Author: Mary Pimmel-Freeman

16 Examples That You Lead a Gross, Filthy, Unclean Life

Post author By Mary Pimmel-Freeman
Post date December 20, 2016

Everyone’s house gets messy from time to time, but some people live in a constant state of filth. It’s unpleasant to live surrounded by clutter in an unclean house and can lead to increased stress. It can also be hard to have friends or family over to visit because there would be nowhere for them to comfortably sit! On top of this, an unclean house can make you sick! If you can relate to these 16 examples of what it’s like to live in a filthy house, it might be time you finally cleaned (or hired a cleaning crew).

1. Your house always has a stench.

No matter how much cleaning you pretend to do, the rooms in your home always have a slightly odorous stench. While scented candles, air fresheners, and scented sprays can mask the smell for a short period of time, the room always goes back to stinking. It could be a leftover stench from a mess left a very long time ago that you forgot to clean up. Or there could be a dead animal rotting in your basement, and you haven’t bothered to look hard enough for it. Take some time to do a thorough search of your house so you don’t have to wrinkle your nose every time you come home.

2. You eat in bed.

There are a few exceptions to eating in bed: if you’re being treated to breakfast in bed on special occasions or if you’re sick. But your bed should not take the place of a dining room table. No one likes crumbs in their bed (besides your dog). Besides being very gross, eating in bed is also unsanitary. Small pieces of food can be left behind and go bad, attracting unwanted bugs and bacteria.

3. You can’t remember the last time you washed your sheets.

You think your sheets look pretty clean (in spite of the crumbs), but you can’t remember the last time you washed them. According to CNN, you should strip your bed and replace the sheets at least once per week. During this time, wash the old sheets so that you have clean ones to put back on next time. If you are not cleaning your sheets regularly, you could have dust mites living in your bed. Dust mites are tiny bugs that love being close to the warmth and humidity our bodies give off. If someone in your home has asthma or allergies, they can be especially sensitive to dust mites. Washing your sheets weekly in hot water will help prevent them becoming a problem. From now on, keep your food at the table, keep your sheets clean, and have a much more restful night’s sleep.

4. Spring cleaning is just a saying.

Some people give their entire house or apartment a thorough scrubbing at least once a year. To you though, spring-cleaning sounds like a nice idea or just a myth. You couldn’t imagine going through with it. But giving your house a thorough cleaning annually is a must if you want to get rid of all the dust and dirt that naturally accumulates in your home.

5. Laundry baskets are a nice thought.

While the concept of a laundry basket is a nice one, you don’t see the purpose for it when you can just toss your clothes on that growing pile on the floor. It’s hard to tell what’s dirty and what’s clean, and some of your clothes are starting to smell too. If you haven’t vacuumed or swept your floor in a while, your clean clothes are going to pick up whatever has been accumulating on the ground. You’ll end up wasting time and water having to clean your clothes all over again. Get a laundry basket or a hamper to separate your dirty clothes from clean ones (and then actually do your laundry).

6. If you can’t see a surface, you don’t clean it.

The tops of your shelves have probably collected a pretty thick layer of dust by now. However, since you don’t see these surfaces, it doesn’t cross your mind to clean them. The same goes for any other area of the house or apartment that’s literally over your head. That includes the top of ceiling fan blades, light fixtures, and door frames. Imagine all the dust that has accumulated up there! A duster would take care of all that dirt in no time!

7. You haven’t seen the bottom of your sink in a very long time.

Everyone has dirty dishes in the sink from time to time, and they may even pile up on occasion. But you can’t remember the last time you saw the bottom of your sink. You always have dishes overflowing from your sink. In fact, you may have resorted to using plastic utensils and paper plates just to avoid doing the dishes. When dishes sit in the sink for a long time, the leftover food gets so caked on they are extremely hard to clean. Food can get moldy and grow nasty bacteria while it waits to get cleaned up. The old food also puts off a nasty smell that can attract flies, roaches, and other bugs. Who wants creepy crawly things in the area where they prepare their food?

8. You Don’t Know What’s Hiding In The Back Of Your Fridge

Your weekly groceries tend get squished into the very front of your refrigerator because that’s the only place they’ll fit. You have leftovers that went bad long ago and produce that has broken down into unrecognizable mush. If you are in this situation, please stop what you’re doing immediately and clean out the rotten food that is likely stinking up your whole kitchen. You’re at risk of catching some bad germs from rotten food and any liquids that have spilled and gathered on your fridge shelves or drawers. You may be used to working around these messes, but they could be making you sick. Clean the refrigerator shelves and drawers with a mix of warm water and baking soda. Hopefully your refrigerator will look so clean and sparkly that you’ll never let it go back to the mess it was.

9. Your blender has seen better days.

If you’re not washing your dishes, you’re probably not bothering to clean your kitchen appliances. Smaller appliances like your blender need to be taken apart to be cleaned. Every time you make a smoothie, you need to screw off the bottom of your blender and clean each part. The smaller parts at the bottom of the blender can accumulate a build-up of leftover liquids leading to the growth of salmonella and E.coli. Nobody wants those lovely little things ending up in their margaritas!

10. You don’t own a vacuum cleaner.

You haven’t seen a need to vacuum your carpets since you moved in. If you can’t see the dirt, that means it’s not there, right? Wrong. Vacuuming and dusting weekly is recommended to keep dust mites and allergens out of your home. When you finally get around to buying a vacuum cleaner, find one that has a HEPA (high efficiency particulate air) filter. These filters help more than 99 percent of air particulates that pass through your vacuum cleaner. If you don’t use a HEPA filter, your vacuum will spew the dust and dirt from your floor into the air. Clean or replace your vacuum bag regularly and keep the windows open while your vacuum to cut down on potential lung irritation.

11. You can smell something funky coming from your bath mat.

You don’t think twice about stepping on to your bath mat after you get out of the shower. You’ve just gotten clean in the shower, so you can’t be getting any dirt on your mat, right? You use this line of thinking to keep from ever washing your bath mat. If that’s true for you, we think we might know what’s causing that mildew smell in your bathroom. Bath mats are notorious for harboring mold, bacteria, and dust mites that love the warm, wet environment the bath mat provides. Using baby powder on top of the bath mat just makes the situation worse. Lower your risk of catching a cold or irritating your allergies by cleaning your mat a couple times a month. Drying yourself off in the shower before stepping on the mat will also help.

12. You never give your shower head a second glance.

Shower heads are supposed to keep you clean, but researchers have found a nasty bacterium in them called Mycobacterium avium. This bacterium has been found in 30 percent of shower heads in people’s homes and can cause lung infections and pulmonary disease. Take your shower head apart on the regular to give it a good cleaning.

