If the Condom Breaks

Trust me. It has happened to the best of us. You are in the midst of enjoying your new relationship and new sexual partner. You think you did everything right. You had the talk before beginning the sexual portion of the relationship. You openly discussed condom usage and agreed to always wear condoms during sex. Then one day, just like that, it happens. Despite all the rigorous testing condoms go through, the condom breaks in the throes of passion. Perhaps you put the condom on too tightly, forgetting to pinch a space at the top of the condom after putting it on. Perhaps you didn’t use lubrication. Whatever happened, it can happen to us all and what you do after it happens is important.Your first reaction is to seize up and stare astounded at the broken piece of latex that was supposed to protect you from pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases. Then panic sets in as your mind reels through every fact you know about STDs and how they are easily transmitted through unprotected sex. If this should happen to you, here’s a quick rundown of what to do.If you are in the middle of sex (if the man has not yet ejaculated), simply stop what you are doing, throw out the broken condom and place a new condom on. However, if the condom breaks at the end of your lovemaking session after the man has already ejaculated, have him slowly pull out and carefully peel the condom off, or what’s left of it. If able to do so, have both partners take a warm shower and thoroughly wash the genitalia with warm, soapy water. It is strongly suggested that the woman not douche if this happens. While it may seem counterintuitive, douching actually irritates the vaginal membranes and increases the likelihood of an STD being transmitted.If you have not discussed sexual history with your partner by this point, now is the time to do so. Be open and frank about your sexual past and encourage your partner to do the same. Speak with your physician about having a full workup done for testing STDs, including HIV. Explain to your physician what happened and he/she may be able to offer some valuable advice. He/she may also want you to come in several more times within the year to get retested for HIV. This may seem overly cautious, but it is better to be safe than sorry. You will also want to pay close attention to any strange symptoms you might get that could signal an STD, including a rash, pain, discharge or fever. You can’t predict when these breakages occur, but you can prevent them from happening by putting the condom on correctly each time. There are also some other things you can do to help prevent condom breakage. Unlike groceries, there is no need to double-bag your condoms. Wearing two condoms can actually increase the likelihood of breakage due to extra friction. If lubrication is needed during sex, always use one that is water-based and avoid oil-based lubrications. Oil tends to thin out the condom. Money may be tight, but you would be ill-advised to use a condom more than once. Use a new condom for every new type of sexual act you will be having. For more information visit: If the Condom Breaks

Pedicure Tips - The Do-it-Yourself Pedicure

When Most People Think of Nail Care, it’s fingernails that come to mind. Yet, in cities like New York and Paris, pedicures outrank manicures as the current beauty “must-haves.”I’m not sure why this is. Perhaps it’s the hoseless legs, bare feet, and strappy shoes ladies wear with no regard to the season - although it could be something else that I have no knowledge of. Regardless of the reason, however, urban sophisticates have gorgeous toes: smooth, moisturized, and dressed with subtle nude, classic red, or some seasonal shade of nail color. You too, can have lovely feet - in fact, good-looking toenails are easier to create and maintain than attractive, well-cared-for fingernails. That’s because your toenails need in-depth attention only every 2 to 3 weeks, while fingernails need a fresh manicure every week or week-and-a-half.Assembling your toolsYour pedicure access ones should include nail ­polish remover and cotton balls; hand and cuticle cream’ a buffer buffer; an orangewood or birchwood stick; a nail brush; nail clippers; and nail antiseptic. Have a bowl of warm, soapy water with a few drops of lemon juice and a few drops of olive all to hand. An antimicrobial base coat is a smart option for those of you worried about fungal infections, while a foot pumice, nail mask, nail color, and top coat are optional extras for your pedicure. Now that you have got all the equipment together, you can get to work on your toenails.Preparing your toesWith nail-polish remover and a cotton ball, remove any traces of old polish. If you have any thick, ridged toenails, or calluses on your toes, use a buffer to gently smooth these. Work gently and conservatively! Too little buffing is safer and healthier than too much.Soak your feet for 2 or 3 minutes in a basin of warm, soapy water to help clean under your nails and to soften nails and cuticles. Use a nailbrush to dislodge dirt and exfoliate any dry skin, and dry thoroughly. Using an orangewood or birchwood stick, GENTLY clean away any remaining dirt under nails. Now would be a good moment to treat your feet to a gentle exfoliation with a foot pumice.Trim your nails with nail dippers, taking care not to dip them too short, or to curve nails in at the corners.Moisturizing your feet and toesDry, cracked feet steal attention from well-tended toenails. Moisturize feet with a 2- or 3-minute massage using your favorite hand or body cream. If using a nail mask, apply it now and allow it to remain on for an hour. Not everyone has heavy cuticles on their toenails. If you do, massage a bit of cuticle cream into cuticles and gently nudge back overgrown skin with an orangewood stick; if you are particularly sensitive, wrap the end of the stick in cotton.To remove any oily residue, swipe nails with nail antiseptic. Prime nails for polish with a base coat. To apply, place your foot flat on a level surface and spread your toes out - if your toes are particularly bunched, separate them with cotton balls. Paint a thin coat of base coat on each toenail. Those who prefer a natural look can end the pedicure here.You should apply polish in the same way that you applied the base coat. When the polish is dry, apply a second coat. Remove any stray traces of nail color with an orangewood stick wrapped in cotton and dipped in nail-polish remover.When nail color has dried, apply a top coat. Do nothing, touch nothing, put on nothing, until your toenails are dry.

