Leave Lead Alone

What you need to know

to protect your family

Lead is a metal that our bodies don’t need. Exposure to lead can seriously harm your child’s health and future.

Lead exposure can cause:
Damage to the brain, nerves, and kidneys
Learning and behavior problems
Slowed growth and development
Hearing and speech problems

Most children show NO signs of lead poisoning.
Some symptoms may include stomach ache, fatigue, constipation, or irritability. Call your health care provider if you think your child may have lead poisoning.

Where lead lives

Lead can be found in many places.
Paint in homes built before 1978.

Clean and dust surfaces often. Don’t allow your child to play near old windows or in bare soil.

Water pumped through lead pipes.

Drink or cook with COLD water from the tap. Hot water can have higher levels of lead.

Certain toys and jewelry.

Watch what goes in your child’s mouth! Wash hands and toys often.

Traditional home remedies or imported items such as candies, makeup, or clay pottery may contain higher lead content which may be harmful to your child.

These items should be avoided or used as decoration only.

Some work environments may increase your exposure to lead-based products (building renovations, auto repair shops, etc.).

Take precautions and consider removing shoes before entering the home. Change clothing and shower to reduce lead exposure.

3 key nutrients

Calcium, Iron and Vitamin C

Good nutrition is another way to protect your family from lead.

For children and adults, three key nutrients can play a role in protecting the body from the harmful effects of lead:

CALCIUM

IRON

VITAMIN C

CALCIUM

IRON

VITAMIN C

These nutrients help the body absorb less lead and are part of a healthy diet. Choose a variety of foods daily!

SOURCES OF

Calcium

  • Cottage cheese
  • Pudding
  • Calcium fortified orange juice
  • Dark, leafy green vegetables
  • Milk
  • Yogurt
  • Cheese

SOURCES OF

Iron

  • WIC-approved cereals
  • Legumes (peas, beans, lentils)
  • Dried fruits
  • Lean red meats, fish, chicken, turkey
  • Dark, leafy green vegetables

SOURCES OF

Vitamin C

  • Oranges
  • Grapefruit
  • Tomatoes
  • Bell peppers
  • Broccoli
  • Potatoes
  • Strawberries
  • Melons
  • WIC-approved juices

Check

for lead

Your health care provider can do a simple finger-prick test for lead.

Talk to your health care provider about getting your child tested for lead at age 1 and 2 years old.

Office of Healthy Environments

Call 302-744-4546
Go to LeadSafeDelaware.org
logo

What you need to know

to protect your family

Lead is a metal that our bodies don’t need. Exposure to lead can seriously harm your child’s health and future.

Lead exposure can cause:
Damage to the brain, nerves, and kidneys
Learning and behavior problems
Slowed growth and development
Hearing and speech problems

Most children show NO signs of lead poisoning.
Some symptoms may include stomach ache, fatigue, constipation, or irritability. Call your health care provider if you think your child may have lead poisoning.

Where lead lives

Lead can be found in many places.
Paint in homes built before 1978.

Clean and dust surfaces often. Don’t allow your child to play near old windows or in bare soil.

Water pumped through lead pipes.

Drink or cook with COLD water from the tap. Hot water can have higher levels of lead.

Certain toys and jewelry.

Watch what goes in your child’s mouth! Wash hands and toys often.

Traditional home remedies or imported items such as candies, makeup, or clay pottery may contain higher lead content which may be harmful to your child.

These items should be avoided or used as decoration only.

Some work environments may increase your exposure to lead-based products (building renovations, auto repair shops, etc.).

Take precautions and consider removing shoes before entering the home. Change clothing and shower to reduce lead exposure.

3 key nutrients

Calcium, Iron and Vitamin C

Good nutrition is another way to protect your family from lead.

For children and adults, three key nutrients can play a role in protecting the body from the harmful effects of lead:

CALCIUM

IRON

VITAMIN C

CALCIUM

IRON

VITAMIN C

These nutrients help the body absorb less lead and are part of a healthy diet. Choose a variety of foods daily!