13. You don’t give a second thought to your cleaning products.

You consider it a success if you can locate your cleaning supplies in whatever random drawer or closet you last threw them into. It’s even more momentous if you have enough energy leftover after finding the cleaning supplies to use them. But we’ve got some news for you about the cleaning supplies you may have in your house. Many common cleaning supplies contain chemicals that can irritate your eyes, cause headaches, make it difficult to breath, and can be carcinogenic. Check the ingredients labels and avoid buying products that contain 2Butoxyethanol, Alylphenol extholytes, Dye, Ethanolamines, Fragrance, Pine or Citrus oil, and Quaternary ammonium compounds. Look for eco-friendly cleaning products or use precautions when using the cleaning supplies you already own. Wear gloves, open windows while you clean, and add water to the product to dilute it. Alternatively, you can use vinegar and water to clean glass and windows. Baking soda also works as a good scrubbing agent.

14. You’re hoping that isn’t mold on the ceiling.

Friends who manage to make it into your home have started staring apprehensively at your ceiling. There is a dark spot up there that has an ominous look (and smell). This is not something you should ignore, though you might be tempted to. Mold is more common than ever, growing as an unfortunate side-effect of our energy efficient homes. Mold can grow on wood, drywall, and wallpaper, and it grows more quickly in a moist environment. As you can imagine, breathing in mold is not good for anyone with breathing problems or allergies, especially the young and the elderly. Instead of cleaning this problem area yourself, call a professional to assess how bad the problem is.

15. You don’t clean up after your pets.

You can never seem to find the time to clean up after your pet, not in your house and not outside. It is extremely gross to not pick up after your pet and is also very unsanitary. Really, you don’t want to be THAT person who doesn’t pick up their dog’s poop when you go for a walk. You want your neighbors to at least kind of like you, right? Letting your dog’s poop pile up in the backyard isn’t great either. It makes it hard for you to use your backyard, and it also increases the chances that your dog will eat its own feces. Gross as it is, it does happen. Dog feces can also attract flies and spread any Giardia, roundworms, hookworms, Salmonella, and E.coli that are lurking in them. This also goes for your cat’s litter box.

16. You have no idea what an HVAC system is.

A heating, venting, and cooling (HVAC) system is responsible for temperature control in your home. If you didn’t know what it was, it’s likely you’ve never had it cleaned. The system can breed mold and bacteria with moisture left over from cooling your house. It can lead it asthma, allergies, coughing, and headaches. Try to have your system cleaned every few years to cut down on illness.

Tags 50006759, care, Commerce, hemingway

Sweat

10 Warning Signs Of Dehydration

Post author By Mary Pimmel-Freeman
Post date December 20, 2016

Dehydration is a common condition that results from the body losing more fluids than it takes in. Typically, dehydration occurs when a person does not drink enough water. Our bodies lose water in a variety of ways including sweating, going to the bathroom, and even breathing! We need to consume enough water to keep our bodies balanced and working to their fullest capacity. If you are experiencing any of the following symptoms, get yourself some water!

1. Your urine is a deep yellow.

The longer urine stays in your body, the deeper in color it will be. Your urine should be only slightly yellow or straw-colored. If your urine is darker yellow or orange, you should drink more water. Staying hydrated helps flush toxins out your body and makes your urine an appropriate color.

2. You are having difficulty concentrating or thinking clearly.

Our brains require sufficient water to function properly. If you are dehydrated, your brain will not be working at its optimal level. This presents itself in a number of ways. If your brain is dehydrated, you may notice a change in your cognitive function or in your mood. If you suddenly find yourself confused or unfocused, have a glass of water and see if you feel better.

3. You have halitosis (bad breath) or a dry mouth.

When you are hydrated, your mouth produces enough saliva to keep it from feeling dry. Since saliva has antibacterial properties, saliva keeps the level of bacteria in your mouth in check. When you are dehydrated, your mouth will not produce adequate saliva. When your mouth is dry, microbes can form on the tongue which is a leading cause of bad breath. If you constantly feel like your mouth is dry or has a bad taste in it, try drinking more water to rebalance your mouth’s bacteria.

4. You are constipated or have other digestive issues.

If you are experiencing constipation or having hard stools, you may be dehydrated. As the food you eat passes through your digestive system from your stomach to your colon, your body absorbs nutrients and liquids. If you are dehydrated, your body will be trying to absorb even more fluid from what you’ve eaten. This leads to very uncomfortable experiences in the bathroom. You can keep your stool softer by drinking plenty of water.

5. You have sudden food cravings.

The body often mistakes thirst for hunger. When you are dehydrated, your body cannot properly absorb nutrients from the food you eat. Your liver also needs water to release energy to your body, triggering your body to crave more food. If you are dehydrated, your body may crave any kind of food, but it is likely you will want something sweet. This is because your body needs help producing glycogen. Instead of grabbing something sugary, have a big glass of water. Fill up with fruits and vegetables which contain lots of water. Foods like cantaloupe, strawberries, watermelon, cucumber, celery, lettuce, and tomatoes are more than 90 percent water.

6. You suffer from fatigue or lethargy.

Many people who feel fatigued may actually be dehydrated. Even professional athletes can experience this. They often feel fatigued because they are not drinking enough water, not just because their muscles are overworked. Water helps your body regulate blood sugar and oxygen levels in the body, helping you feel energized. If your body doesn’t have enough water, you will likely feel tired.

7. You feel your heart racing.

Some symptoms of dehydration can be very scary. Some people who are dehydrated experience heart palpitations. Being dehydrated throws off your body’s electrolytes and can lower blood pressure. This puts extra strain on various parts of your body including your heart. If you can feel your heart racing or have an abnormal heart rate, it may be a sign that you need water ASAP.

8. You have scaly, dry skin or lips.

Water helps your skin look healthy. Well-hydrated skin appears doughy and bounces back when you pinch your skin. You may think of dehydrated skin as sweaty, but once you go through all the stages of dehydration, your skin will get very dry. Your blood volume drops, and your skin loses its elasticity. If you experience this, you should go get yourself a glass of water. If you have chronic dry, scaly skin, you should try drinking more water on a regular basis.

9. You have joint or muscle pain.

As you’ve hopefully figured out by now, our bodies need water to perform optimally. If you are dehydrated, your joints and muscles will not have enough fluid to work properly. When your joints and muscles aren’t well lubricated, you’ll likely be in pain. You may especially notice this if you work out regularly. Take a break, rehydrate, and see if your joints and muscles feel any better.

