Category: Health

Lead in items from other countries

MEDICINES AND HOME REMEDIES

  • Middle East
    • Alkohl, Bint Al Dahab, Bint Al Zahab,Bokhoor, Murrah, Farouk, Santrinj
  • Asia, India
    • Bali Goli, Ghasard, Kandu, Deshi Dewa
  • India, Tibet
    • Ayurvedic Medicine, Tibetan Herbal Vitamins, Kushta
  • China
    • Jin Bu Huan, Po Ying Tan, Bo-Baw-San,Litharge, Cordyceps, Hai Ge Fen
  • Southeast Asia
    • Koo Sar, Pay-loo-ah
  • West Africa
    • Calabash Chalk (Nzu, Calabar Stone, Poto, Ndom, Mabele, Argile, or La Craie)
  • Mexico, Central America
    • Azarcon (Alarcon, Coral, Luiga, Maria Luisa, or Rueda), Litargirio, Greta, Albayald

Collection of herbs in wooden bowls with mortar and pestle

Picture of Cordyceps in a wooden spoons

Two spoons, one holding red Azarcon and the other holding yellow Greta

A plate of spiced grasshoppers

Jar of Allspice

FOOD, CANDY, AND SPICES

  • Middle East
    • Lozenna
  • Mexico
    • Grasshoppers (Chapulines), Tamarind candy, Chili Powder, and Spices
  • Eastern Europe, Republic of Georgia
    • Svanuri Marili, Kharcho Suneli
  • Asia, India
    • Kuzhambu

COSMETICS

  • Asia, India
    • Sindoor
  • Middle East, India, & North Africa
    • Surma/Kohl/Al Kohl, Henna

A jar of kohl, with some of the black powder poured out

Two clay-based coffee cups

POTTERY AND COOKWARE

  • Ceramic glaze used in pottery may contain lead and enter food stored or prepared in the pottery.

TOYS AND JEWELRY

  • Products bought from many stores have been found to contain lead. Visit www.cpsc.gov for more information.

Child wearing colorful toy rings

Tips for your 16-18 month old baby

HELP ME BE HEALTHY.

At this checkup, the doctor will:

  • Weigh and measure me.
  • Check me from head to toe.
  • See how I walk.
  • Check my teeth.
  • Check my eyes and ears.
  • Give me any vaccines I missed before.

Take my health journal with us to write down my height and weight and any vaccines I might get.

KEEP ME SAFE.

  • Close the bathroom doors so I don’t play in there.
  • I can feed myself, but it’s still easy for me to choke on food. Don’t give me small foods like peanuts, popcorn, marshmallows, or gum drops. Other foods that aren’t safe for me to eat are raw carrots and celery, grapes, hot dogs, and Vienna sausage. Always watch me while I eat. Help me get into the habit of sitting quietly while I eat.
  • Now I can climb. I can push a chair to climb into the cupboards, over the porch railing, or to an open window! I don’t know what trouble I can get myself into. Put screens in the windows and make sure they are latched tight. Only open the top section of the window so I can’t get out.

HELP ME CONTROL MY BEHAVIOR.

  • Show me things that are okay for me to do. If I’m fighting with another child over a toy, take away the toy or give us each a toy. If I’m doing something you don’t want me to do, take me away from the area and give me something else to play with. Hitting me and yelling at me won’t teach me what I should do.
  • Join a parenting class to learn more ways to help me behave. Call the local county extension office or a nearby elementary school to find out about parenting classes.

PLAY WITH ME, IT HELPS ME LEARN.

  • When I point, tell me the word I am trying to say. If I point to the cat, say “It’s a cat,” so I can hear the words that I’m trying to say.
  • Let me help you. Let me take a spoon to the table or put dirty clothes with the clothes to be washed.
  • Let me play in the bath to learn to pour and squeeze. I like to use plastic bowls and containers in the tub. Never leave me alone in the tub.
  • Remind me again and again what I can and cannot touch. I’m just learning how things work. I can’t remember what I should not touch.
  • Teach me to take care of my teeth. Help me brush my teeth with a child-sized, soft-bristled toothbrush and water. I’m still too young to use toothpaste. Let me watch you when you brush your teeth so I can learn from you.

WATCH HOW I GROW.

I learn new skills at my own pace.

