The Clean & Green Guide for Expecting Mothers
The Clean & Green Guide for Expecting Mothers
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Tackle dirty carpets, messy spaces, and dusty surfaces in a clean, green way during pregnancy and beyond. Making the switch to green cleaning products, as well as making some necessary lifestyle changes in your home, are some of the best things you can do to keep yourself, your family, and your new child safe in a hygienic home. These clean, “green” practices can be incorporated into every room of the home, including the nursery, where cleanliness and safety is of the utmost importance. It’s critical to be aware of the cleaning products you are using in your home, as well as other items you may need for baby, such as baby monitors. In addition to clean and green features, expecting mothers should also find ways to make their homes safer by considering fire prevention in each room. Skip the harsh chemicals and the impossible-to-maintain flooring and follow these simple tips for a cleaner, greener, baby-friendly household.
Cleaning with Green Chemicals
Many expecting mothers are concerned about exposure to dangerous chemicals during routine house cleaning. While daily chores like vacuuming, dusting, and wiping down countertops are safe during pregnancy, it’s important to take a few precautions. Many common store-bought cleaners contain chlorine or ammonia. These ingredients can make you feel nauseated, especially during the first trimester when morning sickness is at its worst. Always read labels carefully to ensure that the product does not contain any harmful ingredients. For example, certain cleaning products contain solvents that are often found in oven cleaners, varnish removers, and paint thinners. Solvents have been known to be harmful to pregnant women. Avoid any cleaning products labeled “toxic,” and stay away from aerosol sprays, which can be easily inhaled. To be safe, wear rubber gloves and a mask when cleaning, and ensure that the area is well-ventilated. The use of natural, chemical-free green cleaning products is recommended, as they gain their power strictly from essential oils and plant-derived agents.
Flooring Options
Flooring in your home should be durable, affordable, and non-toxic. It should also be easy to clean and maintain, as babies and small children frequently create messes and spread dirt and germs. To qualify as environmentally friendly, flooring must have a finish that is made from a natural, sustainably-sourced product. In addition to many wood flooring options, there are several softer alternatives. Linoleum flooring is more eco-friendly than vinyl, possesses non-allergenic qualities, and is easy to clean. Wood flooring, especially those products manufactured from sustainably sourced, reclaimed or recycled lumber products, is very eco-friendly and aesthetically pleasing. Options like durable bamboo can be floating or stuck down and are a great investment in any home. Other options include sisal, which is made from the leaves of the Agave sisalana plant; sisool, which is a dual-fiber floor of sisal and wool; and seagrass, which acts as a strong yarn that is stain-resistant and impermeable to water.
Baby Monitors
Upon the arrival of your new baby, you’ll want to have a way to keep an eye on your little one wherever you are in the home. State-of-the-art baby monitors now feature incredible audio, video, and even Wi-Fi monitoring options that can bring you peace of mind. Audio monitoring is the most basic of the three and ensures that you’ll hear every sound your baby makes. This cost-effective option is interference-free and can vary in range. Video monitoring gives you the ability to actually see the baby and may feature video options, such as zoom and night vision. The high-sensitivity microphones found on modern baby monitors allow you to clearly hear every peep your baby makes. Wi-Fi monitoring is one of the newest options available for expecting mothers. More than just a safety device, Wi-Fi monitors allow you to view your baby from anywhere and can take snapshots and shoot videos to share with family and friends.
Fire Safety
No one ever expects to have a fire in their home, but it happens more than you would think. Fortunately, there are many things you can do to prevent fires in every room of your home. Cooking and kitchen fires are some of the most common in most households, and therefore, food should never be left unattended on the stove or other cooking appliances. Have a working smoke alarm in every room of the home, especially outside the sleeping areas and inside each bedroom. Test the smoke alarms each month, and replace their batteries at least once a year. In the nursery, reduce clutter, as too much stuff piled up poses a fire hazard if placed near a heating element. Replace faulty electrical outlets and ensure that the blades inside are tight, as loose blades can create excessive heat. Avoid using portable space heaters, especially in the nursery, where you’re not able to monitor their use.