10. You have headaches or dizziness.

Being dehydrated can wreak havoc on your body. When you don’t drink enough water, you may get a headache. This occurs because of the brain’s anatomy. The brain is protected by a fluid sac that needs plenty of water to keep a comfortable barrier between your brain and your skull. When the fluid sac gets low due to dehydration, you can get a massive headache. Dizziness can occur because your body is not able to process nutrients without water. If you have constant headaches or dizziness, see if drinking some water doesn’t help you feel better.

Think you might have experienced one of these symptoms but aren’t sure if you’re dehydrated? Read on to learn about a few simple dehydration tests.

If you think you might have experienced one of the symptoms we mentioned, but aren’t sure if you’re dehydrated, read on. You can check for dehydration with one of these tests. The simplest test is to check if you are thirsty. If you’re feeling thirsty, you are already dehydrated. Drinking water regularly (even when you don’t feel thirsty), will keep you hydrated.

Skin elasticity is a sign of good hydration, and you can test for it very simply. Grab a bit of your skin on the back of your hand between two fingers. Gently pinch the skin up about half an inch, then let it go. If your skin moves back into position within a few seconds, you are hydrated. If it takes longer to move back, you could be dehydrated.

We mentioned that the color of your urine can also be a sign of dehydration. Checking your urine is a third very simple dehydration test. A well-hydrated body will produce urine that is very light yellow or mostly clear. If you see full-out yellow, chardonnay, or orange, you are likely dehydrated. When you see yellow, your body is about 3 percent dehydrated. Chardonnay (yellow-orange) indicates your body is around 5 percent dehydrated. If you see orange, that is a sign your body has reached dangerous levels of dehydration, more than 5 percent dehydrated.

How much water should you be drinking?

Your total water intake is a combination of the water you drink, the water you take in from the foods you eat, and water you get from other beverages you consume. Guidelines from the Institute of Medicine suggest that women get 12 cups of water a day and men get 15 cups a day.

How can you stay hydrated?

Keep a water bottle with you throughout the day. Many people assume you have to work out to become dehydrated, but you can become dehydrated just by sitting at a desk all day if you don’t drink enough water. Keeping a water bottle next to you will encourage you to keep drinking without having to think about it.

Some people say they just don’t like the taste of water. If you fall into this category, make your water more appealing by adding a tiny bit of fruit juice or frozen fruit to give it some natural flavor. You can experiment by infusing your water with different combinations of fruit and make each cup a treat.

You can also drink cups of unsweetened tea in lieu of water. If you really don’t like drinking plain water, try some iced tea during the day and warm cups of peppermint or chamomile tea in the evening. Tea still counts towards your total fluid intake!

You can also help your body stay hydrated by paying attention to what you eat.

You can help hydrate your body by choosing snacks with higher water content. Trade in dry, salty snacks like chips, pretzels, and crackers. Choose fruit and yogurt, a tasty smoothie, or veggies and hummus instead. Filling up on healthier snacks will help your body get the fluid it needs to stay hydrated!

Eat more fruits and vegetables at meal time. Most Americans fill up their plates with protein and carbs. To help your body stay healthier, make up your meals with about 50 percent vegetables and fruit. Not only will you get more water, you’ll also give your body more fiber, vitamins, and minerals.

Don’t skip water at mealtimes. Drinking small amounts of water while you’re eating a meal will force you to eat slower. You’ll stay hydrated, and you will also give your brain a chance to catch up to your stomach to prevent overeating.

How can you prevent loss of fluids?

Reducing the amount of water your body loses will decrease the amount of water you need to take in to stay hydrated. Continue on for more tips!

Follow these tips to help prevent dehydration.

Bring water with you to outdoor activities and anytime you will be sweating. Getting hot and sweaty will increase the amount of water your body needs. Athletes and people who work outside should always keep water with them.

Limit your activity when it is especially hot outside. If the forecast calls for a high heat index, stay inside as much as possible. If you have outdoor activities planned, try to reschedule them for cooler parts of the day.

Take special care of infants and the elderly. The very young and very old are more sensitive to effects of dehydration and should be protected from hot temperatures.

If you are worried about dehydration, limit your alcohol intake. Alcohol dehydrates the body and will make your body lose water even faster when it’s warm outside.

Choose your outfit carefully when spending time outside on a hot day. Wearing light-colored and loose-fitting clothes will help keep your body cooler and reduce the amount of water you lose. Hand-held fans and mini water misters can also help cool you down in hot temperatures.

If you are spending time in hot weather, it helps to take breaks in a cooler place. Step out of the sun into a nice shady place or move into an air-conditioned space. Reducing the risk of overheating will help limit the amount of water your body loses.

Now, if you haven’t done so already, go drink a glass of water!

Tags 50006104, body, hemingway

Wellbeing

Here's Why You Jerk Awake Right After Falling Asleep

Post author By Mary Pimmel-Freeman
Post date December 20, 2016

The best part of the day is plopping into bed and sleeping like a log. It’s the time of the day when you try to set aside all your worries and prepare for a few hours of rest. It can be hard to stop thinking about the stressful events of your day, but once you fall asleep, there should be nothing but sweet dreams ahead of you. Sweet dreams, that is, until you suddenly jerk back awake.

You quickly look around your room, and remember you are safe and sound. For seemingly no reason, your body just forcefully woke you up. Many of us have had this experience, but what is it all about?

The phenomenon is known as a “hypnic jerk.”

It’s also known as a “sleep start” or “night start.” It is a quick muscle reflex whose intensity varies from person to person. Reactions can also be different for different people. Some people don’t even realize they’ve had a hypnic jerk while others may scream while it’s happening.

For years, scientists have been trying to figure out what causes it. and now they’re starting to understand a little more about it. The condition occurs most frequently when people are exhausted and fall asleep quickly.

Many people who experience hypnic jerks report having dreams at the moment they wake up.

In these dreams, people are often falling, jumping, or tripping. Sometimes you may feel like you’ve lost your balance while other times you may feel like you’re falling off a cliff!

Scientists that study sleep disorders are trying to determine what causes this phenomenon. Dr. Carl Bazil M.D. Ph.D., and the director of the Sleep Disorders Center at New York-Presbyterian/Columbia University Medical Center is a sleep expert.

He says that hypnic jerks seem to result from a conflict between the brain system that keeps you awake and the brain system that helps you fall asleep.

Jolting up is usually accompanied by dreams of falling, tripping, maybe even leaning too far back in your office chair. You get the sensation that you’re losing your balance, and you jerk awake.

Michael Breus, Ph.D., a sleep doctor, clinical psychologist, and fellow of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, explains, “We don’t have a great answer to the visual component, but we think it might be the easiest way for the brain to interpret the rush or feeling of falling into sleep too quickly, like a lack of balance if you faint while standing up.” Because these dreams are so individualized, it can be hard to study.