I need help in lots of ways to practice my new skills. By the time I’m 18 months old, I should be able to do most of the things in the list below. If you are worried about what I can do. talk to my doctor or nurse. To find a nearby Early Childhood Intervention program, call the DARS Help Line toll-free at 1-800-628-5115.

Watch for me to:

  • Walk by myself! I have good balance. I don’t tip from side to side and I hardly ever fall down.
  • Help around the house. I can put something on the chair when you ask me. I can get what you ask me to get. I can put something away if you remind me.
  • Drink from a cup or glass by myself, maybe spilling a little of it.
  • Say “No” and shake my head from side to side.
  • Roll a ball back and forth with you.
  • Say at least 3 words other than “Dada” and “Mama.”
  • Scribble on paper with crayon and pencil. This keeps me busy for a few minutes. Watch me carefully because I might chew on the crayon.
  • Try to brush my own teeth, but I’m too young to do it by myself. I still need your help.
View Brochure

Important information about your 18 month old

Family

Set firm, fair rules and keep them the same to teach your child respect and discipline. Timeout should happen in a neutral area of the house (one minute for each year of age). Also, praise them for things that they do correctly and for good behavior. Eat meals as a family and encourage physical activity, whether as a family or with others. Support emerging independence but reinforce limits.

Development

Use simple words to describe pictures in the books that you read. Allow your child to choose between two options. Use simple, clear words and phrases to promote language development. Make sure to describe feelings and emotions. At this age, your child will have stranger anxiety and more separation anxiety when away from you. This is because they are perceiving and understanding more movements. They also enjoy imaginary play, so engage your child with different toys and pretend play.

Health

There should be no smoking in the home of the child or in the car. Your child should have a night routine, including reading, singing, brushing teeth. They should also be brushing their teeth twice a day with child’s toothpaste and a soft toothbrush. There should be no TV at meals, and if you choose to introduce media at this age, we recommend less than 1 hour a day of high quality applications (i.e. Daniel Tiger for parent app) and always with a parent. Do not use TV as a means to calm your child. Excessive media use in children has been associated with obesity, lack of sleep, aggression, and behavior problems.

Nutrition

Your child should have 3 meals a day with 2-3 snacks per day. They should be eating healthy meals with no junk food. Encourage them to feed themselves and choose what they want to eat off of the plate. They should be off of the bottle, but, if not, continue to wean them off of it, only putting water in the bottle and don’t give them their bottle while they are in bed.

Safety

Make sure your home is childproofed and that your child still sits in a rear-facing car seat in the back seat. Around water, you should never be more than an arm-length away from your child, and think about signing them up for swimming lessons. No smoking in house or car. If your family owns any guns, they should be kept unloaded and locked away. The hot water heater should be set to 120 °F or below. Keep hot liquids out of reach and be careful when cooking in the kitchen.

Poison Control: 1-800-222-1222

After Hours and Weekends
After 4:00 PM and before 8:00 AM
For medical advice when People’s is closed call After Hours Nurse line at 512-478-4939

Download PDF here.

The Magic of Everyday Moments (18-24 Months)

Remember, everyday moments are rich bonding and learning opportunities. Enjoy the magic of these moments with your child.

Logo for Johnson and Johnson Pediatric Institute LLC

Johnson & Johnson Pediatric Institute, L.L.C., is a company solely
dedicated to improving maternal and children’s healthcare through the advancement of continued learning and research in pediatrics, child development, parenting and maternity care. Through partnerships with leading healthcare professionals, developmental specialists and international organizations, Johnson & Johnson Pediatric Institute, L.L.C., identifies, develops and implements initiatives and programs that help shape the future of children’s health around the world.

Logo for Zero to Three organization

ZERO TO THREE is a national nonprofit organization of renowned pediatricians, educators, researchers, and other child development experts who specialize in the first years of life.

When your child starts to talk, it opens a whole new world and ends a lot of guessing games. Most children this age can use several words. This reduces a lot of frustration for you and your child. It can also be a very exciting time as you see a vocabulary “explosion” with new words every day. The more you talk with her, the more words she learns. She’ll also have more confidence in her ability to communicate.

