Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) may seem like something you don't have to worry about yet, but a new study of almost 4,000 children has revealed two key steps parents can take to lessen their baby's chances of developing the disorder: Don't smoke, and minimize your child's exposure to lead.
Kids whose moms smoked during pregnancy had up to a 2.5-fold increase in ADHD risk. Even more alarming, kids with blood lead levels as low as 2 micrograms per deciliter were at a fourfold increased risk for ADHD (currently, the CDC considers the danger level to be 10 micrograms of lead per deciliter). One tip: Take your shoes off inside (lead can hang out in dirt).
