana - posted on 03/01/2011

My son is 13 months and had to get a Lead test done today actually. They drew blood through his arm because they said it was easier and quicker than pricking his finger and trying to keep squeezing enough blood out. He cried at first but it was very quick.

Krista - posted on 03/01/2011

It's a routine test done. It's fine.

Jessica - posted on 03/01/2011

my son has had several lead tests and several blood tests since he's been born - 6 years ago. Lead is high in my area (Massachuetts, USA). Its required for state funding and to go to school.

Kat - posted on 03/01/2011

My son is 2 and a half and I can't remember when he had it, but I remember him having the test done and it must have been around 9-12 months. I had the same reaction you did, but it is a routine test.

Lauren - posted on 03/01/2011

My son's pediatrician said we should get routine blood work done as a lead test, I believe it was around 9 months. My husband took him to the pediatrician and to get the blood work done, but as far as I know it is pretty common. I believe it does have to do with the age of the home you live in, though because I don't think my sister-in-law had to have the blood work done for her kids but she lived in a newer home at the time.

Brandi - posted on 03/01/2011

My pediatrician recommends it usally at one year of age, it is rountine. It is usally done by a fingerprick only.

Brandi - posted on 03/01/2011

I guess each state is different? I had to have it done when my oldest (now 11 years old) was one and then with my other two daughters (2 years old) they had it done when they turned one also.I guess if you have high levels of lead,it could lead to learning disabilities and things.Good luck.

♥♪Megan♫♥ - posted on 02/28/2011

You can get lead from dust or ground soil. As Nicole stated it's not just an old house problem or a city problem.

Keri - posted on 02/28/2011

My pediatrician did it. They did a finger poke, and that was that. It is to check the lead levels and make sure the blood is clean and he is developing immunity properly. We got my sons checked at a year old!

Nicole - posted on 02/28/2011

That is a normal test for a kids one year check up. My daughter cried but only for a minute and my son didn't make a sound. They just take it from the finger and it is a small amount. It is very important test. Most people think lead is just from old homes and paint but what about the toys they play with? It just helps make sure toys are not full of lead too.

ASHLEY - posted on 02/28/2011

Don't worry it just means you have a good pediatrician. lead is in lots of things you wouldn't expect so at the age when everything goes in there mouth it's better to be safe than sorry. If the levels are eleveted they will help you find out why and help you minimize your kids exposure. My son got screened around his first birthday they pricked his heel wasn't too bad.

Jessica - posted on 02/28/2011

I have not had a pediatrician ask this of me but my youngest it almost 4 so it might be something new. Although if you go to WIC they ask if you would like to have it done for free. I would go for it better safe than sorry. U never no what is made with lead based paint that a child could be touching or putting near their mouth!

♥♪Megan♫♥ - posted on 02/28/2011

It's done everywhere and they do a derma puncture (fingerstick) on the child's middle or ring finger and just get a few drops. Honestly I think it freaks the parent out more than the kid.

Brittney - posted on 02/28/2011

Ours did it automatically at 12 months! It's just a blood test. We have her 2 yr check up tomorrow so will see if they test again. It's safe for your child and they also check for iron/anemia. I'm in Iowa, so it sounds like it's in a lot of states....

Mary - posted on 02/28/2011

A blood test for lead is VERY normal and is often done (particularly in regions where lead paint is a concern) with children under 5, because of high lead dust inhalation and ingestion risk. I certainly wouldn't be alarmed. It is an excellent precautionary measure. High lead levels in developing children is cause for serious concern so monitoring lead is an important step in ensuring that devastating but preventable developmental problems do not occur.

Kylie - posted on 02/28/2011

i thought a lead test was only done if there was a chance that you or your child has been exposed?? but that might just be an australian thing???