In Your Child’s Bedroom

Most children spend about fifty to sixty hours a week sleeping and even more time playing or hanging out in their bedrooms. One of the most important steps you can take to remove common asthma triggers is to target your child’s bedroom aggressively. This doesn’t mean you must scrub everything twice a day; most of these changes are not difficult or time consuming. For example:Cover pillows, mattresses, and box springs in plastic or dust-filtering covers; pillows should be made of washable, synthetic material, not feathers. Use washable, synthetic blankets; avoid fuzzy cotton or wool blankets. Bedding, including pillows, should be wasbed once a week in hot water (hotter than 130 degrees) to kill dust mites. If you have pets, keep them outdoors if possible. Keep them out of your child’s room at all times and keep the bedroom door shut. Replace venetian blinds or miniblinds and fabric curtains (that attract and hold dust) with smooth, pull-down shades that are easily wiped down with warm, soapy water. It’s even better if you can replace all blinds and drapes with shades throughout your home. Replace any carpet (wall-to-wall or area rugs) in your child’s room with a bare wood floor or tile that can be damp-mopped regularly.Keep clothes in drawers and/or closets with the closet door shut.Keep any woolen clothing in heavy plastic bags.Clean or dust surfaces in your child’s room weekly. Try to use furniture that doesn’t attract and hold dust (wood, metal, or plastic as opposed to upholstered when possible). Avoid shelves that hold pictures, books, and knickknacks; move those items to another room or store them in closed cabinets. Contain clutter. Although it’s difficult to remove clutter from any child’s bedroom, it is essentia every night to put all toys and books in closed containers, drawers, or closets.This reduces your child’s exposure to dust while sleeping.Avoid stuffed animals. It’s hard for children to give up stuffed creatures completely, but try to keep them to a minimum. At least keep them off the bed. If your child has a favorite stuffed animal, wash it regularly in hot water.Keep all food out of your child’s room to avoid attracting roaches. If your home has a forced-air heating system, turn it off in your child’s room, or cover the bedroom air vents with filters.Many places sell supplies that help reduce allergens in the bedroom. Most linen or bedding stores carry hypoallergenic mattress and pillow covers. They can also be purchased from online or catalog stores. Some useful items include: electrostatic cloths that remove most dust, HEPA filters to remove animal dander in the air, and a dust mite reducing solution. The Pet QuestionChildren with asthma are often allergic to pets that shed hair, dander, and feathers. Some studies indicate that if pets are present in the home before the diagnosis of asthma, a child may already be sensitized to pets and less likely to be allergic to them. Once a child has been diagnosed with asthma, however, it is better to avoid furry and feathered pets. If you don’t remove a pet from your home, at least keep it out of your child’s bedroom at all times, even when your child isn’t in his room. Animal dander is very sticky, so if a furry pet lives in your home, every effort should be made to wipe down all surfaces each week. While this can be very difficult, it is important to keep your child from picking up and playing with the animal. Acceptable options for pets include fish, reptiles, frogs, or turtles. SmokeTobacco smoke is the most common irritant for children with asthma. The best way to reduce tobacco smoke pollution exposure in the home is for the smoker to stop smoking. If there is a smoker in your family who has not completely quit smoking, the next best goal is to move the smoke away from your child who has asthma. Steps to a Smoke-Free Home Children with asthma are at a higher risk from the effects of cigarette smoke. Parents can take these steps to protect their children:Smoke only in one room Blow smoke out the window Use an air purifier or smoke filter Never smoke near a child Never smoke in a car with a child Smoke only outside the home Never allow smoke in your home or car Never allow smoke around a child

