.png)
We have heard so much chatter about the COVID-19 so we wanted to pop onto the blog and write up a few safety and readiness tips for your household!
Wash your hands often.
Make it a habit to wash your hands even more than you normally would. Wash them after going to the bathroom, before eating, after blowing your nose, after changing diapers, after wiping a child's nose, after coming home from an outing, etc. Wash with warm soap and water for at least 20 seconds and feel free to sing your ABC's twice through or the Happy Birthday song when assisting children with washing their hands. It's also a good idea to carry sanitizer with you on outings.
Disinfect your house.
Clorox wipes are absolutely amazing, and you can use them with ease throughout the day. We suggest wiping down doorknobs, switches, phones, toys, the bathroom, counters, etc. at least once a day. When you come home from an outing, just wipe down your phone, keys, and bags (if possible). It may seem a bit extreme, but if it helps keep a virus out of your house and puts your mind at ease then please do it.
Clean toys daily.
Some toys you cannot use Clorox wipes on, such as teethers or pacifiers, so we suggest sanitizing certain toys in the dishwasher or microwave at the end of each day to help kill germs. You should already be doing that at least once a week, so just pick up the cleaning of toys for the next few weeks.
Soak your vegetables and fruits.
Soak your vegetables and fruit either in water and your favorite fruit and vegetable wash. The amount of people who touch fruits and vegetables in the store is more than I personally care to think about, so just make sure you are washing everything thoroughly before eating it or feeding it to your children.
Avoid face touching.
Since hands can touch so many surfaces and pick up viruses, it's best to avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth to avoid a virus transferring into your body. Before you touch your face or a child's face, make sure you are washing your hands with water and soap.
Cover your mouth when coughing or sneezing.
Cough or sneeze into a bent elbow to avoid spreading viruses, such as a cold, flu, or COVID-19. Droplets spread viruses, so it's important to practice safe hygiene habits regardless if there is an outbreak of a virus.
Avoid some classes for the time being.
There are so many fun classes for little ones today, but if you are overly concerned about the virus then you can skip out on them. Your little one will be okay missing story time or not tumbling for a few weeks. If you do bring children out to areas with high traffic, just remember to carry hand sanitizer and make sure the children are not touching their faces or putting their fingers in their mouth. Wash their hands immediately after they are done playing!
Stay home if you are sick.
If you, your children, or your nanny are sick then please stay home and do not ask your nanny to come in because you should avoid close contact with those who are sick. If you have no choice but to be around people who may be sick, or who you may think are showing cold or flu like symptoms, then try to keep at least six feet away. If you cannot keep a full six feet away, then just try to keep a little bit of distance.
Only wear a face mask if you are sick.
You probably see so many people wearing face masks right now, but the CDC does not recommend that people who are healthy wear a face mask to protect themselves from any virus, including the COVID-19. Face masks should be worn by people are already ill to prevent spreading a virus to others and those who work in a health care facility. According to the CDC, the most effective ones are the N95 masks, which help block 95% of very small particles.
Most importantly do not panic! You can keep up to date with the latest information at the CDC website cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov.
Comments