Expert Tips for Minimizing Germs in the Nursery (Diaper Genie Giveaway)
According to a recent study commissioned by Playtex surveying moms and moms-to-be on their germ-related knowledge, the majority of moms don’t know what it takes when it comes to keeping the nursery clean. In fact, most didn’t make the grade— the average score was a D!
To help moms brush up on their germ knowledge, germ expert Dr. Benjamin Tanner has partnered with Playtex and put together seven tips addressing simple things moms can do to maintain a clean and healthy nursery!
- Disinfect germ hot spots (floor, changing table, toys and laundry hamper) at least once a day to kill any harmful bacteria that may be lurking. Make sure to focus on these key areas more than others when disinfecting in the nursery.
- Develop a mess-free changing routine that incorporates the Diaper Genie Elite® Disposal System. Its built-in antimicrobial protection inhibits odor causing bacteria, and its convenient foot pedal makes for an easy, hands-free disposal, helping to minimize the spread of germs in the number one germ hotspot in the nursery: the changing table.
- Water isn’t always available during a change! Make sure to always keep hand sanitizer or wipes, like Wet Ones, nearby— which will kill 99.99 percent of bacteria on surfaces and your hands.
- Use an EPA-registered disinfectant when cleaning and always allow it to remain wet for 5-10 minutes before wiping to let it do its job. Afterwards, wipe the surface down with water to get rid of any chemical residue that may irritate your baby’s skin.
- Keep a separate hamper in the nursery specifically for heavily soiled baby laundry. These clothes should be washed using hot water, which will help prevent bacteria from spreading in the wash.
The belief that exposing children to germs strengthens the immune system is a major misconception. Germ exposure should always be avoided!
- Recognize that there’s no such thing as the 5-second rule! Germ transfer is instantaneous and items should be disinfected before being given back to baby.
“In a typical day most moms spend three or more hours in the nursery with their little ones[ii], which makes it essential that it’s a clean place,” said Carolyn Turoczi, Brand Manager at Playtex. “Creating a space that is as germ free as possible doesn’t need to be an overwhelming task. In fact, using the Diaper Genie Elite® Disposal System is a perfect way to help moms establish a less messy diaper changing routine, which is especially important as the changing table is the number one way germs are transferred to baby’s skin.”
For more of Dr. Tanner’s tips and information about the Diaper Genie Elite® Disposal System, visit www.playtexbaby.com. Or visit the Playtex Baby Facebook Page to test your own germ knowledge and have the chance to win great prizes.
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HipnCozy Car Seat Covers (FullBodyBib Giveaway)
I don’t know if it’s just my kids but they sure know how to make a mess in their car seats. Sometimes it’s kind of embarrassing when I run into friends while out running errands and they stick their heads in the car to say Hi to the kids. I know I should wash them but I’m usually not home long enough for the seats to dry completely. So those car seats just keep getting dirtier and dirtier.
Thankfully, I recently found HipnCozy and now my car seats look brand new. We received the Cocoa Bloom Toddler Car Seat Cover ($39) and loved it. What I initially noticed was how well made it was. The seams are reinforced, the elastic edges were very stretchy, and the 100% cotton fabric was super soft.
Plus, I loved the modern pink and brown design!
Installing it was easy. I just slipped the entire cover onto my Britax Marathon car seat, placed the shoulder and lap straps through the slots, and straightened everything out. That’s it!
What I really like about the HipnCozy baby car seat cover is that it’s lightly padded for extra comfort but not too much to make it feel bulky. However, the best part is that it’s so easy to wash. I just have to slip it off and throw it into the washing machine. I don’t even have to uninstall the car seat to do it! And since it’s so easy to maintain, I know I’ll be more likely to wash it on a regular basis. No more dirty car seats for us!
HipnCozy also makes infant car seat covers as well as toddler car seat covers. Plus other items like blankets, shopping cart covers, nursing covers, should strap covers, and headrests. And if you can’t find the perfect car seat cover you’re looking for you also have the option of designing one to fit your needs.
Bring new life into your car seats with a cover from HipnCozy!
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Bebe Au Lait Hooded Towel Giveaway
Bébé au Lait, the creators of the nursing cover category that made it easy for moms to breastfeed anywhere, anytime and in style, has introduced a new line of products for children.
The new line — Lille (pronounced lil-uh) — includes a Throw Blankie, Everyday Luxury Blanket, Pacifier Clip, Quib (four-sided bib) and Hooded Towel. Lille means “small†in Danish, the native language of Bébé au Lait co-founder Ronnie Ekelund. It continues the Bébé au Lait tradition of creating stylish and innovative products with luxurious, quality fabrics—now in colorful, youthful prints.
We received a Bebe Au Lait Hooded Towel ($40) to review and found it to be of excellent quality.
It’s made from 100% Terry Cloth and measures 27.5″ X 36â€. The generous cut makes it easier to use because it allows us to wrap it around Kaila even if she’s squirming and dry her off quickly. We also like that it’s soft and snuggly because there’s nothing worse than a scratchy towel.
I also like that the hood has a terry cloth lining on the inside and a fabric look on the outside. It’s made in a way that it almost has a quilted look and feel to it.
With the cute fabric trim, this hooded towel can even be used outside of the house . . . like at the beach or a trip to the pool . . . making it very versatile and handy. A lot of the other hooded towels that we have look like they’re strictly bath towels and we end up having to but separate towels for the beach. Not any more.
The Bebe Au Lait Hooded Towels come in a variety of modern fabrics to choose from so you’re sure to find one . . . or two . . . that you love!