If the Condom Breaks

Trust me. It has happened to the best of us. You are in the midst of enjoying your new relationship and new sexual partner. You think you did everything right. You had the talk before beginning the sexual portion of the relationship. You openly discussed condom usage and agreed to always wear condoms during sex. Then one day, just like that, it happens. Despite all the rigorous testing condoms go through, the condom breaks in the throes of passion. Perhaps you put the condom on too tightly, forgetting to pinch a space at the top of the condom after putting it on. Perhaps you didn’t use lubrication. Whatever happened, it can happen to us all and what you do after it happens is important.Your first reaction is to seize up and stare astounded at the broken piece of latex that was supposed to protect you from pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases. Then panic sets in as your mind reels through every fact you know about STDs and how they are easily transmitted through unprotected sex. If this should happen to you, here’s a quick rundown of what to do.If you are in the middle of sex (if the man has not yet ejaculated), simply stop what you are doing, throw out the broken condom and place a new condom on. However, if the condom breaks at the end of your lovemaking session after the man has already ejaculated, have him slowly pull out and carefully peel the condom off, or what’s left of it. If able to do so, have both partners take a warm shower and thoroughly wash the genitalia with warm, soapy water. It is strongly suggested that the woman not douche if this happens. While it may seem counterintuitive, douching actually irritates the vaginal membranes and increases the likelihood of an STD being transmitted.If you have not discussed sexual history with your partner by this point, now is the time to do so. Be open and frank about your sexual past and encourage your partner to do the same. Speak with your physician about having a full workup done for testing STDs, including HIV. Explain to your physician what happened and he/she may be able to offer some valuable advice. He/she may also want you to come in several more times within the year to get retested for HIV. This may seem overly cautious, but it is better to be safe than sorry. You will also want to pay close attention to any strange symptoms you might get that could signal an STD, including a rash, pain, discharge or fever. You can’t predict when these breakages occur, but you can prevent them from happening by putting the condom on correctly each time. There are also some other things you can do to help prevent condom breakage. Unlike groceries, there is no need to double-bag your condoms. Wearing two condoms can actually increase the likelihood of breakage due to extra friction. If lubrication is needed during sex, always use one that is water-based and avoid oil-based lubrications. Oil tends to thin out the condom. Money may be tight, but you would be ill-advised to use a condom more than once. Use a new condom for every new type of sexual act you will be having. For more information visit: If the Condom Breaks

Fingernails and toenails grow from a point, which is near the root below the skin. It is at the base of the nail where nail is very thin. Fingernails are produced by the living skin cells in the finger. Fingernails are another type of skin. All nails are not created equal. The average growth of fingernails and toenails is two inches per year and an average adult’s growth of nails is one inch over the course of eight months.

Nails may be small but they play an important role to secure the finger. It protects as well as improves the dexterity of finger. A person calls to be healthy if he/she has healthy nails. A nail is made up of laminated layers of protein and is called keratin. Keratin is also found in hair and skin. Nails have several parts and that are mentioned below.

Nail plate- The nail plate is the most visible part of nail. It is hard portion of fingernails that is visible to you.

Nail folds- The skin that frames each of your nail plates on three sides is called the nail fold.

Nail bed- Nail bed is the skin beneath the nail plate. Cells at the base of your nail bed produce the fingernail or toenail plate.

Cuticle- A cuticle is the tissue that overlaps your nail plate at the base of your nail. It also protects the new keratin cells that slowly emerge from the nail bed.

Lunula- The lunula is the whitish, half-moon shape, which lies at the base of your nail underneath the plate.

To get healthy and beautiful nails is not easy. So, you should take care your nails and if you want your nails grow faster. You should shape your nails from the outside edge toward the middle, moving the emery board in one direction only rather than sawing it back and forth, which damages the nail. Try to manicure regularly as soaking nails in warm, soapy water before pushing cuticles back makes for less scraping on the nail bed.

