CLEAN YOUR CHILDREN'S TOYS.
There may be a few surprises lurking in your child's stuffed animal, bath toy or train set. Think dust mites and molds that can trigger allergies and asthma, and infectious germs that spread viral illnesses. "We know that the majority of cold viruses are transmitted on objects and hands, for instance," says Dr. Clifford
Bassett, medical director of Allergy and Asthma Care of New York. "Your child can develop a
rhinovirus within 12 to 24 hours of contact." Clearly, cleaning our kids' hands, house and toys is good for their health. Here's how to do it right and help keep allergies, asthma, colds and
flus at bay:
1) Choose toys carefully. Look for washable toys and throw out items that won't come clean, says Dr.
Bassett, who is also vice-chairman of public education for the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (
AAAAI). Where possible, avoid porous, stuffed or otherwise difficult-to-scrub items.
2) Wash 'em regularly. You don't need to scrub toys weekly, as many
daycares do, but perhaps once a month or at least when toys are visibly dirty. Throw toys into the top rack of a dishwasher or the washing machine, or hand wash them in dish soap and water. Not all toys indicate whether they're dishwasher safe, so use your judgment. If you're concerned that something might melt, wash it by hand.
3) Blast germs when required. Disinfect toys and other surfaces (say, toy boxes or crib rails) if you, your child or a visiting playmate has been ill. Note that if your dishwasher or laundry machine uses 130-degree water, disinfectant is unnecessary. Wondering what products to use? Keep reading...
4) Give stuffed toys the deep freeze. If your child has tested positive for dust-mite allergy, put their stuffed toys in a plastic covering and freeze them for three to five hours once a week. "This kills most living dust mites," says Dr.
Bassett. These microscopic, spider-like mites are one of the most common allergy and asthma triggers. To find out if your child has a dust-mite allergy, ask your family doctor for a blood- or skin-prick allergy test.
5) Ditch bath toys with holes. Sure, you can and should squeeze water out of tub toys, hang them to dry in a netting bag and wash and disinfect them as above. But bath toys with holes can become a breeding ground for mold, so why not avoid them altogether?
6) Keep washing those hands. This is important especially after school or visits to the playground. A recent University of Arizona study found that children's playground equipment and daycare centers were the most frequently contaminated public places of over 1,000 surfaces tested. Washing hands before kids play with their home toys can keep them from spreading bacteria around. "The average child has up to six colds a year, but regular hand washing can cut that in half," says Dr.
Bassett. The good news? "People are more aware of environment and disease," he says. "We're all doing a better job of fighting germs these days."
In need of a gentle, kid-friendly cleaner to get started? You can't go wrong with good
ol' baby wipes for a quick daily
wipedown but for a deeper clean, I suggest one of these two specific toy cleaners:
Dapple Toy Cleaner spray and wipes and
Babyganics The Cleaner Upper Toy & Highchair Cleaner.
Both are perfect for cleaning what little hands touch – and not just toys. High chairs, swings, car seats and more. Great on countertops too! These cleaners are made from naturally-derived ingredients that are biodegradable and environmentally safe. Neither use any parabens, phthalates, SLES, bleach, alcohol, dyes, synthetic fragrances or other harsh chemicals. Basically just spray, wipe and play.
Other products that are sold as non-toxic carry the warning that if swallowed contact poison control, but not these. The product warning says if swallowed drink a glass of water. Within seconds of wiping down you won't have to worry about the toy going straight into babies mouth. I consider these products a must have for all moms with small kids.
Dapple is available at www.dapplebaby.com www.diapers.com http://www.amazon.com/ http://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/
Babyganics is available at http://www.babyganics.com/ http://www.drugstore.com/ http://www.amazon.com/ http://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/ http://www.babiesrus.com/ http://www.diapers.com/
With Spring break and summer travel soon approaching, it's time to talk travel. I like to think I'm a seasoned veteran on the subject being that we've traveled for months on end with my '
If you're not into bringing the 
The 
If you don't have an 
Ask your other mommy friends and get your iPhone loaded up on kid-friendly apps before you take off. A favorite: 
Lots of them!! Who cares if your child already had breakfast or just had lunch, food is a distraction and it will buy you TIME. There are so many portable food options - puffs, yogurt bites, fruit and veggie pouches - that it makes packing the diaper bag super easy. Tip: Once you are asked to shut down your electronics for your descent, give the kids a Tootsie Roll Pop. They are big enough to entertain them for the entire 20-30 minutes left in the flight. Happy Travels!!!
Here's a last minute must-buy if you are traveling this holiday season with small children. Or are stumped on what to get your world traveling relatives. The Gogo Kidz Universal Car Seat Travelmate converts your car seat into a stroller. No more having to lug a bulky car seat through the airport while trying to maneuver a stroller (and the kid who keeps dropping his juice every 50 feet). Talk about GENIUS.
Standout Features: