We’re so grateful to Michigan mom Dominique for partnering with us to share her family’s story. View her full blog post here.
Let’s face it, trying to keep yourself AND a family healthy is no small feat. There are so many decisions to make on a daily basis, including the things you eat, things you clean with, and things you avoid. There are no hard and fast rules, but there are some things I do to try and keep my home and family healthy.
Vaccines: Vaccines have always been a no-compromise for myself and my family. As a Registered Nurse, I make sure to get the flu shot every year right before flu season starts. I do this not only to protect myself, but to protect my patients. As a parent, I follow the CDC recommendations for vaccines for my daughter. Vaccines have been scientifically proven to be safe. Vaccines go through rigorous testing and trials before they are released to the public and this is done for everyone’s safety. This makes me feel very comfortable making sure my daughter is vaccinated! We had my daughter’s 3rd year checkup recently, and at 3 years, she wasn’t due for any shots (which she was very happy about!). When our daughter eventually goes to pre-school, I will feel good knowing that she is protected against diseases that can be deadly. It’s also a relief to know we are doing our part to protect other kids! Just like many other parents, I feel hesitant when she is due for multiple shots at a single appointment. I made sure and talked through my reservations with her doctor, and she helped me realize that giving multiple shots at once is still very safe and actually lessens your child’s risk to exposure to other germs, less pain due to less pokes, and fewer doctor visits- which most children do not enjoy! Vaccines protect my family, and others we come into contact with. This is a health decision I feel good about and helps keep our whole family healthy. If you are looking for unbiased information and scientific research, I encourage you to visit IVaccinate, which has tons of great information on vaccines!
Water: Water is like, a no-brainer, right? Well I have to include water in my list, because we drink a LOT of water in our home. We do let our daughter occasionally have a small glass of juice, but soft drinks and most juices are just empty calories, so they are very limited in our home. The sugar in these drinks also plays a harmful role in your body’s functioning; it can affect your brain, immune system, teeth, and increase your risk for developing disease. So, all that said, we make sure and drink enough water throughout the day. We love Hint water (which my daughter calls “juice”) because it doesn’t have any sweeteners!
Household Products: I am very conscious of the products we use in our home. I think people underestimate the number of harmful chemicals in everyday products that can affect your health. I also think that people underestimate the number of natural products that are just as effective and completely healthy. For example, using vinegar as a natural cleaner ensures that you aren’t bringing anything harmful into your home. Vinegar can be used as a fabric softener, hair conditioner, window cleaner, cutting board disinfectant, and carpet stain remover, among many other things. Scented candles are one product that have been a very hard habit to break. There isn’t a lot of conclusive scientific research on if during candles can impact your health negatively long-term, but I find it better to be safe than sorry. I try to use non-toxic scents as much as possible.
Exercise: Moving our bodies has always been important to my husband and I, and we want to show our daughter that it’s important to take care of your body, including exercising it. It’s not a weight thing, it’s a respect for your body and everything it does for you thing. We take walks with our dog, have dance parties, and exercise at home! Our daughter loves to “workout” with us, which is hilarious to watch, because most 3 years olds are not the most coordinated people! Exercise also releases endorphins, which are your body’s “feel-good” neurotransmitter. In our home, exercise is a necessity for overall health.
Fun: I bet you thought at least one of the things on my list was going to be healthy food, right? Wellllll, I think fun and laughing and happiness are *just as* important as what you nourish your body with. Just like exercise, laughing and having fun affects hormones in your body. To reduce your stress hormones, just have a good laugh. Stress can so very much affect your mental health, which can in turn, negatively affect your physical health. So we laugh! My husband tells goofy jokes all day, which I roll my eyes at, but have come to love. Our daughter is at an age where she is curious and wants to have fun and explore, so we try to do as much as we can to show her how important is it to be happy!
There are SO many day-to-day decisions that parents and families have to make in the name of good health. Share with me in the comments what you do that keeps your family healthy!