Of course, more words doesn’t mean an end to all parenting challenges. You may experience what many call the “terrible two’s” (which often starts before 18 months!) But while toddlers can be exhausting and infuriating at times, they aren’t “terrible.” They are just eager explorers, testing out different behaviors without yet understanding right from wrong; and, without the self-control to stop themselves from doing what they want, even if they’ve been told countless times what is and isn’t okay. So choose your battles and decide what is important to address. When you do lay down the law and are met with angry protests and tears, remind yourself that you’re doing the right thing. Although it’s never fun to be the “heavy,” children thrive on clear and consistent limits. Limits help children learn what is and isn’t acceptable and helps them make good choices as they grow.

Download The Magic of Everyday Moments™ (18-24 Months)

Tips for your 13-15 Month old baby

HELP ME BE HEALTHY.

At this checkup, my doctor will:

  • Weigh and measure me.
  • Give me a few vaccines at IS months. If I missed some vaccines before, I will get more. These vaccines help me grow up healthy. If I had any reactions to the vaccines before, remind the doctor or nurse what happened.
  • Ask the doctor or WIC nutritionist about my eating habits. I’m eating lots of different foods. Don’t worry if my appetite changes from meal to meal.

Take my health journal whenever we go to the clinic or doctor. Write the date I get any vaccines and the reason I see the doctor. For example, write if I’m sick or hurt. If you don’t have health insurance for me, call the Children’s Health Insurance Program at 1-877-543-7669 (1-877-KIDS-NOW) to find out about children’s health insurance.

TAKE CARE OF MY TEETH.

Take me for a dental visit. The dentist will count my teeth, look for cavities, and talk to you about how to take care of my teeth. The den­tist might also paint some fluoride on my teeth to make them stronger. If we start tak­ing care of my teeth when they first come in, I can grow up without cavities.

Remember:

  • Brush my teeth every day.
  • Don’t share my spoon when you feed me.
  • Don’t put my pacifier in your mouth.

KEEP ME SAFE.

  • Help me learn what is all right to do. Show me and tell me what you want me to do. If I don’t do it, show me or tell me again. Praise me when I do it right. Do not yell at me or hit me. I learn more quickly and easily if you teach or show me than if you punish me.
  • Teach me not to play around stairs and windows. Accidents can happen. Check the screens on the windows. Make sure the screens are not broken or torn. The screens should be attached securely so I can’t open them.
  • Help me get ready to go to sleep. Bedtimes can be a problem when I’m overly tired. I really enjoy a story or other quiet activity before I go to sleep. This bedtime routine helps me settle down.
  • Be calm when I have a temper tantrum. It’s okay for me to cry and scream when I’m angry. This is one way I say “I’m angry.” I don’t have enough words yet to explain my anger. You can say, “I know you feel really angry when that happens!” As I grow older, I can learn other ways to deal with my anger. But don’t give in to me just because I’m screaming. Let me calm down and then help me change my atten­tion to something I can do. Here are some ways you can help me stop the tantrum:
    • Keep calm.
    • Put me in a safe place to keep me from hurting myself.
    • Hug me and comfort me when I have calmed down. Spanking and yelling at me don’t help. They only make me angrier. I will calm down on my own. When I’m quiet, help me do an activity I enjoy.

PLAY WITH ME, IT HELPS ME LEARN.

  • Read me stories. This helps me learn new sounds and words.
  • Play hide-and-seek games.
  • Pretend with me. Let’s make believe we are cooking, eating, washing, cleaning, drinking, or going on a hike. I like to copy what you do. Some of the time it will be fun for you to copy what I do.
  • Build a tower with blocks.
  • Reward me when I do a good thing. Think about rewarding me with activities that I like to do, like reading a favorite story or spending time with a favorite person. Using food as a reward can lead to prob­lems later.

WATCH HOW I GROW.

I learn at my own pace.
If you have questions because you think it’s taking me a long time to learn to do some things in this list, please call my doctor or nurse. To find a nearby Early Childhood Intervention program, call the DARS Help Line toll-free at 1-800-628-5115.

Watch for me to:

  • Let you know what I want without crying. I might point, reach, make a sound, put up my arms, pull on you, or even say a word.
  • Stand by myself or walk.
  • Wave bye-bye when someone is leaving and says “bye-bye” to me.
  • Call you “Mama” and “Dada.” You are so happy to hear me say those words when I see you.
  • Talk all the time. Most of the time it sounds like jabbering. I’m the only one who knows what it means.
  • Know the meaning of some words like “juice,” “Cup,” “on,” and “out.”
  • Stoop to pick something up and stand up again without holding on to anything.
  • Drop small things like a block into a container. When I do this, I open my hand to drop the block.
  • Turn and look when you call me.

