With the official start of summer right around the corner, as we spend more time outside in beautiful weather, it somehow seems easier to prioritize being healthy and creating a healthier home. Here are 5 easy steps that we will be prioritizing this summer to create a healthier home:
1. Eat whole, unprocessed, organic foods as much as possible:Summer is a great time to try to eat as many foods as possible in their natural forms. The more unnatural and processed a meal is, the more chemicals are in your food. This means more synthetics, more additives, more mystery ingredients, less healthy enzymes and nutrients, and less support for organic farms. I know it can be challenging to buy all organic, but you can follow these easy organic guidelines to make sure you buy organically for the most important foods. Also, by eating foods in their natural and whole form, you are more likely to avoid packaging chemicals such as BPA.
2. Avoid plastic as much as possible:We are surrounded by plastic - it's in our packaging, our children's toys, our household products, and even in our clothing. This may make it feel like avoiding plastic is a no win battle, but it is worth reducing your plastic exposure in order to avoid BPA, PVC, and PET. Why surround ourselves with carcinogens when simple choices like using cloth bags, buying wooden toys, and using glass or stainless steel containers can make our homes healthier? For more information on the dangers of plastic and for suggestions on how to avoid it, check out Cloth Diapering Mama's post: Leaching…yucky word…yucky consequences…PLASTIC.
3. Fight indoor air pollution:Summer is the best time ever to get in the habits that reduce indoor air pollution!- Don't wear shoes in the house. You're most likely going to be wearing flip flops this summer anyway, so just slide them off at the door. This greatly reduces the amount of lead dust, bacteria, and allergens in your home!- Open your windows! Especially when there is beautiful weather, why not keep your home healthier and enjoy the fresh air?- Use a vacuum with a HEPA filter to clean your home. We bought our Eureka Air Extreme after reading all of the fantastic research on AllergyBuyersClub.com.
4. Keep flame retardants away:Sleepwear for children 9 months old to 14 years of age is treated with dangerous flame retardant chemicals. To avoid exposing your children to these chemicals, you can buy organic sleepwear or buy regular sleepwear that has a bright yellow tag attached stating that the garment is either "not intended as children's sleepwear", "meant to fit tightly", or "is not treated with flame retardants". These flame retardant chemicals are also in our mattresses and many of the foam products that we use for our babies and children. We will definitely be buying an organic mattress when it is time for a new one!
5. Use natural cleansers:We use a mixture of vinegar and water on everything! As my baby licks the floor and bites the furniture, I feel especially thankful for not using chemicals and toxins on the surfaces of our home. For more cleaning power, you can mix in some Borax or baking soda.

For more advice on creating a healthier home, visit Healthy Child, Healthy World.
What is your favorite piece of advice for creating a healthier home?