Every Mama has her way of raising, feeding, dressing, disciplining and teaching her little one. However, one thing unites Mamas worldwide: no Mama wants to see her child get sick because of germs, viruses and bacteria. So check out these eight germ protection tips!

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Table of Contents
What are germs?
– Bacteria
– Viruses
– Fungi
– Protozoa

How to protect your baby from germs at home
– Clean and disinfect your home
– Sterilise newly bought baby stuff
– Handle food properly
– Teach good hygiene

How to protect your baby from germs outdoors
– Avoid crowded places
– Wash hands frequently
– Watch where you eat
– Follow your baby’s immunisation schedule

Keep your home germ-free with this baby-safe disinfectant

Skip ahead to any section you find the most interesting!

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Admit it, Mamas. Our invisible enemy has given us a permanent wrinkle with how much we worry about it daily. This is especially true when you have a newborn whose immunity is still building up and thus more susceptible to infections. So it’s only fitting to be paranoid, especially now, where the COVID-19 pandemic is still wreaking havoc around the world.

But the truth is, we cannot completely protect our little ones from germs. Some exposure to germs is vital to strengthening their immune system. That, however, does not mean you should intentionally expose them to it. It’s one thing for babies to put stuff in their mouths (it’s part of growing up) and another to allow them to be cuddled by a sick family member.

Although babies are bound to catch a bug or two eventually, it’s still essential to make an effort to protect our babies from germs. In particular, the first three months of life are when you should be extra cautious. This is because infants’ immune system doesn’t mature until around four months.

But First, What Are Germs?

Germs are tiny organisms that exist everywhere and can cause diseases. You can find them in the air, soil, water, food, plants and animals, but only when you look at them through a microscope. Invisible to the human eye, they can enter the body through the mouth, nose, cuts in the skin, eyes and even the privates. Bacteria, viruses, fungi and protozoa are the four types of germs. Read on to find out how each germ differs from one another:

• Bacteria are single-celled organisms found in and outside the human body. The National Human Genome Research Institute states that the human body is estimated “to contain more bacterial cells than human cells.” However, it should be noted that most bacteria are harmless, and fewer than a hundred bacteria species cause diseases.
  

• Viruses are genetic materials (DNA or RNA) smaller than bacteria. They rely on a host to reproduce, which means once it finds its way into the body, it spreads quickly and can cause infections like the common cold or flu. Unlike bacteria, they cannot be killed by antibiotics.

• Fungi are plant-like organisms that thrive in damp environments. Fungi infections include athlete’s foot and yeast infections, which are generally not dangerous in an otherwise healthy person. Those with weakened immune systems may have several fungal diseases, though.
  

• Protozoa are single-celled organisms like bacteria, albeit bigger. They can cause diseases not just in humans but in plants, animals and marine life as well. In humans, they mainly spread through contaminated water, causing amebiasis, malaria and other intestinal diseases.

Germ Protection At Home

Babies may be generally safer at home, but that doesn’t mean no disease-causing germs lurk on doorknobs and toilet seats. These simple precautions can go a long way to keeping your home germ-free and your baby healthy. 

1. Clean and Disinfect the House

When you’re busy chasing around a toddler or nursing your infant, doing the chores is probably the last thing on your mind. However, floors and surfaces must be cleaned and disinfected as frequently as possible. Why? It’s because some bacteria divide every 20 minutes, according to the Society for General Microbiology.

Also, bacteria and viruses don’t just spread from person to person but from person to surface. For example, viruses that cause cold can stay on indoor surfaces for up to seven days, especially on nonporous surfaces such as plastic or stainless.

If your baby is crawling or already walking, clean high-traffic areas and high-touch surfaces with soap and water first. And then, you can go ahead and use a disinfectant to eliminate germs.

Tip: Focus your cleaning efforts on the dirtiest and germiest parts of your home. These are the kitchen countertops, appliance handles, doorknobs, light switches, drains, toilet floor, changing table, and carpets.

2. Sterilise Newly Bought Bottles, Nipples or Utensils

For brand new baby items, always sterilise them first. According to the CDC, it’s a crucial step for feeding items because of the risk of contamination. You can use a steriliser machine, a dishwasher or a basin filled with warm soapy water.

Tip: Make sure you read each product’s label for specific cleaning or sterilising instructions before you sterilise, Mama.

3. Handle Food Properly

When one thinks about germs, floors and surfaces are usually the first to come to mind. But the food that isn’t handled safely can harbour germs that can cause vomiting and diarrhoea, too. The American Academy of Pediatrics and FoodSafety.gov recommend the following food safety tips to protect your baby.

• Wash your hands before preparing your baby’s food
• Cook food all the way through
• Wash utensils and surfaces after preparing food, especially raw meats
• Separate raw foods from cooked foods
• Store leftovers immediately and adequately to prevent germ growth

Tip: Fresh fruits are great for babies, but they need thorough washing, too, before you give them to your little one.

4. Teach Good Hygiene

From teaching the importance of handwashing to showing how to properly cough and sneeze into a tissue (and dispose of it), it also helps to be proactive in germ prevention. These good habits will benefit them well into adulthood and your whole community. 

Tip: Teach your kids the proper length of handwashing by letting them sing along to the Happy Birthday song twice!

How To Protect Your Baby Outdoors

Try as you may, you can’t keep your baby in the safety and comfort of your home forever. Instead of cringing at the fact that parks, malls and playgrounds are riddled with germs, arm yourself with practical knowledge to help keep your baby safe from viruses and bacteria.

1. Avoid Crowded Places

Exposing them to large crowds is never a good idea if you’re going out with a baby. On the other hand, if your baby is still young, you’re better off sticking to parks with little to no risk of catching droplets when someone sneezes or coughs.

Tip: If a stranger finds your baby adorable, don’t be afraid to politely distance your baby or keep them from touching your baby.

2. Wash Hands Frequently

Did you know that diarrhoea and pneumonia are the top two killers of young children under the age of 5 worldwide? Both of which can potentially be prevented by handwashing alone.

The CDC reports that keeping our hands clean is one of the best ways to protect ourselves from getting sick and spreading germs. As such, it’s vital to instil this habit in your little one as early as possible.

Tip: When outdoors, soap and water may not be readily available. That’s why it’s a good idea to keep a sanitiser handy to remove germs. For children, alcohol-free hand sanitisers are the best option.

3. Watch Where You Eat Out

If you’re eating out, it’s a good idea to use disinfectant wipes on high chairs and tables before you put down your baby. In addition, you should bring your baby a disposable or reusable placemat and utensils as an extra precaution.

Tip: If you want to be extra careful, you can also pack a lunch for your little one. That way, you can be sure that the food is clean and thoroughly cooked.

4. Keep Your Baby Updated on Immunizations

Besides the above tips to protect your baby from germs, one of the most important things is to ensure you follow the recommended vaccine schedule for your baby. Babies can fight most germs, but some diseases are too much for their immune systems to manage. So by keeping them up to date on their immunisations, you can prevent them from getting deadly diseases in the first place.

Tip: Keep track of their immusations with their baby book. Don’t miss an appointment, Mama!

Keep Your Home Germ-Free with Mama’s Choice All-Purpose Disinfectant

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Germs will always be a part of our lives. The only thing we can do is to protect ourselves and our little ones by following the tips we’ve shared above and through products that eliminate them.

Inspired by our immune system, Mama’s Choice All-Purpose Disinfectant eliminates 99.99% of disease-causing bacteria and viruses. So is it safe for babies? Absolutely!

It’s non-toxic, alcohol-free and food-grade. That means it can be used on your child’s hands, toys, utensils and other surfaces without needing to rinse. Mamas can even use it on minor cuts and wounds.

There’s no need to worry about its safety, too, because it’s lab-tested and certified right here in Singapore.

What makes this special is that it does so without the need for harmful chemicals, fumes or residues. Only two ingredients make up this all-purpose disinfectant—pure electrolysed water and edible salts.

How does it work exactly? Mama’s Choice All-Purpose Disinfectant takes inspiration from Hypochlorous Acid (HOCI). Our white blood cells produce it as our immune system’s response to fight infection.

Our disinfectant is created using a proprietary process using electrolysed water and edible salts, yielding a high purity HOCI solution proven effective in killing germs, bacteria and viruses. Because HOCI naturally occurs within our white blood cells, it doesn’t sting or irritate the skin. It’s also one of the reasons it’s called “nature’s germ killer.”

There are no chemical additives to preserve the product’s stability so you can cast your worries aside, Mamas.

Change the way you disinfect today with Mama’s Choice All-Purpose Disinfectant!

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