Little Things at Home Which Harm Our Children’s Health!

November 20, 2018

There are many details overlooked in our daily life which may affect our children’s health. Ignorance is not bliss when our children fall prey to illnesses. As the immune systems of kids are still developing, it is easier for their immunity to be compromised. Here are a few areas in our daily habits which we can tweak to protect the health of our young ones!

Limit their cell phone usage

Many parents pass their cell phones to their children to entertain them. Research by scientists at the University of Arizona found that there are 10 times more bacteria on cell phones than there are on toilet seats. Pathogens found on cell phones might not cause you to fall ill instantly. Yet, microbes such as E. Coli, Streptococcus and MRSA are also bacteria which you would not want entering your body.  Viruses can also spread on phone surfaces as we pass it from one person to the next.

Clean their belongings

Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease (HFMD) is a common problem faced by childcare centres in Singapore. Blister like rashes all over our children’s body is an unbearable sight for us. Consistent cleaning of your child’s belongings and sanitising their stationery after school keeps viruses and germs at bay. This helps to remove most of the germs and bacteria which your child has carried home from school.

Make sure that the drainage of our sinks are fully cleared

Often, the gut flora of our young ones are not resistant to bacteria in food the way adult stomachs are. As such, proper food preparation means one less incidence of your child battling gastroenteritis. The drainage in our sinks often have little bits of food or ingredients after we wash used plates and utensils. The moisture and residual food bits are playgrounds for bacteria to fester. The bacteria would spread to the next batch of food that is prepped and washed in the sink. Hence, for our children’s health, it is important to ensure that filters in our sinks are cleaned properly.

Clean and service air conditioners regularly

According to SingHealth, 1 in 5 school-going children in Singapore have atopic eczema. This means that 1 in 5 school-going children in Singapore react to allergens in the air around them. This skin condition is also related to other atopic diseases such as asthma, allergic rhinitis and allergic conjunctivitis. This skin condition can act up due to the heat in Singapore. This conundrum can be mitigated by simply conducting due aircon cleaning. Regular aircon servicing and aircon chemical washes can clear the filters in our aircon units, minimising the amount of dust in the air. Available on iOS App Store and Android Play Store, Sendhelper is a platform which allows you to book necessary aircon maintenance services in Singapore at an affordable price and at your own convenience.

In order to maintain our children’s health in the best state, consistency in maintaining cleanliness in different parts of our houses and lives is key. The list of things which we should watch out for definitely does not end here. What are parts of your house which could be improved to provide a healthier environment for your child?