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Did you do the lead test for your kid?

AggieCoupleAggieCouple member
in Parenting
Exactly how do you hold down a 2 year old while they draw his/her blood?  I can't imagine doing it without causing him a lot of (possibly unnecessary) trauma and additional pain from writhing around the needle.
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Re: Did you do the lead test for your kid?

  • elm1032004elm1032004
    Yes we did the lead testing with both kids.  They don't draw blood with a needle like they would for an adult.  It's a finger stick or heel stick (similar to the way a diabetic would test their blood). 
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  • KoriBrettKoriBrett
    Yep, we live in a 125 year old house, did it at one and two years.  It's a finger poke.
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  • StarryNight39StarryNight39
    It depends on the doctor. Our is a blood draw out of the arm like an adult. And of course we did it, not sure why you wouldn't. 
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  • Marce921Marce921 member
    We only did the lead test for DS at 1 yrs old. It was a venous stick, not just a finger prick. It was awful, especially because the people doing it didn't normally stick kids. Ugh, I'll never let them stick my kid(s) again!
    Marcey
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  • AggieCoupleAggieCouple member
    The nurse was either misinformed, then, or they do it differently here.  According to her, they are drawing blood.  To be clear, this is the one for toddlers (2 year old) not the infant test (if they test for lead during infancy).
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  • MominatorMominator

    Yup. DD had it done at 2 y/o and DS will as well. We live in a 70 y/o house, so I would be foolish to not have it done.

    ETA: DD had the finger prick and I am assuming that DS will as well. Both my kids pedi and their allergist said that generally they won't do blood draws on otherwise healthy children before the age of 5 if they don't have to because it is very difficult to find a suitable vein.

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  • ZenyaZenya member

    The finger sticks are alleged to be inacurrate so I think they are doing more venipunctures now than before.

    It's not that big a deal though.  Both of mine have had them.  DS' was awful.  DD's was not too bad.  It passes. 

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  • GrowingFamilyGrowingFamily
    Yes.  It's generally pretty traumatic for my kids :(  Anytime they see their own blood, it's not a good thing to them!  Our house was built in 1926, though, so it's necessary.
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  • cbidt*sgirlcbidt*sgirl member
    We did a blood draw from vein on both my one year old and 3 year old.  One year old didn't even make a peep!  My pedi has a phlebotomist that is great with kids.  They had two phlebs work on him at once and he sat in my lab.  I stuck a paci in his mouth, hugged him and it was over in a a few seconds.  Three year old threw a fit, but it was over in a minute.  it's worth it IMHO.  If they are getting lead into their system i want to know about it to stop it.  Lead damage is irreversable.  Not something i want to find out about for the first time at 5
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  • *Amy**Amy*
    We just did it last week. I held him in my lap.  He cried, but they move quick and it is worth getting the test to make sure they are in the clear IMO.
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