The Baby-Proofing Checklist for Lead

You know my motto, Test with a kit, not a kid.

That phrase came from a painful truth I discovered back in 2019 when I started making lead test swabs. Most of the people buying them weren’t doing it as a precaution.

They were doing it after their child had already been poisoned. Their kid was the first sign that something was wrong in the environment.

That should not happen.

When I discovered a new kind of glowing lead test in 2022—one that could detect lead dust more easily, affordably, and clearly—I knew we had a shot at changing that. Now, with tools like FluoroSpec, we can test before a problem starts, not after it harms someone.

So let’s talk about how to actually protect your home.

Below is an easy, no-nonsense Lead Safety Baby-Proofing Checklist.

These are the real-world, evidence-based steps that would have prevented MOST lead exposures.

#1: Know the Age of Your Home

This is the #1 tip.If you don’t know when your home was built, find out. It's the single most important factor in determining your lead risk.

• 87% of homes built before 1940 contain lead-based paint

• 69% of homes built between 1940–1960

• 24% of homes built between 1960–1978

Why 1978? That’s the year lead paint was officially banned in U.S. residential construction.But "banned" doesn’t mean "removed." Lead paint is still hiding under layers of newer paint in tens of millions of homes.

In fact, HUD estimates 30 million homes in the U.S. today still have potential lead hazards.

And it’s not just walls.Lead paint on surfaces that experience friction—like windows, doors, stair railings, and floors—can grind into dust and contaminate your entire house. That’s what gets into your baby’s hands, toys, and mouth.

#2: Watch Out for Old Keys and Wires

Lead isn't just in paint.

Old keys, especially brass keys, often contain lead. So do some vintage electronics, cords, and soldered wires. If your child loves grabbing your keychain or exploring that drawer full of old chargers—you’ve got a risk.

Swap keys for stainless steel, and don’t let babies chew on random household items, especially if you’re not sure how old they are.

#3: Be Aware of “Take-Home” Lead

This one catches a lot of people off guard.

If you work or hobby around lead—even casually—you can bring it home with you.

That includes:

• Fishing weights

• Scuba diving gear

• Shooting ranges

• Painting or home renovation

• Battery manufacturing or recycling

• Industrial or mechanical work

If you’ve ever come home from a job or project with dusty clothes or dirty hands:You may have brought lead into your home.

Here’s how to cut that risk down:

• Wash your hands and face thoroughly

• Change your clothes before getting into your car

• Keep work shoes separate from house shoes

• Don’t wash work clothes with your family laundry

#4: Watch What You Eat—Literally

Not all lead hazards are in your house.Some are in your food.

Thanks to the legacy contamination of soil from decades of burning leaded gasoline, trace lead is present everywhere—even in organically grown produce.

That doesn’t mean you need to freak out. It just means you need to be informed.

Root vegetables and low-growing crops pull more lead from the soil.Foods like:

• Spinach

• Potatoes

• Cassava

• Carrots

These tend to have higher lead levels than fruits or grains grown higher above the ground.

The solution?Feed your kids a varied diet.Sweet potatoes are great, but not three meals a day.

Final Thought:

This isn’t about scaring you.

It’s about empowering you.

Lead exposure isn’t always obvious. It doesn’t have a smell. You cant see it. You won’t feel it.

But once you know the risks, you can prevent the harm.

That’s why I started Everything Lead and that’s why I make FluoroSpec.

And that’s why I say it again:

Test with a kit. Not a kid.

Look both ways before you cross the street.

And test before you renovate, repaint, or hand that heirloom toy to your toddler.

Want to test your home with the same tech I use?👉 Shop FluoroSpec Lead Test Kits

Want to know more about FDA action levels, food contamination, and what’s being done (or not done) to fix it?👉 Read my blog post on lead in baby food