As a parent, you want the best for your little ones –especially when it comes to clean air for the future generation. Join the Moms Clean Air Force to help take action!
Disclaimer: this is a collaboration with Moms Clean Air Force to spread the word about Baby Power. I am happy to spread the word about their amazing #BabyPower campaign!
The moment you see your child take their first breath, you transform into a super woman. All of the pain of child birth is nearly forgotten and you know that you will to anything and everything to protect that little being in your arms. Or, if you have twins first, those little beings!
As a child who had extreme allergies and asthma, I know how important fresh air is. I can tell when the air quality is low –I wheeze and I can feel the heaviness the air immediately in my lungs. I have been very fortunate that my 4 little ones don’t have the asthma issues I have dealt with and I’ll do everything in my power to keep it that way.
Did you know children breathe differently from adults? You may notice while holding an infant, they tend to breathe faster than adults. I always see Liam’s little tummy going in and out. Adults breathe 12-20 times per minute, while babies breathe about 40 times. With each breath, infants also breathe in more air, so no surprise there is more potential for them to inhale toxins. This Little Lungs guide is so helpful!
Protection begins in the household. There are little things you can do to help the environment inside your house to keep your kids safe. Here are some simple things you can do:
- Remove pet hair, dust and dander from your home
- Avoid using scented candles in the home
- I used to love scented candles, but now I’ve noticed I cough so much more after using them! I always thought it was from cleaning, which is when I used to use them, but it’s actually the scent from the candles!
- Check and test smoke and carbon monoxide detectors– if you watch This is Us, I’m sure you’re doing it even more frequently now!
Since children tend to exercise and spend more time outside, clean air is especially important. Check the air quality on your local weather app or AirNow. On high-pollen days, make sure the kids limit time outside. Also, be sure to remove any clothing worn outside when pollen counts are high–they actually can trigger allergies inside!
Ronnie says
Thanks so much for sharing this important information! Everyone knows someone with asthma, as 1 in 10 kids suffer from it. Air pollution worsens asthma symptoms and triggers attacks. Keeping the air clean – indoors and out – is one of the best ways to help our kids stay healthy.
And thank you for the reminder about checking smoke detectors. I had the same reaction when I watched This is Us – I doubled checked!
Trisha says
What an important topic! My own family was sickened due to breathing in polluted air following a chemical accident in a nearby town. I had no idea before that moment just how important clean air is for our children’s health. Now my 7 year old continually faces health and developmental challenges that make me wonder whether our exposures to the toxins in the air during that time are exacerbating his health issues. Moms Clean Air Force has helped me find my voice and taught me how to be an advocate for our children to make sure that the air they are breathing is safe.
Chrissie says
Thanks 4 the chapter!