Scientists aren’t sure why you have dreams of falling.

“One of the things that happens as you fall asleep is your muscles relax, but the awake part may still be stimulating enough that it will temporarily overreact and you get this jerk of muscle activity,” he says.

Doctors are still uncertain why you see the images you do when you have a hypnic jerk. Because hypnic jerks are only about as harmful as hiccups, they have not been a high priority research topic. While that is reassuring in some ways, many people would still be glad to know the reason they jerk awake as they are calmly trying to fall asleep!

A hypnic jerk is not the same as a bobbing head.

If you’ve fallen asleep sitting up at your desk or on an airplane, you likely know the feeling of your head suddenly bobbing and waking you up.

This is another natural reaction, but it likely occurs for a different reason than a hypnic jerk. “Your head weighs roughly eight pounds so if it falls over too far, it will bend your air pipe in a way that makes it difficult to breathe. The brain jerks your head back up to straighten the air pipe back out so you can breathe properly,” says Breus.

There are several theories for what causes this phenomenon.

Since hypnic jerks occur naturally as the body falls asleep, many hypothesize that this is just the body preparing for rest. Scientists also believe hypnic jerks can happen when the body doesn’t spend enough time in the first stage of sleep. This is more likely to occur when you are overly tired.

Typically, the first stage of sleep lasts a few minutes. During this time, the body begins breathing more slowly and the heart rate also slows. You are sleeping lightly in this stage but can still easily wake up. When you are exhausted, your body may go through the first stage of sleep too quickly, making your brain think you are dying.

Perhaps this is the fastest way the brain knows how to wake the body up. Anyone who suffers from this condition can tell you that it certainly does the trick. Breus says “It might be a kind of protective mechanism, but we really aren’t sure because it’s difficult to study.”

You could be experiencing hypnic jerks without realizing it.

Even if a hypnic jerk technically wakes you up, you might fall back to sleep so quickly you don’t even remember what happened. It can be difficult to sleep with someone who jerks around in their sleep every night. “I’ve had patients whose hypnic jerks are so frequent and intense that partners have had to move into a separate bed to avoid waking their partner,” Breus says.

Hypnic jerks are more likely to happen when you are sleep deprived, stressed, or intoxicated.

When you are getting enough sleep, either in quantity or quality, you could experience more hypnic jerks. This means not getting between seven and nine hours of sleep or not getting restful sleep.

If you are having disrupted sleep, you may be affected by stress or be drinking too much caffeine. You may even have a sleep disorder such as sleep apnea or insomnia. Drinking alcohol can also increase your chances of having hypnic jerks. Breus confirms this saying, “Alcohol is another huge factor — many people get hypnic jerks after a night of drinking.”

Hypnic jerks aren’t dangerous, but they can keep you awake.

Hypnic jerks can’t hurt you, though your hypnic jerk dreams could trick you into believing otherwise. But Breus says there’s nothing to worry about. “There are no serious consequences, it won’t give you a heart attack or anything — the worst that could happen is you jerk so hard that you fall out of bed,” says Breus.

But for some people who have very strong hypnic jerks all the time, they become apprehensive about falling asleep. In these cases, hypnic jerks can indirectly lead to insomnia.

If you notice them becoming a problem for you, keep track of how often you have them and what has happened to you during the day that could have caused them.

The best cure for getting rid of hypnic jerks is getting on a regular sleep schedule.

Do your best to get seven to nine hours of sleep a night. Even better, try to fall asleep and wake up at the same time every day. This allows your body to fall asleep more slowly.

While sleeping in on the weekends is tempting, it can easily throw off your sleep schedule. You’ll have a harder time getting to sleep in the evenings, and you may not feel rested during the week.

You can also benefit from increasing the quality of your sleep.

If you are sleeping regular hours and you are still having hypnic jerks, you will want to assess the quality of your sleep. Breus uses this advice with his patients, “I suggest eliminating alcohol, reducing caffeine especially closer to bedtime, and trying to get to sleep and wake up at the same time every day.”

If this still doesn’t end the hypnic jerks, you may want to set up an appointment with a sleep specialist. Together, you can talk about your sleeping patterns and figure out what is happening. The specialist will likely address your hypnic jerks as a symptom, not a cause, of your sleep problems.

Your other option is get used to falling off a cliff every once in awhile.

The National Sleep Foundation estimates that about 60 to 70 percent of people have hypnic jerks. That is a whole lot of people who are woken up unexpectedly! If you want to try some other methods to sleep better before calling a specialist, the National Sleep Foundation has some helpful tips for you.

First, as we mentioned, try to stick to a sleep schedule with a consistent bedtime and wake up time. Keep your schedule as consistent as you can, even on the weekends. Your body clock should respond with an expectation of falling asleep at a certain time, and you should start naturally feeling tired.

Second, create a bedtime routine to perform nightly. Do the same relaxing things every night before you fall asleep. Turn off electronics, dim the lights, get your pajamas on, read a good book, and do whatever you need to get yourself ready for bed.

Third, cut out naps if you have a hard time falling asleep at night. While naps are extremely tempting if you’re tired during the day, they could be throwing off your body clock. If you can’t get through the day without a snooze, try a power nap in lieu of a long nap.

The National Sleep Foundation has a few more tips for people having difficulty sleeping.

Next, daily exercise has been shown to help you sleep better at night. Rigorous activity is preferable, but any activity is better than none at all. The time of day shouldn’t matter, as long as it doesn’t interfere with your bedtime.

Additionally, you should take a look at the room you are sleeping in to make sure it is conducive to restful sleep. You want your room to be inviting with calming colors and objects that are soothing to look at. Keep your room free of clutter so you don’t have anything you can trip over in the middle of the night.

The temperature should be between 60 and 67 degrees, and the room should be quiet during sleep time. Try to keep your room as dark as possible, using blackout curtains or eye shades if needed.

If you have a partner that keeps you awake, you may wish to use earplugs or a white noise machine to help you sleep better. Humidifiers and fans have also been shown to create an environment conducive to sleeping.

Finally, sleep on a firm mattress with comfortable pillows. A supportive mattress that is less than 10 years old is recommended. It helps to wash your sheets weekly in warm water to cut down on allergens and dust mites. You’ll also sleep a lot better knowing you’re sleeping in fresh, clean sheets.

