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Supporting Healthy Development

Many factors can affect a child’s health and development. Some health conditions and disabilities can’t be prevented, but there are steps you can take to lower certain health risks.

Prenatal Visits

It’s important to get regular health care while you’re pregnant. Talk with your health care provider about medical conditions, medications, vaccines, infections, nutrition, alcohol and nicotine use, and your mental health.

Get Support Early

If you know you’re at high risk for certain conditions, it can help to find support early. There are resources in Texas that can connect your family with support services to help you lower health risks.

Developmental Screenings

After your baby is born, regular checkups and developmental screenings can help you track your child’s growth. These appointments can help you understand your child’s needs and decide if additional screenings are necessary.

No parent can control every health outcome. If your child has a disability or health condition, visit the Resources for Children with Disabilities page to learn more about caring for a child with disabilities and the supports available for your family.

Reducing Health Risks During Pregnancy 

Certain infections and exposures during pregnancy can affect a baby’s health and development. You can take steps to reduce some risks and support a healthy pregnancy. 

Preventing Congenital Syphilis

Syphilis is a treatable sexually transmitted infection that can pass from a pregnant mother to the baby during pregnancy or delivery. This is called congenital syphilis. Congenital syphilis can cause serious health problems, including miscarriage, stillbirth, premature birth, low birth weight and birth defects. 
To prevent congenital syphilis: 

  • Get tested: Testing is the best way to find syphilis early. If you’re planning to get pregnant, talk with your health care provider about getting tested. If you are pregnant, talk with your health care provider about when you should be tested during pregnancy. Texas health guidance includes testing during pregnancy and at delivery. You may need additional testing if you or your partner has an increased risk of syphilis. 
  • Get treatment (if needed): If you test positive for syphilis, treatment during pregnancy can help prevent the infection from passing to your baby. Your partner may also need testing and treatment. If the results of your tests were positive or unknown, your baby will also need to be tested. There is treatment for babies with congenital syphilis, but they need to be treated right away. If not treated immediately, they could develop serious health problems months or even years later. It’s also important that babies get the proper follow-up care based on your health care provider’s advice. 

To learn more, visit the Texas Department of State Health Services Congenital Syphilis page. 

Avoid Alcohol During Pregnancy

Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASDs) can occur when a baby is exposed to alcohol before birth. FASDs can affect learning, behavior, growth, physical development and daily life. 

There is no known safe amount, safe time or safe type of alcohol during pregnancy. All types of alcohol can harm a developing baby, and the safest choice is not to drink alcohol if you’re pregnant or trying to become pregnant. 
If you drank alcohol before you knew you were pregnant, try not to blame yourself. Stop drinking and talk with your health care provider. Your provider can answer questions and help you get the care you need. If stopping alcohol use feels difficult, ask a health care professional for support. 

To learn more, visit the CDC Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders page. 

For more information about substance use services in Texas, visit the Health and Human Services Adult Substance Use Services page.

Find Support

Getting help with health care, transportation, food, housing or emotional support can make pregnancy and parenting easier.

Healthy Start
The Health Resources and Services Administration supports Healthy Start programs in communities across Texas. Healthy Start sites work to improve health before, during and after pregnancy. Services vary by location but may include health education, care coordination, mental health screening and referrals, help getting food assistance and more. Eligibility is based on where you live.
Learn more about Healthy Start
Thriving Texas Families
Thriving Texas Families is a statewide Texas support network that provides a range of nonmedical services to pregnant women, their babies and families until the child is 3 years old. Services include counseling, mentoring, care coordination, educational materials, classes, and referrals to governmental and social services programs.
Find a Thriving Texas Families provider

Reducing Risk During Childhood 

Once a child is born, simple safety steps can help protect them from serious injuries that may affect their health and development. No parent can prevent every accident or negative experience, but preparation can lower risks. 

Adverse Childhood Experiences

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are potentially traumatic events that happen during childhood, including abuse, neglect, violence at home, or serious mental health concerns in the household. These events can affect a child’s health, learning, relationships and well-being throughout his life. 

Safe, stable and nurturing relationships can help protect children from the effects of stress and ACEs. Parents and caregivers can support children by: 

  • Creating regular routines for meals, sleep and school. 
  • Listening to children and responding to their needs. 
  • Using calm, positive discipline. 
  • Making sure children have safe adults they can trust. 
  • Asking family members, friends or service providers for help. 
  • Finding support for stress, depression, anxiety or substance use. 
  • Connecting with early childhood, home visiting or parenting programs. 

To learn more about ACEs and prevention, visit the CDC ACEs prevention page. 

To find parenting resources, visit getparentingtips.com.

Poison Control 
Keep medicines, cleaning products, pesticides and other harmful items locked and out of children’s reach. 
If your child swallows, touches or breathes in something harmful, contact the Texas Poison Center Network right away. Do not make your child vomit unless a poison expert tells you to. Do not wait for symptoms to appear. Call 911 if your child is unconscious, having trouble breathing or having a seizure. 

Water Safety

Young children can drown in only a few inches of water. Here are a few things you can do to help keep your child safer around water: 

  • Stay within arm’s reach whenever your child is near a pool, bathtub, bucket, pond or other water.  
  • Never rely on floats to keep your child safe. Use a properly fitted, U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jacket. 
  • Empty buckets, tubs and small pools after use. 
  • If you have a swimming pool, use a four-sided fence with a self-closing and self-latching gate. 

To learn more about water safety and find out how learning CPR can help you respond in an emergency, read “7 Water Safety Tips for Parents.”

Car Safety 

A car seat protects your child only when it’s used correctly. Use a car seat that fits your child’s age, height and weight. Make sure the harness is snug and the chest clip is at armpit level. Follow the instructions that come with the car seat to make sure you install and use it properly. 

In addition to making sure your child is in a safe car seat, never leave a child alone in a parked car, even for a short time. Cars can become dangerously hot or cold quickly. 

Learn more about car and passenger safety by reading “Keeping Kids Safe in and Around Cars.” 

Safe Sleep

Safe sleep is one of the most important ways to protect your newborn. Babies should sleep alone on their back and in a crib. 

As you are preparing a safe sleep space for your baby, keep these things in mind: 

  1. Use a firm, flat sleep surface. 
  2. Keep things like toys, soft objects or other items out of your baby’s sleep area. 
  3. Make sure your baby’s crib, bassinet or play area meets current safety recommendations. 
  4. Swaddling may help some babies settle, but stop swaddling when your baby starts trying to roll over. 

Don’t let your baby sleep on a couch, armchair or adult bed. If your baby falls asleep in one of these locations, move her to a safe sleep space as soon as you can. For more help, including videos and safe sleep checklists, view the safe sleep recommendations or visit getparentingtips.com.