You can lower your child’s risk for attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) by taking certain steps while trying to conceive and during pregnancy:

• Don’t smoke.
• Avoid alcohol.
• Don’t use recreational drugs.
• Try to manage stress and anxiety levels as best as you can.
• Follow a healthy diet: eat lots of fresh fruit and vegetables, good-quality, low-fat protein (e.g. eggs, chicken, fish), legumes, dairy and healthy fats (e.g. avocado, nuts, seeds).

Reviewed by Prof André Venter, Head: Clinical Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Faculty of Health Sciences at the University of the Free State. MB ChB, MMed, PhD (Canada), DCH, FCP (Paed) SA. July 2018.