Tags 50006754, hemingway, mind

Lifestyle

15 Things Doctors Wish Men Actually Knew

Post author By Mary Pimmel-Freeman
Post date December 19, 2016

You’re not the only guy that doesn’t like going to the doctor. Visiting the doctor was easy when you were a kid. Your parents set up your appointment, drove you to the doctor, and gave you a treat if you got a shot. Now the responsibility is all on your shoulders, and if you’re being totally honest, you miss the days you could get chauffeured to the pediatrician. Many men have a hard time visiting the doctor. Men admit to being too busy, feeling afraid of what a doctor might tell them, and wanting to avoid being naked in front of a stranger at all costs. While these feelings are understandable, they can have serious consequences for your health. Read on to learn what doctors wish men knew, and see if you aren’t convinced to finally schedule that appointment.

1. Your doctor isn’t going to judge you.

Assuming this isn’t your doctor’s first year out of medical school, he’s likely already seen a lot. Whatever you’re going to tell him (or show him) probably isn’t going to surprise him. Whether it’s been a long time since your last checkup, or you eat too many cheeseburgers, or you have one too many drinks for time to time, your doctor isn’t going to judge you. Your doctor just wants what’s best for you. His job is to work with you so that you can be at your best health.

2. You should go to the doctor even if you feel healthy.

Even if you take great care of yourself, you should still see a doctor for regular check-ups. Getting regular physicals gives your doctor a good knowledge of where your healthy baseline is. If you have problems in the future, you and your doctor will both know how your body functions when it is healthy. Your doctor can also give you tips if you want to try to become even healthier. Exams can also reveal problems that may be hidden. Ana Fadich, MPH, the vice president of the Men’s Health Network explains, “You could have an accumulation of plaque that could lead to a heart attack or stroke. …You could have high cholesterol and not know about it. There are people who are vegan who have high cholesterol because it runs in their family.” You might find out nothing is wrong, but it’s better to be safe than sorry.

3. Don’t wait for an emergency to see your doctor.

When we get sick, most of us just hope our body will eventually heal itself. While this sometimes happen, there are times when you need to see a doctor to get better. You may have had a cough for a few weeks and assume you just have a virus, but you could have something more serious like pneumonia. Waiting until your problem has gotten out of control will make it that much harder for a doctor to treat you when you finally go in for a visit. Regular check-ups can help doctors catch problems before they become major issues. Building a relationship with your doctor will also make it less scary to call when you get sick in between physicals.

4. You’re not alone in fearing bad news.

When people think something is wrong with them, they have a tendency to procrastinate calling their doctor. It’s not that they want their problem to get worse, they’re just afraid of what the doctor is going to tell them. While it might be easier not knowing what’s happening in your body, ignorance doesn’t make the problem magically go away. The longer you put off getting checked out, the worse your issue can get. If you’re in this situation, call your doctor and get some answers.

5. Doctors know what you’re going through.

Dr. Jamin Brahmbhatt and Dr. Sijo Parekattil are the founders of the Orlando Health’s Personalized Urology & Robotics Clinic. They are men’s health activists, and they took a trip around the country to encourage men to prioritize their health. Brahmbhatt says that he understands why men are reluctant to see their doctor. He doesn’t look forward to having a rectal exam done either. Since he gets his health care at the hospital where he works, he also gets nervous about being naked in front of a colleague. He spoke with the Huffington Post about how doctors can relate to the apprehension of their patients. He said, “You’re getting some of the most sensitive parts of your body examined. But we, as physicians, are very [aware] about the sensitivity in some of these private organs, so we’re not out to hurt you.”

6. Visiting a doctor can challenge gender norms.

In our society, men are supposed to be strong and impervious to weakness. You’re not supposed to be vulnerable, and there are few things more exposing than asking for help from a doctor when you’re wearing a paper-thin hospital gown. Professor Glenn Good teaches at the University of Florida and studies masculinity and male psychology. He says, “Going to a physician involves a couple of things that may feel uncomfortable for men. They don’t want to ask for directions and they don’t want to have to consult an expert about something that they know less about.”

Even though women are supposed to be the ones who struggle with their body image, many men also feel self-conscious about their weight and their appearance. This might be enough for some men to put off a doctor’s appointment. Good says that it can be good to think about strength in a different way. “The metaphor of a tree is a helpful one,” he said. “A truly strong tree can flex and bend in the wind, but a tree that is really rigid and stiff is more likely to get snapped.” If you can adapt your idea of strength to include getting naked at the doctor’s office without being totally terrified, you’ll be well on your way to better health.

7. Routine check-ups can save your life.

Dr. Brahmbhatt has seen this first hand. He had a patient who was a firefighter. The man was in great shape and exercised regularly. The man found a bump on his testicle, but like many people would do in his situation, he hoped it would go away if he just ignored it. When the man visited Brahmbhatt, he was told that he had testicular cancer. “If he had waited another six months or a year, it would have definitely spread to the rest of his body,” Brahmbhatt said. This is just one example of how regular visits to your doctor are necessary for optimal health.

8. Good health care is about teamwork.

Good health care depends on a strong doctor and patient partnership. Being open and honest with your doctor will help him give you the best care he can provide. He can’t treat you for something if he doesn’t know about it. This is why it doesn’t help to hide things out of embarrassment. Give truthful answers if your health assessment, and if you’re experiencing pain or are having problems, let your doctor know. Remember that you don’t have to handle everything by yourself. But because health care is a partnership between you and your doctor, you also have a responsibility to be forthcoming and to follow through on recommendations your doctor gives you. If your doctor suggests cutting back on red meat or trying to exercise more often, it’s in your own best interest to listen to what he says.

9. It helps to know your health history.

Obviously, doctors don’t expect you to know the exact date of every cold and virus you’ve ever had. But it helps them to know what you’ve experienced in your life. They’ll likely ask you if you’ve had any surgeries or major operations. They’ll also ask you about chronic conditions and what prescriptions you take (if any). Doctors recommend eventually keeping track of your medical records including copies of x-rays, pathology and operative reports, and medication lists with information about why and when you take them. This will help you stay “health literate” and be an expert of your own health.

10. An STI test isn’t a once in a lifetime thing.

Every sexually active person should be tested for sexually transmitted diseases. Doctors also recommend being retested every time you have sexual relations with a new partner. This is a health precaution but is also pretty logical. If you have contracted an STI since your last test, chances are your most recent partner infected you. This saves you the awkwardness of calling all of your past sexual partners to let them know about your STI test results. One last thing: if you have male sex partners, you could be at a higher risk of contracting HIV and other STIs. Even more reason to see your doctor regularly.

