1. Get rid of dust

Dust naturally accumulates in the home. Ensure that you get rid of them easily and effectively by having a good-quality vacuum, a damp cloth, or a mop. If you have a crawling child, vacuum at least once a week. 

In addition, make it a habit to remove your shoes before entering the house. Dirt, chemicals, and dust tend to stick to the bottom of our shoes and are then carried into the home. It’s also helpful to reduce clutter and keep toys in closed containers to prevent dust from building up and make cleaning up an easier process.

2. Go natural when cleaning

If the COVID-19 pandemic is an indication of personal hygiene, always remember to wash your hands often, using regular soap is sufficient! However, if you’re on the move and a sink is not available, you can also use an alcohol-based hand sanitiser. 

When choosing household cleaner detergents for the house, opt for naturally scented or fragrance-free options to avoid exposure to the chemicals that can cause hormone changes, especially when your baby is still young. 

Vinegar and baking soda are good natural choices for disinfecting clothes. (Just a cup mixed in your washing machine and you’re ready to go!) 

To keep your house fresh and well-ventilated, open your windows often to let fresh air in. This will also help to flush out any virus present in your environment.

3. Renovate well

If there’s a need to renovate a room (or even your house) when you’re pregnant or with a young child, try to avoid the renovation area. In general, pregnancy is not a good time to get started on home renovations as dust and fumes are harmful to the baby’s development. 

However, if you have already started on renovations or need to get a room fixed, use fans and keep your windows open to let strong odours out. Choose a baby-safe wall paint to keep the environment safe for your little one. 

For your baby’s nursery, it’s also good to choose nursery furniture that is baby-safe. 

For this, it’s helpful to choose a store, such as Hatchery, that carries high-quality furniture and has passed national safety standards, including ASTM standards and CPSC regulations to ensure the utmost safety for your baby.

4. Be mindful of plastic

Chemicals in plastic containers can move into our foods and drinks especially if it’s used when heating food. Certain chemicals in plastic have been linked to causing cancer and other health problems. 

So never heat milk in a microwave. If the breast milk is frozen, for example, you can thaw it first before moving it to a plastic milk bottle. You can then proceed to place the milk bottle under warm running water or in a bowl of warm water to heat it up.

When using the microwave to heat other items, avoid the use of cling wraps or plastic containers. Opt for glass or ceramic plates and containers instead.

5. Choose the type of fish you eat 

Some types of fishes, such as shark, swordfish, king mackerel, fresh tuna, and marlin, can be high in mercury. This is harmful to the developing brain of a baby. I

It’s also harmful for pregnant women to consume. 

Choose fish and shellfish that are low in mercury instead, such as salmon, sardines, pollock, flounders, cod, tilapia, shrimp, oysters, clams, scallops and crab.