Most children spend about fifty to sixty hours a week sleeping and even more time playing or hanging out in their bedrooms. One of the most important steps you can take to remove common asthma triggers is to target your child’s bedroom aggressively. This doesn’t mean you must scrub everything twice a day; most of these changes are not difficult or time consuming. For example: Cover pillows, mattresses, and box springs in plastic or dust-filtering covers; pillows should be made of washable, synthetic material, not feathers. Use washable, synthetic blankets; avoid fuzzy cotton or wool blankets. Bedding, including pillows, should be wasbed once a week in hot water (hotter than 130 degrees) to kill dust mites. If you have pets, keep them outdoors if possible. Keep them out of your child’s room at all times and keep the bedroom door shut. Replace venetian blinds or miniblinds and fabric curtains (that attract and hold dust) with smooth, pull-down shades that are easily wiped down with warm, soapy water. It’s even better if you can replace all blinds and drapes with shades throughout your home. Replace any carpet (wall-to-wall or area rugs) in your child’s room with a bare wood floor or tile that can be damp-mopped regularly. Keep clothes in drawers and/or closets with the closet door shut. Keep any woolen clothing in heavy plastic bags. Clean or dust surfaces in your child’s room weekly. Try to use furniture that doesn’t attract and hold dust (wood, metal, or plastic as opposed to upholstered when possible). Avoid shelves that hold pictures, books, and knickknacks; move those items to another room or store them in closed cabinets. Contain clutter. Although it’s difficult to remove clutter from any child’s bedroom, it is essentia every night to put all toys and books in closed containers, drawers, or closets.This reduces your child’s exposure to dust while sleeping. Avoid stuffed animals. It’s hard for children to give up stuffed creatures completely, but try to keep them to a minimum. At least keep them off the bed. If your child has a favorite stuffed animal, wash it regularly in hot water. Keep all food out of your child’s room to avoid attracting roaches. If your home has a forced-air heating system, turn it off in your child’s room, or cover the bedroom air vents with filters. Many places sell supplies that help reduce allergens in the bedroom. Most linen or bedding stores carry hypoallergenic mattress and pillow covers. They can also be purchased from online or catalog stores. Some useful items include: electrostatic cloths that remove most dust, HEPA filters to remove animal dander in the air, and a dust mite reducing solution. The Pet Question Children with asthma are often allergic to pets that shed hair, dander, and feathers. Some studies indicate that if pets are present in the home before the diagnosis of asthma, a child may already be sensitized to pets and less likely to be allergic to them. Once a child has been diagnosed with asthma, however, it is better to avoid furry and feathered pets. If you don’t remove a pet from your home, at least keep it out of your child’s bedroom at all times, even when your child isn’t in his room. Animal dander is very sticky, so if a furry pet lives in your home, every effort should be made to wipe down all surfaces each week. While this can be very difficult, it is important to keep your child from picking up and playing with the animal. Acceptable options for pets include fish, reptiles, frogs, or turtles. Smoke Tobacco smoke is the most common irritant for children with asthma. The best way to reduce tobacco smoke pollution exposure in the home is for the smoker to stop smoking. If there is a smoker in your family who has not completely quit smoking, the next best goal is to move the smoke away from your child who has asthma. Steps to a Smoke-Free Home Children with asthma are at a higher risk from the effects of cigarette smoke. Parents can take these steps to protect their children: Smoke only in one room Blow smoke out the window Use an air purifier or smoke filter Never smoke near a child Never smoke in a car with a child Smoke only outside the home Never allow smoke in your home or car Never allow smoke around a child Hgh facts, articles, and news on HGH, weight loss.

If the Condom Breaks

Trust me. It has happened to the best of us. You are in the midst of enjoying your new relationship and new sexual partner. You think you did everything right. You had the talk before beginning the sexual portion of the relationship. You openly discussed condom usage and agreed to always wear condoms during sex. Then one day, just like that, it happens. Despite all the rigorous testing condoms go through, the condom breaks in the throes of passion. Perhaps you put the condom on too tightly, forgetting to pinch a space at the top of the condom after putting it on. Perhaps you didnt use lubrication. Whatever happened, it can happen to us all and what you do after it happens is important.