You might notice that I also:

  • Have a change in appetite. I may not eat as much as I used to because I’m not growing as fast.
  • Put all my energy into learning to walk. Because I’m learning to walk, I might be slow to learn some other things.
View Brochure

Important Information about your 15 month old

Family

Set firm, fair rules and keep them the same to teach your child respect and discipline. Timeouts should happen in a neutral area of the house (one minute for each year of age). Be sure to praise them for things that they do correctly. Make time for yourself and partner, and think about joining parenting or play groups. Establish routines around the house and traditions that they can be a part of.

Development

When reading to your child, use simple words to describe pictures and use simple, clear words and phrases to promote language development. Let your child choose what to read from time to time. Make sure to describe feelings and emotions. By this age, they should know at least three words, can pull themselves up and walk by holding onto furniture. They may also have stranger anxiety and more separation anxiety when away from you. This is because they are becoming more aware and understanding more.

Health

There should be no smoking in the home of the child or in the car. Your child should have a night-time routine, including reading, singing, and brushing teeth. They should be brushing their teeth twice a day with child’s fluoride toothpaste and a soft toothbrush. Go to www.ilikemyteeth.org and www.mychildrensteeth.org – they are great sites for information on fluoride and dentists. There should be no TV at mealtime.

Eating

Your child will eat less in their second year and should only gain about 5-7 pounds total. They should have 3 meals and 2 snacks per day. Remember to fill half their plate with fruits/vegetables at each meal. A serving size is the size of your child’s fist so do not serve large portions. Encourage them to feed themselves and let them choose what they want to eat off of the plate. Do not force feed or bribe them. No junk food. Make sure to avoid small hard foods as they can cause your child to choke. Limit milk to less than 16-20 oz/day. Encourage drinking water instead of juice throughout the day.

Safety

Make sure your home is childproofed and that your child still sits in a rear-facing car seat in the back seat. Around water, you should never be more than an arm’s length away from your child. No smoking in house or car. Check your smoke detectors once a month. If your family owns any guns, make sure they are kept unloaded, and locked away separately. The hot water heater should be set to 120 °F or below. Keep hot liquids out of reach and be careful when cooking in the kitchen.

Poison Control: 1-800-222-1222

After Hours and Weekends
After 4:00 PM and before 8:00 AM
For medical advice when People’s is closed call After Hours Nurse line at 512-478-4939

Download PDF here.

The Magic of Everyday Moments (15-18 Months)

Remember, everyday moments are rich bonding and learning opportunities. Enjoy the magic of these moments with your child.

Logo for Johnson and Johnson Pediatric Institute LLC

Johnson & Johnson Pediatric Institute, L.L.C., is a company solely
dedicated to improving maternal and children’s healthcare through the advancement of continued learning and research in pediatrics, child development, parenting and maternity care. Through partnerships with leading healthcare professionals, developmental specialists and international organizations, Johnson & Johnson Pediatric Institute, L.L.C., identifies, develops and implements initiatives and programs that help shape the future of children’s health around the world.

Logo for Zero to Three organization

ZERO TO THREE is a national nonprofit organization of renowned pediatricians, educators, researchers, and other child development experts who specialize in the first years of life.

If you’re like many parents of young toddlers, you may be feeling both exhilarated and tired, as children this age tend to be very intense—physically and emotionally. Chances are, your toddler is not only walking, but running and climbing as well. So you may be doing a lot more chasing after him just to keep up and keep him safe. If you are a parent who loved the infancy stage—holding, cuddling, and swaddling—a fast and furious toddler might throw you for a loop. Many parents also have some mixed feelings at this age. They may feel joy at seeing their child so capable and independent, and sadness at seeing their “baby” grow up. But rest assured, your child still needs you, just in different ways. He needs you to be a “safe base” to come back to when he ventures out on new explorations. And he needs you to be his coach, helping him master new challenges and cheering him on as he makes new discoveries.