11. Watching TV (or searching the internet) doesn’t substitute for seeing a real doctor.

Don’t believe everything you hear on TV. Doctors wish their patients knew how to decipher between facts and exaggerated promises made in “direct-to-consumer” ads. Reading WebMD and listening to self-proclaimed health experts like Dr. Oz does not give you the ability to diagnose yourself. There is a reason websites and TV shows come with so many disclaimers. They are not evaluating you as an individual, so they can’t compare to the real examination your doctor can provide.

12. Know the recommendations for special health screenings.

Your doctor can tell you when you will need to be screened for certain diseases and conditions. There are age recommendations for when screenings are typically done, but based on your family history and other factors, your doctor may wish for you to have your screenings done earlier. Prostate exams begin at age 50, but black men should get screenings done at 45 if they’ve had a close relative diagnosed with prostate cancer younger than 65. Most men between 18 and 39 should have a blood pressure screening every two years, but some men may need an annual check. Men above 45 need to have a diabetes screening every three years. This test may start earlier for men who are overweight. Cholesterol and heart disease screenings begin at 35 and occur every five years. Finally, colon cancer screenings begin at age 50 and continue every five to 10 years until you turn 75. Get in the habit of tracking your screenings now, then when you’re in your fifties, you won’t get scheduled for annual colonoscopies accidentally.

13. Don’t forget about mental health.

Many men are raised to not talk about their feelings or to show certain emotions. But studies show that about 30 percent of men admit to having experienced depression. If you think you may be depressed or are experiencing another mental health issue, speak to your doctor. Sharing your feelings, no matter how hard it may be, could save your life. Suicide is the seventh leading cause of death for men, and men are four times more likely to commit suicide than women. Even if you don’t feel that you are at this point, talking with your doctor may help you feel better.

14. Seeing the doctor when you’re young can help create healthy habits.

Seeing the doctor for routine check-ups when you’re in your twenties will give you opportunities to learn about creating lifelong healthy habits. Your doctor can give you information about how to achieve your best health and lower your risk for certain diseases. Heart disease is the number one cause of death in men and women, but certain habits can prevent people from getting the disease in the first place. Eating healthy foods, eating in moderation, exercising, not smoking, reducing sodium intake, and drinking alcohol in moderation are all way to keep heart disease at bay. See your doctor when you’re young so you’re not trying to cover lost ground after having something like a heart attack when you’re older.

15. This is the only body you get.

Like we said, there’s no reason to be embarrassed about your body, your habits, or your lack of visits to the doctor. If you haven’t seen your doctor for a while or haven’t even established with a doctor as an adult, now is the time to do it. “You can’t go rent another body and you can’t go use someone else’s body,” says Brahmbhatt. “It’s all you have, so why not take good care of it as you do everything outside your body that has a price tag?”

Tags 50007326, care, hemingway

Wellbeing

15 Items You Should Never Pack In Your Child's Lunch

Post author By Mary Pimmel-Freeman
Post date December 8, 2016

Among the many responsibilities parents have today is the need to teach their children how to eat healthy. Lifelong eating habits begin in childhood, and it can be very hard to cut bad habits as an adult. With a rise in childhood obesity and diabetes, it is more important than ever for parents to provide healthy food for their children and to model good eating. One way to instill good habits is by providing healthy, nutritious lunches for children to take to school.

Parents may unintentionally be giving their children foods that are packed with sugar, high fructose corn syrup, preservatives, and food dyes. Fortunately, there are many healthy alternatives to these products that are full of vitamins, fiber, protein, and healthy fats. Prioritize healthy eating for your children today and eliminate these 15 items from their school lunches.

1. Fruit Snacks

Fruit snacks might have the word “fruit” in them, but they actually have very little nutritional value. Fruit snacks, including snacks like Fruit Roll-Ups, include artificial ingredients, trans fats, and lots of sugar. The next time you look at a box of fruit snacks, look at the ingredients list. The first ingredient is usually fruit concentrate, not actual fruit. These snacks are missing nutritional benefits and fiber that real fruit contains. Instead of giving your child a snack full of concentrated sugar, just give them real fruit.

Or, if you have a picky eater on your hands, try these homemade fruit roll-ups. They’re made with real fruit and no sugar, with all the fun of the original store-bought snack.

2. Lunchables

Lunchables are appealing for busy parents looking for an easy well-rounded meal to feed their child for lunch. But these pre-packaged meals are overly processed and have little nutritional value. They also contain saturated fats, sodium, and preservatives. Not great things to be feeding your growing child! You can make your own “lunchable” for your child that is much healthier and nutritious. Choose whole grain crackers, real cheese, and unprocessed meat. Putting the lunch in a reusable container will also cut down on the amount of trash your child is throwing away each day.

3. Deli Meat Sandwiches

Many parents pack deli meat sandwiches without thinking what is in that meat. Processed meats include lots of chemicals like nitrates and added sodium. They also have unhealthy fats and added colorings. Instead, you can roast your own turkey or meat over the weekend in a slow-cooker and slice it up for the rest of the week. The meat will have more nutrients, more flavor, and much less of the additives that are harmful for your child. When making a sandwich, consider using whole grain bread, add some sliced veggies, and use hummus or avocado in lieu of mayo. Add some fresh fruit as a side, and you have a great meal!

4. Potato Chips

Chips may be a convenient choice for a lunch side, but they certainly are not a healthy choice. Potato chips contain lots of sodium and processed fats. The lack of nutrition in potato chips will leave your child still feeling hungry after their lunch. Giving your child potato chips is also helping to create bad habits for the future. If your kids become used to eating junk food as a child, they will likely continue eating junk as they get older. Our bodies can become addicted to the sugars and chemicals contained in junk food. Set your kids up for success and give them healthier snacks in their lunch. If they have to have chips, provide them with baked potato chips instead.

5. Drink Pouches and Juice Boxes

Because they contain the word “fruit” many of these drinks seem healthy, but they’re not. The first two ingredients in most of these drinks are water and high fructose corn syrup. You are essentially giving your child flavored, watered-down high fructose corn syrup to drink for lunch. All of the sugar is bound to make them overly hyper. Not only are you loading your child up with sugar, but you may also be making them thirstier. Provide your child with 100% fruit juice or better yet, good old water.

6. Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwiches

Before you write us off going after this age-old favorite, hear us out. Think about what makes up a peanut butter and jelly sandwich: a nut butter with additives and sugar, jelly with lots of added sugar, and highly processed bread that will break down quickly giving your child even more sugar. You don’t have to give up this classic lunch altogether, just adapt it to be healthier for your child. Choose peanut butter that is just made up of nuts and a little salt. Instead of jelly, use thin slices of fruits like bananas, strawberries, or sliced apples. Use whole grain bread with lots of fiber or skip the bread and provide whole grain crackers.

