My daughter just had her 18 mo checkup. I had read in my toddler years book that they would prick her finger to test for lead. I asked about this and they said she would need to go to the lab and have blood drawn. I guess I'm a bit concerned because we live in an older house in Chicago, and as a toddler, she eats alot of dirt. :-) Anyway, she didn't react very well to her most recent shot. She only had one, but because she was pulling away so violently, the nurse had to prick her three times! I hate to think of her having to sit still long enough (or be held still) for them to actually draw a vial of blood. Has anyone gone through this with their toddler? Is it really a necessary thing to do? I assumed it would be so simple, or I probably wouldn't even have brought it up!
I went through it with my son who was 14 months at the time, and they had him sit on my lap. He cried but I held him as still as I could-that way they get it one time. I cried a little too! But, it is better to be safe than sorry. It will be fine.
Please get her tested - lead does alot of damage to a young child - I have had my daughter tested every year until 4. We live an in older home but it did show levels of lead. I took her off the water from the faucet and next year zero.
The doctors believe anything under a 10 is consider OK but the American Pedetric (?) said is should be zero.
The damage is not correctable and she will end up with learning disabilities - PLEASE GO!!
And yes it is not easy sitting there holding her while they prick her finger but you are her Mom and need to protect her - she cant do that for herself. They forget 5 minutes after it is done - ice cream always worked for my daughter.
Like the other moms have said, it's just a finger prick and it's pretty quick and easy. My biggest worry that day was whether our daughter would eat the bandaid off her finger. The labs report the data to the City of Chicago, if you are a resident, so I didn't think we had a choice to have it done.
We had our daughter tested and it was just a pin prick to her finger tip. It is not fabulous but it was fast. They scrape the blood onto a slide and you're done.
we just had this done yesterday... my daughter is almost 12 months. they pricked her finger, and squeezed blood into a thin tube. they collect a SMALL vial (not what you're thinking when you get your own blood drawn - even smaller that small tube) she fussed a little when she couldn't get off my lap after a minute or two. she didn't make a peep when they pricked her. in contrast, she screamed and thrashed when they: weighed her, measured her head and length, took her temperature, listened with the stethoscope, looked in her ears, looked in her throat, and attempted to get her blood pressure (they couldn't do it). i was dreading the blood test, but that was the easiest part!!! shots are next week, so i guess we'll see...
I recently had my daughter's blood drawn (22 months old) for a lead test (our pediatrician recommends it if you live in an old home) and it went so smoothly, easier than a shot. I was very nervous about it and waited to find a time when my husband could come with us. That really helped, as he is better with that kind of stuff than I am. On a friend's advice, we also went directly to the hospital lab rather than one of their off-site labs, as I think they have more experience there drawing blood from people of all ages. My husband held my daughter while they did it and she didn't make a single peep! Also, he had talked to her about it in advance several times (like before putting her to bed, when she was relaxing and cuddled in), explaining what would happen, and we really think that helped prepare her. Good luck! It's worth doing; if she does have a high lead level, you'll want to know.
I have 2 girls, 4 and 2. They have both had test. Older daughter was a wreck around doctors. Her first blood draw for lead wasn't working so they gave up and did it 6 mo. later at the next check up and then it wasn't so bad. Younger daughter didn't even flinch. Just personality difference. You've got to project confidence and distract her from moments before they begin. You already know this being a mom, but have a great toy or snack with you. It takes 20 seconds and they use one finger of one hand.
We also have old house (and paint chip test showed we had some lead paint somewhere in the layers) and replaced some windows and older daughter did eat some paint chips before I could yank them out of her mouth and she even came up a zero. I believe there are other factors such as nutrition that keep a baby's body from accumulating lead even if they have had some exposure. So, perhaps you will have the same outcome and never have to do test again!
My son is 3 & still has not bad his led testing done. We have tried multiple times to draw his blood w/ multiple people. My best advise to you is make sure the baby is well hydrated. Try going after lunch or nap.
E.,
Don't be afraid. This is not like a blood draw on an adult. Try to find the most experienced person with babies and toddlers. Take DD at a good time of day for her, then hold her and sooth her during the process. It will happen quickly and then you can be on your way. Really! Do it now to put your mind at ease.
Amy
I've been thru it w/my son....twice! I was dreading it, thinking that he was just going to go balistic. Bottom line was that he cried way more for a haircut than he did getting blood taken from his arm! The first time he had it done, he didn't even make a peep (he was 1 at the time). The second time (when he was 2), he wimpered a little bit, but that was it.
The nurse or whoever draws the blood will most likely have your daughter sit on your lap, and they will also want you to help hold her arm still. In all honesty, this will probably be much harder on you than it will be on her.
Good luck! And you are indeed doing the right thing. Lead poisoning is nothing to fool around with.
D.
