Healthy homes

Wow! Thanks for this info. Here are som things I try to do... -keep toys out of walkways and generally confined to specific ares to eliminate tripping hazards -throw away toys immediately if broken to prevent choking hazards -use furniture ties to attach tall or heavy furniture to walls...people too often underestimate the importance of this IMHO. I know a child who ws severely injured by a falling television -taking to time to install plugs that close by themselves to prevent forgetting to put the plugs back...we'll be trying to do this again... -teaching my child to wash his hands a lot -teaching my child not to share food or drinks

I am psycho about fresh air. We lived in the south for so long and only breathed air conditioned air, I couldn't stand it. Now we have an attic fan that sucks outside air through the whole house and we live in an area with really clean air. I love it and feel like it keeps out house "healthier" no clue if it really does though :D Washing hands is a big one - my kids are pretty OCD when it comes to this because I always have been, it's nice to see them picking up something positive from me. Lots of healthy food choices. Somehow I ended up with a house full of super active skinny kids (with a slightly plump mom :o ) they eat tons and all the time so I try to make it healthy stuff although it's tough at times because I have to cram the calories into them per our pediatrician (sort of an ironic dilemma for ME) Tons of outdoor time - not hard to enforce but we have lots of outside toys, bikes, skateboards, jumpropes, balls of all sorts, basketball hoop, soccer goal, street hockey - I'll stop but the list goes on and on and ON. So far (knock on wood) we spend very little time at the doctor and my kids miss very little school - hope it continues. Martha

Thank your for the article! We use only natural cleaning products, there are no toxic cleaners or bleach to speak of in the house. Dr. Bronner's castille soaps are a staple around here...we use it for everything from laundry, in the Hoover floormate, for soap and shampoo, etc. We buy organic whenever possible, but it is hard as the supply is limited around here and the prices are extremely high--but we grow a lot ourselves to help out with that problem. We childproof stuff and teach the kids safety--including santitary practices and fire drills. We also do a lot of outdoor activities like bicycling..and, of course, helmets are a must even when they are secured in the trailer.

good first start is [URL="http://homegarden.expertvillage.com/interviews/child-safety-hilda.htm"]babyproofing[/URL] the kitchen. "Secure your drawers and cabinets. Don't leave any chemicals under the sink or anything like that. Try to store them up in the cabinet or somewhere high where the kids can't reach them. Never store anything that can break, because kids can cut themselves. At the same time, you can use safety gadgets to prevent the kids from opening the drawers and bottom cabinets," Martinez says. As your kitchen becomes more accomodating to child safety, you can then start looking at the children's bedrooms. Martinez talked to us about cribs and child safety. "That is the safest place. If you have a toddler, keep it lowered for a child of two-years-old. After two years, children can climb down from the crib, so be careful," Martinez says. Along with cribs and beds, toy in the children's bedrooms should be looked at for child safety. Martinez recommends certain toys over others for every age. "They can play with balls. They can play with toys that don't have anything pointed or sharp in them. Anything with wheels, they can put in their mouth and choke, if under the age of five," Martinez says. Along with your child's bedroom, child safety measures should be carried over into the bathroom. Martinez says many people overlook this area of the house. "Never leave the kids in a bathtub or restroom by themselves. Never leave children in the restroom by themselves to answer the phone or for any other reason. You never leave them alone, because the child can drown in a matter of seconds," Martinez says. Another critical area to look at is the living room. This is an area the family spends a lot of time in. Martinez says babyproofing your living room should be a top priority. She also says when buying new furniture choose pieces that promote child safety. "If possible, do not to keep anything with glass. Don't buy glass end tables or tables with sharp edges, Martinez says." Martinez says carpet also makes for a nice addition to your home, because your child will eventually fall. The carpet can help reduce your child's injuries and help increase child safety in your home. As for garages, parents either need to keep the door locked or make sure to store all chemicals where a child cannot climb up and grab them. In the end, Martinez says childproofing is a big task to undertake, and it can be tedious. However, she says there is nothing more imporant than your child's safety. Babyproof your home into a no-worry zone.