For more information stop by Bebe Au Lait or follow them on Twitter and Facebook.
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The Results Are In . . . Germ Swab Test Results (Diaper Genie Giveaway)
A while ago I participated in the Diaper Genie Germ Swab test where I needed to swab 5 areas in my home and nursery that are most likely to host nasty germs . . . changing table, doorknob to the nursery, plastic toy, crib railing, and an item of my choice . . . the remote control.
The swabs were then sent to Dr. BenjaminTanner, a germ expert, who is currently partnering with Playtex Baby to address simple ways that moms can help maintain a clean and germ-free nursery environment. He holds a B.S. in Molecular Biology and a Ph.D. in Microbiology and Immunology from the University of Arizona, where he studied environmentally mediated disease transmission and assessed infection risks for workers with Dr. Charles Gerba. Dr. Tanner is also the founder and principal of Antimicrobial Test Laboratories, LLC, a microbiology laboratory that specializes in testing and development of disinfectant chemicals and other antimicrobial technologies.
While conducting this experiment I came to the preliminary conclusion that the remote control would probably have the most germs because it’s the item that’s handled the most by my family and I can’t remember ever really cleaning it before. I also thought that the diaper changing table would also house germs even though I try to clean it on a weekly basis.
Here are the results:
After analyzing the swabs from your changing table, crib rail, doorknob, plastic toy and mom’s choice it appears that your nursery is in decent shape. None of your swab tests returned bad germ results. I primarily detected “ordinary” germs. Ordinary germs are nothing to be afraid of. The “enteric” germs and E. coli we tested for in your nursery are also not cause for concern (most E. coli do not cause disease).
Whew!
However, that’s not to say that there weren’t any germs detected in those areas. On the contrary. There were 2 types of bacteria that was tested for:
- Enteric bacteria-Â A rod shaped bacteria that often occurs naturally or pathogenically in the intestines of humans
- E. Coli bacteria-Â A rod shaped bacteria that is most often found in the lower intestines of warm-Âblooded organisms. Most e. coli are harmless but some can cause food poising in humans
The specific results found that the majority of my swabs (four out of five) returned ZERO E. Coli bacteria per swab, but the plastic toy did return greater than normal amount of E. Coli bacteria per swab. Additionally my changing table, doorknob and plastic toy returned greater than normal Enteric bacteria while the crib rail and remote control returned zero bacteria per swab.
I have to say that I am a little surprised at the results but pleased that the only real area of concern are the plastic toys. Those are pretty easy to clean and disinfect. However, that doesn’t mean that I can slack in the other areas. I still need to be vigilant in keeping those places clean . . . and germ-free . . . for the sake of my family.
But how do I do this? Here are some tips by Dr. Tanner to maintain a clean and healthy nursery:
Maintaining a clean and healthy nursery for your little one can seem like a never ending task. A recent Playtex survey revealed that having a clean and healthy nursery environment is a key priority for 65% of moms, underscoring the importance of keeping this special room as sanitary as possible. Germ expert Dr. Benjamin Tanner offers five simple and easy tips to help parents do just that.
Learn the ABCs of disinfectants vs. cleaners: Cleaners remove soils, but may still spread germs around, while disinfectants kill germs when used correctly. To use a disinfectant correctly in a nursery, remove your baby from the spray or wipe zone and apply the product liberally. After the label-Âspecified time elapses, wipe off the surface with a wet cloth to get rid of any residual chemicals so your baby’s delicate skin doesn’t touch these chemicals. It’s also wise to disinfect hard wood floors and vacuum carpets routinely to keep germ levels low.
Know the nursery hot spots: Germ “hot spots” in the nursery are areas that come in contact with waste in diapers and other body fluids, directly or indirectly. Areas where most bacteria typically gather include the floor, changing table, toys and toy chest, and laundry hamper ⣠these spots should be disinfected at least once a day to kill these bacteria. Make sure to focus on these key areas more than others when disinfecting in the nursery, and use a proper disinfectant, not just a cleaner.
Eliminate germs and messes during change time: The changing table is one of the key hot spots, and the place where diaper messes and germs are transferred from the diaper to baby’s skin. Establish a quick mess-Âfree diaper changing routine to help keep these germs at bay, keeping supplies handy and close by in a dedicated changing area. Get rid of diapers in a hygienic fashion that keeps germs sealed away - the Diaper Genie II Elite® Pail seals odor into the pail and out of your nursery unlike an ordinary trash can. Diapers only touch the disposable film, not the pail, so there is one less thing to clean. It also offers a convenient foot pedal, allowing you to hold your child and dispose of a diaper at the same time, and has Antimicrobial Protection built into the plastic to inhibit odor-Âcausing bacteria.
Keep it clean after a change: Keep soap and warm water, or where not available, antibacterial hand wipes nearby to use after changing your baby. This will help stop the spread of germs within the nursery. And place a special, separate hamper inside the nursery to use specifically for heavily soiled baby laundry, which will help prevent bacteria on this laundry from spreading. Studies have shown that laundry, especially if it has come in contact with bodily fluids, can harbor great quantities of bacteria and even spread them to clean clothes through normal washing cycles.
Be mindful of germs when sickness creeps in: Take special precautions within the nursery when you or the baby is sick to prevent spread of illness to other children and throughout the rest of the nursery. Disinfect nursery hot spots even more frequently than normal, including the floor, changing table and laundry hamper, and cover all coughs and sneezes and wash hands before contact with baby and when entering the nursery.
If you follow these helpful tips, you’ll find that you can decrease the amount of harmful germs that your family comes into contact with and in turn give them the healthiest environment to thrive.
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