This is a collaboration with Moms Clean Air Force to spread the word about baby power. All opinions are my own. #BABYPOWER CAMPAIGN!
A lot of things change for you once you have children. Things that you never really thought about before as being a big deal. Then one day you are getting ready to have a baby and suddenly you are questioning whether or not you should have your morning cup of coffee or is riding a bike safe, what if you fall. Seriously you will question everything! With my first pregnancy I found myself reading every book, and making a lot of simple lifestyle changes. I gave up caffeine, yes you read that right. In the moments when you probably need it most to help you function I gave up my one health related vice. We even moved to the back of our church auditorium because I had read somewhere that concert like sounds can potentially harm babies developing ears and their functions while in utero. I also become more acutely aware of my surroundings, I didn’t want to be somewhere that people were smoking or even at events that might have a lot of exhaust or air pollutants. Some how after baby arrives these adjustments don’t really change (except the caffine intake), if it wasn’t good for them in utero, why would it be okay for them directly?
The Mister and I both have seasonal allergies and some asthma like symptoms certain times of the year. We live in the Hill Country of Texas and the beautiful landscape is rich with wildflowers and cedar trees. Oh cedar trees, how I despise you. Even with this in mind I know the importance of fresh air for myself and my family. When I think about the air we breath I think about how much of it we are exposed to, as a nurse I turn to the science of it. Babies naturally breath much faster than adults. Healthy adults on average breathe 12-20 times per minute, but healthy babies breathe 30-60 breaths per minute. That more than twice the expose to breath air toxins in. I found that this Little Lungs guide is very informative!
While I only have so much control of what we are exposed to and breath in while out and about, I have a lot of control of what is in my household. There are several things you can do to help the environment inside your house to keep your kids safe. Here are a few of the things you can do according to MomsCleanAirForce.org:
- Avoid wearing shoes in the house to prevent bringing in outside allergens.
- Clean pet hair, dust and dander inside your home regularly.
- Avoid burning/heating scented waxes in the home
- Check and test smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, we always change the batteries with Day Light Saving as our reminder.
- Prevent mold growth by drying out showers and bathrooms after use with fans.
- Portable Air purifiers in the rooms you spend the most time in.
Since we know that we can’t spend all day in the house and since we know that we need to encourage our kids to be active and excerise. We are going to venture out of the house daily. Here are a few things you can keep in mind for planning your day outside.
- Check the daily pollution forcast on a site like Airnow.gov
- Don’t excersise along high traffic areas when vehical exhaust tends to be heaviest.
- Don’t burn trash or wastes.
- Visit with your friends and neighbors about ways to improve the air quality around you.
- TAKE ACTION!
If you’re near Chicago, Charlotte, Philadelphia, or Orlando, meet the Moms Clean Air Force at Mommycon! Don’t forget to add your name to the petition — and if you do, you could be entered to win a copy of Every Breath We Take and a child’s t-shirt.
Email a screen shot of your name on the petition to lifeanchored@gmail.com and I’ll select a winner!