Your first reaction is to seize up and stare astounded at the broken piece of latex that was supposed to protect you from pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases. Then panic sets in as your mind reels through every fact you know about STDs and how they are easily transmitted through unprotected sex. If this should happen to you, heres a quick rundown of what to do.

If you are in the middle of sex (if the man has not yet ejaculated), simply stop what you are doing, throw out the broken condom and place a new condom on. However, if the condom breaks at the end of your lovemaking session after the man has already ejaculated, have him slowly pull out and carefully peel the condom off, or whats left of it. If able to do so, have both partners take a warm shower and thoroughly wash the genitalia with warm, soapy water. It is strongly suggested that the woman not douche if this happens. While it may seem counterintuitive, douching actually irritates the vaginal membranes and increases the likelihood of an STD being transmitted.

If you have not discussed sexual history with your partner by this point, now is the time to do so. Be open and frank about your sexual past and encourage your partner to do the same. Speak with your physician about having a full workup done for testing STDs, including HIV. Explain to your physician what happened and he/she may be able to offer some valuable advice. He/she may also want you to come in several more times within the year to get retested for HIV. This may seem overly cautious, but it is better to be safe than sorry. You will also want to pay close attention to any strange symptoms you might get that could signal an STD, including a rash, pain, discharge or fever.

You cant predict when these breakages occur, but you can prevent them from happening by putting the condom on correctly each time. There are also some other things you can do to help prevent condom breakage. Unlike groceries, there is no need to double-bag your condoms. Wearing two condoms can actually increase the likelihood of breakage due to extra friction. If lubrication is needed during sex, always use one that is water-based and avoid oil-based lubrications. Oil tends to thin out the condom. Money may be tight, but you would be ill-advised to use a condom more than once. Use a new condom for every new type of sexual act you will be having.

For more information visit: If the Condom Breaks

In Your Child’s Bedroom
by Alien

Most children spend about fifty to sixty hours a week sleeping and even more time playing or hanging out in their bedrooms. One of the most important steps you can take to remove common asthma triggers is to target your child’s bedroom aggressively. This doesn’t mean you must scrub everything twice a day; most of these changes are not difficult or time consuming. For example:

Cover pillows, mattresses, and box springs in plastic or dust-filtering covers; pillows should be made of washable, synthetic material, not feathers.

Use washable, synthetic blankets; avoid fuzzy cotton or wool blankets.

Bedding, including pillows, should be wasbed once a week in hot water (hotter than 130 degrees) to kill dust mites.

If you have pets, keep them outdoors if possible. Keep them out of your child’s room at all times and keep the bedroom door shut.

Replace venetian blinds or miniblinds and fabric curtains (that attract and hold dust) with smooth, pull-down shades that are easily wiped down with warm, soapy water. It’s even better if you can replace all blinds and drapes with shades throughout your home.

Replace any carpet (wall-to-wall or area rugs) in your child’s room with a bare wood floor or tile that can be damp-mopped regularly.

Keep clothes in drawers and/or closets with the closet door shut.

Keep any woolen clothing in heavy plastic bags.

Clean or dust surfaces in your child’s room weekly. Try to use furniture that doesn’t attract and hold dust (wood, metal, or plastic as opposed to upholstered when possible). Avoid shelves that hold pictures, books, and knickknacks; move those items to another room or store them in closed cabinets.

Contain clutter. Although it’s difficult to remove clutter from any child’s bedroom, it is essentia every night to put all toys and books in closed containers, drawers, or closets.This reduces your child’s exposure to dust while sleeping.

Avoid stuffed animals. It’s hard for children to give up stuffed creatures completely, but try to keep them to a minimum. At least keep them off the bed. If your child has a favorite stuffed animal, wash it regularly in hot water.

Keep all food out of your child’s room to avoid attracting roaches.

If your home has a forced-air heating system, turn it off in your child’s room, or cover the bedroom air vents with filters.

Many places sell supplies that help reduce allergens in the bedroom. Most linen or bedding stores carry hypoallergenic mattress and pillow covers. They can also be purchased from online or catalog stores. Some useful items include: electrostatic cloths that remove most dust, HEPA filters to remove animal dander in the air, and a dust mite reducing solution.

