Help Prevent Cerebral Palsy in Your Young Child

As the parent of a baby or toddler, you can help prevent cerebral palsy in the following ways:

• Get treatment if your newborn has jaundice. All newborns with jaundice (hyperbilirubinemia) need to be seen by a doctor. Treatment is not always required, but it is important to make sure jaundice does not reach a dangerous level that can cause brain injury.
• Prevent head injury. Although not all head injuries in babies and young children can be prevented, do what you can by consistently using general safety measures. For example, put your child in a properly installed safety seat when he or she is riding in a vehicle. Avoid the use of baby walkers, which can cause severe accidents (such as falling down a flight of stairs) and result in brain injuries. Never shake or throw your baby. A baby's brain can be injured severely from the impact, a condition known as shaken baby syndrome.
• Prevent lead poisoning. Houses built before 1978 may have lead in the original paint. Children may chew, lick, or eat lead paint on toys, jewelry, or woodwork. This can lead to lead poisoning. If you live in a house that was built before 1978, call your local health department for suggestions on how to identify and handle lead paint. For more information, see the topic Lead Poisoning.
• Prevent serious infection in your child. Protect your child from certain infections that may lead to brain damage.
  • Keep your child away from people with serious illnesses that are contagious, such as meningitis.
  • Schedule and keep well-child checkups. And follow the recommended childhood immunization schedule. This protects your child from illnesses that cause serious conditions in young children. For more information, see the topic Immunizations.
  • Take an ill child to the doctor if he or she has not improved with home treatment.