This second year is also often a time of strong emotions—for toddlers and their parents. Toddlers know what they want. However, they don’t yet have the skills to carry out all their plans and desires. This can mean lots of frustration and breakdowns—fondly known as tantrums. These tantrums may make you want to crumble too, right at the time when your child needs you to be his rock. Your guidance and boundaries will help him feel confident and safe.

Download The Magic of Everyday Moments™ (15-18 Months)

Lead Poisoning

What is Lead?

Lead is a poisonous metal that you and your family could be around every day. The good news is, you can keep your family safe and get the lead out!

What You Should Know:

Lead can come from your house, where you work, or other common things:

  • Paint and dust in older homes or apartments, especially dust from construction or repairs
  • Some items made in other countries like pottery (including Mexican bean pots), ceramics, crystal, Mexican candy, make up, glazed pots, and folk medicine (“greta” and “azarcon”)
  • Recalled toys and toy jewelry that have been shown to contain too much lead
  • Jobsites like auto refinishing, construction, and plumbing
  • Dirt and drinking water from old plumbing

Good nutrition can help keep the lead out.

  • Healthy foods with iron and calcium may keep lead out of your child’s blood.
    • Iron is in lean red meats, beans, peanut butter, whole grains, and enriched breads and cereals. To better absorb the iron in foods, eat vitamin C foods – like oranges, strawberries, broccoli, bell pepper, and juice – and iron foods together.
    • Calcium is in milk, yogurt, cheese, and green leafy vegetables like spinach.
  • Give your child three meals and two or three snacks every day. Your child’s stomach absorbs more lead when it is empty.

FACT #1 – Most children get lead poisoning from breathing or swallowing old paint or paint dust from homes and apartments built before 1978.

  • When old paint cracks and peels, it makes dangerous dust. The dust is so small you cannot see it. Children can get lead poisoning when they breathe and swallow the dust on their hands and toys.

FACT #2 – Lead poisoning can cause looming and behavior problems. Some of the effects of lead poisoning may never go away.

  • Children under 6 years old are most likely to get sick from lead. Even low levels of lead in your child’s body can:
    • Slow down growth and development
    • Damage hearing and speech
    • Make it hard to pay attention and learn
  • If you are pregnant, lead can harm your baby.

FACT #3 – A lead test is the only way to know if your family has been around too much lead and could have lead poisoning.

  • Most children with lead poisoning do not look or act sick. Ask your doctor to test you or your child for lead.
  • There is no “safe” level of lead in the body.

What You Can Do

Test your home for lead.

  • If your home was built before 1978, have it checked by a licensed lead inspector.
  • Do not try to remove old lead paint yourself! Sanding or scraping lead paint can make dangerous lead dust.

Ask your doctor to test your family for lead poisoning.

Keep your child away from lead sources.

Try to keep your child from eating or chewing on things other than food – especially dirt or painted surfaces like windowsills or doors.

  • Wash your child’s hands often, especially before eating and sleeping, and also after playing outside or on the floor.
  • Vacuum and mop floors and clean around windows and play areas.
  • If you have old paint in your home, cover painted areas or use tape to cover chipping or peeling paint.
  • Keep outside lead from coming in to your home – leave shoes and work clothes at the door and wash door rugs often.

Use cold, filtered water.

  • Use bottled water or a pitcher with a filter if you think your drinking water has lead in it.
  • Run the tap water cold for 1-2 minutes in the morning and then fill a pitcher with water for drinking, cooking, or formula preparation.
  • Do not use hot tap water to prepare baby formula or for cooking. Hot water may contain higher levels of lead. Boiling water will not reduce the amount of lead.

Prepare and store foods safely.

  • Store food in glass, stainless steel, or plastic containers.
  • Do not use glazed pottery to cook, serve, or store food unless you know it is lead-free.
  • Clean counters before preparing food.
  • Wash fruits and vegetables before eating.

Who to Call

For blood lead testing, call your doctor. If your child has Medicaid, you can call Texas Health Steps at 1-877-TXSTEPS if you need help finding health care.

If you have questions about lead poisoning, contact the Texas Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program at 1-800-588 1248 or www.dshs.state. tx. us/lead/parents.shtm.

Tips for your 10-12 month old baby

HELP ME BE HEALTHY.