The Pet Question

Children with asthma are often allergic to pets that shed hair, dander, and feathers. Some studies indicate that if pets are present in the home before the diagnosis of asthma, a child may already be sensitized to pets and less likely to be allergic to them. Once a child has been diagnosed with asthma, however, it is better to avoid furry and feathered pets. If you don’t remove a pet from your home, at least keep it out of your child’s bedroom at all times, even when your child isn’t in his room. Animal dander is very sticky, so if a furry pet lives in your home, every effort should be made to wipe down all surfaces each week.

While this can be very difficult, it is important to keep your child from picking up and playing with the animal. Acceptable options for pets include fish, reptiles, frogs, or turtles.

Smoke

Tobacco smoke is the most common irritant for children with asthma. The best way to reduce tobacco smoke pollution exposure in the home is for the smoker to stop smoking. If there is a smoker in your family who has not completely quit smoking, the next best goal is to move the smoke away from your child who has asthma.

Steps to a Smoke-Free Home

Children with asthma are at a higher risk from the effects of cigarette smoke. Parents can take these steps to protect their children:

Smoke only in one room

Blow smoke out the window

Use an air purifier or smoke filter

Never smoke near a child

Never smoke in a car with a child

Smoke only outside the home

Never allow smoke in your home or car

Never allow smoke around a child

Just like breast feeding, pumping is a skill that you learn. When first trying a breast pump, most mothers are only able to express a few drops of milk. With the proper practice and knowledge, the mother will be more efficient at pumping. Preparing the breast pump     1. Read all the instructions in the kit very carefully.     2. Every part of the breast pump will need to be sterilized before you begin using it.     3. After use, all the parts of the pump will need to be washed in warm, soapy water, then rinsed with hot water and drained on a clean towel. The plastic tubing doesn’t need to be cleaned unless you get milk into it. If you do wash it, it should be hung to allow time to dry and drain thoroughly.     4. If your doctor feels the need, the entire kit can be sterilized every day.     5. When you first start with an electric pump, the suction level should be on the lowest possible setting.  Getting started     - Warm compresses, gentle massages of the breast and gentle nipple stimulation will help to stimulate a quick let down.     - You should always relax while doing breast massages during pumping. Some mothers prefer to close their eyes then think about nursing the baby, imagining the baby in their arms. The more relaxed a mother is, the better let down she’ll have and the more milk will be dispensed.     - Your first attempts at pumping should be considered practice sessions with learning to use the breast pump as the goal, not how much milk is actually dispensed.      - When you use a hand pump, quick, short pumps at the start is stimulating and will imitate more closely the way a baby breast feeds. Once the let down occurs and milk starts to flow freely, long, steadier strokes are more effective and less tiring.     -  When you learn to pump, you should practice for 5 minutes on a side at least once or twice a day. Always pick the least stressful part of your day for pumping.  Relaxing and realizing that the pump is your friend is the single most important thing that a mother can do. There are several things that a mother can do to help herself relax, such as putting a picture of the baby on the pump, playing cards or a game with friends, watching television, read books, or talk on the phone. Simply watching the collection bottle is not helpful and will probably put more stress on you than you actually need.

Most children spend about fifty to sixty hours a week sleeping and even more time playing or hanging out in their bedrooms. One of the most important steps you can take to remove common asthma triggers is to target your child’s bedroom aggressively. This doesn’t mean you must scrub everything twice a day; most of these changes are not difficult or time consuming. For example: Cover pillows, mattresses, and box springs in plastic or dust-filtering covers; pillows should be made of washable, synthetic material, not feathers. Use washable, synthetic blankets; avoid fuzzy cotton or wool blankets. Bedding, including pillows, should be wasbed once a week in hot water (hotter than 130 degrees) to kill dust mites. If you have pets, keep them outdoors if possible. Keep them out of your child’s room at all times and keep the bedroom door shut. Replace venetian blinds or miniblinds and fabric curtains (that attract and hold dust) with smooth, pull-down shades that are easily wiped down with warm, soapy water. It’s even better if you can replace all blinds and drapes with shades throughout your home. Replace any carpet (wall-to-wall or area rugs) in your child’s room with a bare wood floor or tile that can be damp-mopped regularly. Keep clothes in drawers and/or closets with the closet door shut. Keep any woolen clothing in heavy plastic bags. Clean or dust surfaces in your child’s room weekly. