This is the first post in a three-part series about the pregnancy, labour, birth and beyond.

Recently, during a prenatal class I had some parents ask me how do they know what the best products are to buy, like strollers, cribs and car seats?  Everyone wants the best for their child, but finding the right products really depends on your needs. Taking time to do some research, and chatting with other parents can save you money, time, and some of those sleepless nights.  But as I got thinking, what is even more important than getting the perfect stroller is making sure your home environment is healthy for your growing baby. So, I want to share with you some of the 5 best things you can’t buy for your baby…

5 Tips for Creating a Healthy Home environment for Kids, according to the Canadian Partnership for Children’s Health and the Environment (CPCHE)

1. Bust that dust
2. Go green when you clean
3. Renovate right
4. Get drastic with plastic
5. Dish safer fish

• House Dust can be a major source of toxic exposures from lead to mercury.  Wet dusting with a damp sock keeps your lungs happy!
• What smell does clean have? Hmmm…likely the consumer market has told you it is the smell of pine trees or lemons? CLEAN has no smell!  So ditch the fake fragrance and go old school, with baking soda and vinegar.
• Pregnant women and children are most susceptible during renovations.  Stay away from the dust and toxic fumes like paints, caulking and glues.  Take precautions and renovate when you are away from your home, and seasonally can open up some windows.  Plastic sheeting and sealing vents are a must!
• Did you know that “microwave safe” just means that the plastic won’t melt in the microwave?  Instead, it could be oozing chemicals into your food.  Opt for glass when heating up foods and forget the plastic!
• Buy a wide variety of fish and look for “light” tuna, Atlantic mackerel, rainbow trout, wild or canned salmon, and tilapia.  They are the lower in mercury and better for your new family’s brains and bodies.

Start the New Year off right.  Keep your family healthy. It’s the best resolution you can make!

Share your experience:

For more tips and hints about creating healthy environments for your family, or to share your experience, there are many ways you can talk to one of us directly:

• Leave us a comment below
• Tweet with us @haltonparents
• Follow us on Facebook
• Email us at haltonparents@halton.ca

For parenting information or to speak with a public health nurse (every Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.) simply dial 311 or 905-825-6000.