7. Energy Drinks

Most parents wouldn’t think to give their child an energy drink, but a child might grab one for themselves if they have control over packing their own lunch. Energy drinks contain lots of sugar and caffeine, which no child needs. Sure, children need to energize at lunch to maintain their focus for the rest of the school day, but caffeine will inevitably lead to an energy crash sometime in the afternoon. Caffeine can also create sleeping problems for children. Keep energy drinks out of your house to avoid any temptation. Provide a water bottle for your child so they have access to liquids that will hydrate them and quench their thirst at lunch time.

The effects of energy drinks on the body, even 24 hours after consumption, is startling. Check out the video below, and always check the list of ingredients.

8. Soda

Soda is another no-no for your child, especially for a school lunch. Soda is full of sugar and harsh chemicals. It can suppress the immune system, stunt bone growth, create cavities, and cause weight gain. Additionally, the Harvard School of Public Health has reported that people who drink one or more cans of soda daily have a 26 percent higher chance of developing Type 2 diabetes. Help your child avoid this disease by providing them with healthier drinks like water and milk. Some cities are also passing a sugar tax to help reduce the amount of soda their residents drink. So not only is soda unhealthy, it is also becoming increasingly expensive!

9. Candy Bars

Parents may pack a candy bar as a special treat for their child, or children may pack them as a special treat for themselves. Avoid the possibility of packing one altogether by keeping them out of your house. Candy bars are sugar-laden and offer no nutritional value (contrary to what your kids might try to tell you about the nuts in a Snickers bar). Offer your child a nutrient-dense snack as an alternative. Fruit, applesauce, healthy yogurts, and dried fruit all taste sweet and have real nutritional value. Most of them also include fiber which will help fill your child up until they get home for another healthy snack!

10. Sports Drinks

Many kids, especially those involved in sports, have developed a taste for sugary sports drinks. These drinks claim to rehydrate you, but they often leave you feeling thirstier. They include lots of added sugar, high amounts of sodium, and harmful dyes. Some can have over nine teaspoons of sugar in one bottle! Imagine feeding your child nine spoons of sugar in their lunch at home! Parents would never be so careless, so don’t get tricked into giving the same amount of sugar in their lunch drinks. Like we’ve said before, stick to healthy drinks like water, milk, or 100 percent juice.

11. “Kid-friendly” Yogurts

Yogurt sounds like a healthy snack, and many brands of yogurt offer nutritious benefits, but beware of “kid-friendly” yogurts. These are the yogurts that come in crazy colors and flavors, the ones that can usually be identified by having cartoon characters on their packaging. Don’t get tricked into buying these yogurts as they have very high levels of sugar and may even contain crushed cookies and candy. Yogurt is a huge source of hidden sugar for kids and adults. Pack plain or lightly sweetened yogurt and include some fruit for your kids to mix into it. Make sure to pack an ice pack or something similar to keep the yogurt chilled until lunch time. Check out this genius hack to make the perfect parfait for a packed lunch and avoid soggy granola and mushy fruit.

12. Granola Bars

Creative marketing from food companies has convinced parents that granola bars are a healthy snack option for their children. But store-bought granola bars are full of high fructose corn syrup, chemicals, preservatives, and food dyes that are not healthy at all. Granola bars are really just dressed up junk food. You can make your own granola bars at home and cut down on the amount of sugar you add in. Homemade bars will also skip all the preservatives and food dyes! If you’re short on time, you can just skip granola bars altogether. Choose other healthy snack items like sliced fruit or bite-sized veggies (including cucumbers, carrots, and sliced peppers).

13. “Natural” Junk Foods

Many processed food companies have added the word “natural” to their labels to trick consumers; however, they’re still full of sodium, trans fats, and chemicals. The word “natural” is virtually meaningless in today’s food market. Marketers add the word to make people think they are choosing a healthy food, but since there is no regulated definition for “natural,” a consumer has no idea what they’re getting. “Natural” junk food is still just junk food. If you wouldn’t give your child the unnatural version of the product, don’t give them the “natural” version either. Whenever possible, choose unprocessed foods such as fresh fruits and vegetables.

14. Mayo-rich Salads and Sandwiches

Feeling ambitious and ready to send your child to school with an egg or tuna salad sandwich? Think twice before spending the time on this lunch. Most egg and tuna salads are made with mayonnaise which is full of saturated fat. Mayo can also go bad if it gets warm sitting in your child’s lunch box. There are better options for kids who love a good egg or tuna salad sandwich. Replace the mayo with plain Greek yogurt and a squirt of lemon juice. You can also mash up some avocados to give the sandwich a flavorful creaminess. Also consider swapping out the canned tuna for some salmon to reduce the amount of mercury you give your child. To keep things cold, pack the lunch with ice packs or include a frozen water bottle.

15. White Bread

Bread might not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think of unhealthy items in your child’s lunch. But highly processed white breads, pasta, and crackers are basically empty calorie foods. The body processes them as sugar, and it does so very quickly. Your child will get a rush of energy and then will crash. So when you think of giving your child a white flour-based food, remember that you are essentially giving them sugar. You can offer your child whole-wheat alternatives for a healthier lunch.

Tags 50005999, balance, hemingway

Motherhood

14 Secretly Dangerous Baby Products That Every Parent Needs To Avoid

Post author By Mary Pimmel-Freeman
Post date December 7, 2016

Some new parents feel a lot of anxiety about welcoming a baby. Their apprehension about keeping a young baby alive is channeled into buying the very latest gadgets for their child. Unfortunately, not all baby products on the market are safe for babies. If you are a parent or about to be a parent for the first time, you will have to do your research before buying products for your child.

Just because something is for sale doesn’t actually mean that it’s safe for your baby. Some products can lead to minor injuries, but some have actually been linked to infant deaths. Be sure to review the items on this list to make sure you are not using any of them with your child. Their safety should be your number one priority.

1. Bumbo Seats

The Bumbo helps babies sit up for mealtime and playtime; however, if left alone, a baby can easily tip over in it. If the baby is placed on a raised surface, like a counter or tabletop, the baby could get seriously hurt if he falls to the floor. The original version was recalled in 2007, and the product now includes a strap to keep baby harnessed.

But having a strap is not enough to keep the entire Bumbo from falling over with baby still inside. A Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) safety alert from November 2011 cited 45 occurrences of babies falling out of their seats; seventeen of these babies experienced skull fractures. Instead of a Bumbo, try a bouncing seat or activity center placed on the floor.

2. Jumpers

Although babies may love them, doorway jumpers can put them in serious jeopardy. Poorly secured jumpers can fall apart and overly enthusiastic babies can bounce so high they bonk their noggins on the doorway.