  • At this checkup, the doctor will:
  • Weigh and measure me.
  • Give me any vaccines or blood tests I missed before.
  • Give me vaccines at 12 months of age.
  • Check my teeth.
  • Screen me to see if I have been exposed to lead. I can get lead in my body by breathing or eating lead dust, chips, or flakes. The lead can get into my nerves and my bones. It can affect the way I learn, grow, and hear. The earlier we catch the problem, the less harm will happen to me.
  • Ask my doctor about a tuberculin test.

Watch for signs of an ear infection.

If I tug at my ears or have a cold lasting many days, this could mean I have an ear infection. Ear infections could affect my hearing. Being sick a lot could affect my growth and learning. If I don’t feel well, it might be hard for me to see, hear, think, and learn. If I act, look, or feel like I’m sick, please call the doctor or nurse right away.

TAKE CARE OF MY TEETH.

  • Start planning for my next dental visit for when I’m 12 months old.
  • Call your dentist or a dentist just for me and set up this visit.
  • Brush my teeth ever y day, and look for any white or brown spots. These could be cavities.
  • If I have any white or brown spots on my teeth, take me to the dentist as soon as possible.

HELP ME BE SAFE.

  • I like to pull things out of drawers. Make sure drawers cannot be pulled out all the way.
  • Make sure that unsafe things are not in the drawers. Give me a low drawer or cupboard of my own to store some of my toys.
  • Store my toys, books, and other things where I can reach them. Sturdy shelves, dish­pans, buckets, and cardboard boxes are good.
  • I can choke on food. Don’t give me hard-to­-chew foods such as popcorn, nuts, raisins, tortilla chips and grapes. Don’t give me hotdogs, even if they’re cut into pieces.
  • I still need to be watched carefully. Common accidents for chil­dren my age are: falls, burns, choking, poisoning, car accidents, and drowning. Don’t leave me in a bath or around anything with water (like a mop bucket).

PLAY WITH ME, IT HELPS ME LEARN.

  • Make a book for me using cardboard for the pages. Paste photographs and pictures from magazines on the pages. I like to see pictures of me, my family and my favorite toys, foods, and places. Let me turn the pages.
  • Play a game of “Which-hand-is-it-in?” Hold a small object in your hand. Show me what’s in your hand. Switch back and forth between your hands. Let me guess which hand the object is in.
  • Let me practice dropping things into containers such as a block into a box. I will need help getting the blocks back out.

Good Days and Bad Days

All parents have bad days and sometimes feel worn out. It is common for a parent’s body to ache a little from the work of being a parent. This doesn’t mean you are doing anything wrong. Remember that these bad days are usually followed by good days. Young children need parents who try their best, but that doesn’t mean you will succeed all the time. Try not to worry about being a super parent or a super family.

Talking to someone and asking for help:

  • Shows that you love me and care about me.
  • Shows that you are being a good parent.

WATCH HOW I GROW

I’m special. I learn at my own pace.
Most children have the following skills by the time they are a year old. If I’m not doing several of the items on this list, talk to my doctor or nurse. To find a nearby Early Childhood Intervention program, call the DARS Help Line toll-free at 1-800-628-5115.

Watch for me to:

  • Play Pat-a-cake or other clapping games.
  • Pull myself up by hanging onto a chair or my crib rail.
  • Pick up a cube or small toy in each hand and bang them together.
  • Pick up a small object, like a piece of cereal, using my thumb and a finger.
  • Say the same sound over and over, like, “babababa” or “lalalala.”
  • Say “mama” or “dada.” Even though I say these words, I don’t know what they mean. They are sounds for me to say.
  • Stop doing something if you say “No.” I sometimes stop doing it only for a short time, though. Changing my attention with a toy is best.
  • Follow some easy directions, like, “Come here” or “Give it to me.”
  • Stand by myself for at least two seconds.
  • Sit up all by myself.
View Brochure

Your Guide to Raising a Healthy Eater

Having young children is one of the hardest and most rewarding times of your life! Between working and taking care of your family’s needs, it’s sometimes easy to forget to make sure everything is on track. That’s where this guide comes in handy. Written with information from doctors, nutritionists, and moms who have been there, this is a great guide to help your child become a healthy eater. The more your kids grow, the more you will want to know!

In this guide, you will learn:

Helping Your Child Develop Healthy Food Habits

Healthy Foods for a Healthy Plate

Physical Activity for your Child

Behaviors That Help Families Stay Healthy

Download Guide