Is this even something that they do everywhere?
We got the paperwork to go get blood work done to check DD's lead levels at her one year appointment and we have been putting off getting it done and now it's almost her 15 month appointment(oops!)
But has anyone just declined this test? It seems kind of unnecessary to me. ( but obviously I'm not an expert 
)
persimmon / 1233 posts
Lead is a very real possibility in our neighborhood so I don't know anyone that's declined, but they test for other things too. My LO had a mild iron deficiency which we wouldn't have known about so I'd say just do it!
blogger / pomegranate / 3491 posts
We did it. It was extremely easy - just a finger prick. My office doesn't do it til age 2.
wonderful pomelo / 30692 posts
We did it. It didn't even occur to me to decline. Ours wasn't a simple finger prick though - it was a full on blood draw, but they were testing other things as well.
cantaloupe / 6017 posts
It was a simple finger prick, and lead was a possibility for us (we live in an old house, my parents live in an old house, etc). I can't think of a reason not to do it...
cantaloupe / 6397 posts
I've never even heard of this! LO is 14 months and it's never been mentioned to me.
wonderful clementine / 24134 posts
They asked I think the age of our home but then never said anything. About a blood test.
wonderful cherry / 21504 posts
They test for lead and iron at the same time. I wasn't concerned about the lead but I wanted her iron checked- she was on the low end.
eggplant / 11716 posts
Ours also tested for lead and iron. It was a finger prick and LO didn't even cry--they have a machine in house that tests, so we got immediate gratification.
@Purpledaisy: why is it that you don't want to do it? Are you worried about the pain? It was nbd for us.
GOLD / wonderful pea / 17697 posts
We did it. Our complex is an old factory that was converted into apartments, though, so it was something we were concerned about.
pear / 1639 posts
Our dr asked if there was any reason to believe she may have been exposed and I said no...that was the end of that. We live in a newer house and most buildings in this area were built post lead...if there was any concern I would have no issue testing.
GOLD / wonderful coconut / 33402 posts
R got it done at 9 months and it was a finger prick.
GOLD / pomegranate / 3688 posts
I would not decline - both tests (iron and lead) are extremely important. Lead exposure can come from anywhere, including your water, so while it's unlikely your LO's test will come back with bad results, I would want to know. But the real reason for the test, to my mind, is iron. Many people - including myself and LO - are iron deficient, so I wanted to know how LO was doing.
For us, it was a full blood draw, and - no - it wasn't fun. But I can't protect her from everything.
hostess / wonderful honeydew / 32460 posts
Both my kids just got toe pricks. It was quick and painless. They didn't even flinch!
kiwi / 548 posts
It may vary by state, but in my area I have never heard of anyone declining. I can't think of a reason to decline. Lead poisoning can cause major delays, so I would have it done!
honeydew / 7091 posts
I've never even heard of this! L is 17 months, I wonder if they do it here?
GOLD / wonderful apricot / 22276 posts
Our pediatrician asked how old our house was then advised we do it based on that.
wonderful pear / 26210 posts
We did it, but largely because we were staying in a house built in the 1920s and we drink from the public water supply.
It was a heel prick.
coconut / 8498 posts
I would definitely not decline this. It's not just the age of your house that's a concern, but also the infrastructure of your water system. It's a very simple prick.
coconut / 8279 posts
@Weagle: ours wasn't a finger prick it was a full draw at the hospital.
It wasn't the most fun moment. DS hates to be held/confined so it was a struggle to get the needle in, but it didn't last long and he was laughing on the way out.
hostess / cantaloupe / 6486 posts
@Smurfette: ours was at our 9 month appointment (last week!) too. It wasn't a big deal except that they kept squeezing the ever living crap out of her finger to get more blood which pissed her off & made her wiggly so it just took longer because she wouldn't be still
hostess / watermelon / 14932 posts
I wanted to decline sooo bad because I didn't want to torture her. But honestly, I'm glad I did it. I would rather know for some reason if there was an issue.
eta: it was a full arm draw. not fun at all, but really...neither are all the shots.
pomelo / 5678 posts
It is really important imho. One of those things where it is better to know just in case. DD didn't even flinch, just a simple finger prick.
pomelo / 5258 posts
I'm pretty sure DD hasn't had blood drawn since birth. She's almost 16 months. I'll have to ask at her next appointment.
coconut / 8498 posts
@rachiecakes: Now that I actually think about it, I think they did a full draw. Either way, she certainly isn't traumatized by it, and I would rather know!
GOLD / watermelon / 14076 posts
We haven't had the lead test done but she had a finger prick blood draw to test for anemia at 9 months and it was no big deal. She didn't even cry at all. I wouldn't decline a test like this because to me a little discomfort for my child is worth it to know that she's healthy.
pomelo / 5524 posts
We got it done at 12 months, but it was not a finger prick. It was a full on blood draw, and I'm not going to lie...it was tough for me.
LO also had to have blood drawn at the same time to test for his egg allergy, so we did it all at once. They missed his vein the first time, so they had to do it again. Trying to hold a screaming 1 year old completely still for them to draw blood was definitely tougher on me than it was on him!
blogger / wonderful cherry / 21616 posts
I think it's a common test along with iron. I work in a clinic and the pediatric exam schedule we have from the CDC lists the blood tests at 12 months. My clinic did them at 9 months. We had to do a vein draw from his arm.
apricot / 457 posts
Like mentioned previously, the importance of it can vary depending on the area you live in and the age of your home. I live in the NE where almost all the homes were built before lead-safe paint was created and used so it was really really important for us to have our LO tested. If you live in an area where all the homes are newer, it might not be as pertinent. But it's still something I would get tested no matter what just for peace of mind.
eggplant / 11824 posts
Although we live in New England where lead is a real concern, our house was built in 2012 so we wanted to decline, however, it's state law that you get the lead test done at 1 year.
nectarine / 2973 posts
Thank you everyone for the responses!
I'm pretty sure that it will be a full on blood draw. She was already tested at her doctors office for iron by finger prick... I just hate to put her through getting blood drawn if it's not necessary.
apricot / 303 posts
We weren't offered any blood tests and LO is now 16 months. Any California bees know if it's a state requirement here? I'll be asking at the 18 month!
cantaloupe / 6059 posts
We weren't offered this! He had his 12 month appointment today and it wasn't even mentioned. Hmmmm.
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