After 29,000 doorway jumpers were recalled in 2005, the CPSC issued a report saying the product had caused “amputation, crushing, lacerations, fractures, hematomas, bruises, or other injuries to fingers, toes, or other parts of the anatomy of young children.” Best to keep your baby out of the jumper.

3. Sleep Positioners

Ironically, this product is supposed to keep your infant safe as they sleep. Instead, babies can find themselves buried face-first in the foam sides and suffocate. The CPSC has identified 13 infant deaths resulting from sleep positioners over the last 13 years. Parents may use sleep positioners because of the recommendation from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) to put babies on their backs to sleep.

But they also say that it is okay if babies roll over or move on their own in the middle of the night. Babies do not need an outside positioner to keep them in position, especially if that positioner could cause them to suffocate. Other positioners are designed to help babies with reflux. If you have concerns about reflux, speak with your doctor instead of using an unsafe product.

4. Car Seat Toys

Car seat toys may seem like a great way to keep your child entertained on long car rides; however, experts recommend only using the car seat toys that come with your baby’s car seat. Car seat manufacturers crash test their car seats, and they test them with their toys attached.

Because toys from third parties aren’t tested, there is no way to guarantee that they would stay attached in a car accident. You wouldn’t want a dislodged toy harming your child in the event of a car crash. Stick to the toys that come with the car seat.

5. Bath Seat

While this product is perfectly safe when used with adult supervision, experts fear that it may delude parents into thinking it’s safe to leave their infants unattended in the bath. The product can easily fall over with the baby inside, risking an infant drowning.

The CPSC reported 174 deaths and 300 accidents associated with the product between 1983 and 2009. In lieu of a bath seat, you can use a hard plastic baby bathtub. No matter how you bathe your child, never leave them by themselves.

6. Co-Sleepers

Mothers around the world have slept with their babies for generations. Nursing mothers in particular like sleeping with their babies to make nursing easier. But there has been a growing number of reported cases of babies dying while sleeping with their parents. The AAP does not recommend co-sleeping because of the possibility that a parent can roll onto their baby and suffocate them.

Co-sleepers came on the market to address this problem, but they still pose a danger to babies. Babies can roll into the foam sides of co-sleepers and suffocate. The flimsy foam sides also cannot withstand the weight of a full-grown adult, so they don’t even protect babies. For now, baby experts recommend putting your baby is in a four-sided crib with a fitted mattress.

7. Baby Slings

Parents enjoy using baby slings for a variety of reasons including having a hands-free way to keep their babies snuggled close. While parents have been using front carriers for years, the improper use of sling carriers can be very harmful to infants. Sling carriers have been responsible for 14 infant deaths over the past two decades.

Babies have suffocated and have also fallen out of the slings leading to skull fractures and other head injuries. If you would still like to use a front carrier, choose one that complies with safety standards. You should also keep your baby upright and at a “kissable” level to prevent breathing problems.

8. Crib Bumpers

Crib bumpers have been popular among parents who have concerns about hard crib bars. Parents feel that the crib bumpers protect their baby from hitting their head on the crib bars or from getting their arm or leg stuck in between the bars. But crib bumpers often do more harm than good. Babies have suffocated after rolling into the bumpers.

Many parenting classes warn people about the dangers they pose, and the AAP advises parents not to use them. Some states, including Maryland, have banned crib bumpers outright. Put your baby to sleep in a crib with nothing except a fitted sheet.

9. Walkers

A few decades ago most babies spent at least a little time in a walker. After a number of reported cases of children falling down stairs while using walkers, the AAP began calling for a ban on the product. The CPSC has estimated that 4,000 children were injured in walkers in 2010 alone. Walkers are not only dangerous, but they have also been shown to limit the development of walking.
Even walkers that claim to meet current safety criteria are not safe for babies. They cannot guarantee that they will keep your baby from tumbling down a staircase. A better option for your child is a stationary activity center. They resemble walkers, but children can only spin around in place instead of getting themselves into trouble.

10. Drop-Side Cribs

The sides of these cribs are made to slide down so it’s easy for Mom and Dad to grab the baby, but these moving parts aren’t very safe. These cribs have been responsible for 32 deaths since the year 2000 including infant suffocation and strangling. Millions of these cribs were recalled before the CPSC banned them in 2011.

To keep your baby safe from these dangers, purchase a new crib f0r them with fixed sides. If you get a used crib, choose one made after June 2011 when the stricter standards were put in place.

11. Crib Tents

Parents have used crib tents to keep their babies from climbing out of their cribs. Others use them to protect their child from curious pets or from bugs if the baby is in a play yard outside. Unsurprisingly, crib tents are not safe for babies. Infants and toddlers can get caught in the fabric and be strangled or trapped between the tent and the crib rails. Some crib tents have also been known to collapse and injure babies.

If you are worried about your child climbing out of their crib, it is likely time to upgrade to a toddler bed. It will be a bigger pain for you, but you’ll feel better knowing your little one isn’t at risk of being suffocated or strangled.

12. Changing Tables

Parents use changing tables everywhere they go, and unfortunately, not all of them are safely designed. Whenever you can, use a changing table with four sides. More than 4,500 kids were injured in changing table accidents in 2009. Prevent your child from being a statistic and use a changing table at home with four sides to reduce the risk of falling.
If your table has a strap, use it when changing your baby’s diaper to keep them secure in case you look away for a moment. You can also change your baby’s diaper on the floor on top of a changing pad.

13. Furniture That Isn’t Secure

Toppling furniture can be a huge hazard to babies. This applies to furniture all over your home, not just the furniture in your baby’s room. In the eight-year span between 2000 and 2008, almost 200 children were killed by furniture tipping over. Most of these children were 5 years old or younger. An additional 16,000 children 5 and younger went to the emergency room for their injuries.
While it’s not necessary to buy new furniture to keep your child safe, you need to secure your furniture to the wall. Follow instructions included with the furniture or safety kit to make sure you are doing it correctly.

14. Blankets and Pillows

Who doesn’t love an adorable baby blanket or pillow? They are soft and cuddly, and they are a favorite gift for family and friends to give your little one. Unfortunately, they are dangerous for babies. Infants have been smothered by pillows and suffocated by their blankets. Avoid this tragedy by keeping your baby away from pillows and blankets, both theirs and yours.
It is best for babies to sleep in their own cribs, with a tight fitted sheet over their mattress. If you are concerned about them getting cold in the middle of the night, dress them in a sleep suit or footed pajamas. If you have a favorite baby blanket you just can’t part with, hang it on the wall or use it when you snuggle with your baby (out of your bed, of course).

Tags 50005774, care, hemingway