SOURCES OF

Calcium

  • Cottage cheese
  • Pudding
  • Calcium fortified orange juice
  • Dark, leafy green vegetables
  • Milk
  • Yogurt
  • Cheese

SOURCES OF

Iron

  • WIC-approved cereals
  • Legumes (peas, beans, lentils)
  • Dried fruits
  • Lean red meats, fish, chicken, turkey
  • Dark, leafy green vegetables

SOURCES OF

Vitamin C

  • Oranges
  • Grapefruit
  • Tomatoes
  • Bell peppers
  • Broccoli
  • Potatoes
  • Strawberries
  • Melons
  • WIC-approved juices

Check

for lead

Your health care provider can do a simple finger-prick test for lead.

Talk to your health care provider about getting your child tested for lead at age 1 and 2 years old.

Locations Providing Blood Lead Testing

New Castle County

Hudson State Service Center
Public Health Clinic
501 Ogletown Road
Newark, DE 19711
302-283-7587 ext. 3

Porter State Service Center
Public Health Clinic
509 W. 8th Street
Wilmington, DE 19801
302-777-2860

Kent County
Williams State Service Center
Public Health Clinic
805 River Road
Dover, DE 19901
302-857-5140

Milford State Service Center at the Riverwalk
Public Health Clinic
253 NE Front Street
Milford, DE 19963
302-424-7140
Sussex County
Thurman Adams State Service Center
Public Health Clinic
544 S. Bedford Street
Georgetown, DE 19947
302-515-3174

Anna C. Shipley State Service Center
Public Health Clinic
350 Virginia Avenue
Seaford, DE 19973
302-628-6772

Office of Healthy Environments

Call 302-744-4546
Go to LeadSafeDelaware.org
logo

Feeding a 6-7 Month Old

Feed solids with a spoon and from a bowl, never from a bottle.

Feeding a 10-12 Month Old

Breast milk is the most important source of nutrition for your baby, even after you start offering solid foods.

Feeding a 8-9 Month Old

Feed solids with a spoon. Never put cereal in a bottle.

Tips

Mom new born home

Breast milk and formula feeding:

Around 2-3 weeks, 6 weeks, 3 months, and 6 months of age, babies may experience a growth spurt when they feed more often.

As they grow babies can hold more milk, so feedings may become further apart and take less time.

To prevent choking, always hold your baby when feeding. Never prop up a bottle to feed.

Start offering whole milk when your baby is one year old.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months and that breastfeeding continue for at least 12 months and beyond.

feeding solid foods

Feeding solid foods:

Wait to offer solid foods until your baby:

  • Can sit up and hold up their own head.
  • Opens their mouth when they see food.
  • Can close their lips around a spoon.

To prevent choking, always hold your baby when feeding. Never prop up a bottle to feed.

Try one new food at a time. Wait 5 days before trying another new food to watch for allergies. Food allergies may include wheezing, rash, or diarrhea.

Introduce peanut butter around 6 months. Spread a small, thin smear of peanut butter or nut butter thinly on a cracker.  Watch your baby for any reaction for the next 2 hours.

Babies under one year should NOT have honey due to the risk of botulism. Also, babies should not have foods that can cause choking like nuts or whole grapes.

All babies are different. Talk with WIC or your baby’s healthcare provider about your baby’s needs.

Feeding Cues

Feeding a 4-5 Month Old

Before teeth come in, wipe gums with a soft, clean wash cloth after each feeding, especially before bed.

Feeding a 0-3 Month Old

Newborns have tiny tummies and need to be fed often. In the first few weeks, you may need to wake your baby to feed if they sleep longer than 4 hours.

Growth Spurts

Many babies are fussy during a growth spurt and will want to nurse longer and more often. This is called cluster feeding. This is your baby’s way of helping you increase your milk supply so that you can keep up with their needs. Remember, the more your baby nurses, the more milk your body makes.

Growth spurts can happen at any time, and every baby is different.

They often happen at these ages:

two-three-weeks

2 to 3 Weeks

6 Weeks

three-months

3 Months

six-months

6 Months

What foods can I get?

Authorized Food List
Authorized Food List

Where can I shop?