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Focus on the Nursery
You’ll want to begin by emphasizing a safe environment in the nursery. Your baby will be spending a great deal of time in his or her own room in the early months at a time when infants sleep for long periods. Before you bring your baby home from the hospital, take a close look at every aspect of the nursery. Test the baby’s room and the rest of the household for lead paint and deal with it accordingly. Be aware that anything containing vinyl, polyurethane foam, carpeting that has been treated with pesticides, or foam padding in carpeting could contain semivolatile organic compounds known as PBDE’s. These substances can be released into the air and accumulate dust. At that point they can be inhaled, posing many risks for your baby. You’ll want to eliminate any of these products that could endanger your little one’s health.
Think Twice About Your Cleaning Solutions
Be Aware of the Dangers in Carpets
Your carpeting is a danger zone. It is filled with allergens, dust mites, the potential for bugs, and dirt. Even though your infant may not be on the floor yet when the crawling stage begins, there is still the risk of inhaling hazardous substances. What may not bother you could bother your baby’s delicate lungs. You need to be extremely conscientious about keeping your carpets clean. Take your shoes off before you enter the house to minimize the amount of dirt you track in the house. Vacuum on a daily basis to stay on top of things. If you have pets, brush them outside to keep the hair levels down. Use carpet cleaners that are considered non-toxic on a regular basis. Your efforts will pay off when you avoid respiratory problems for your infant.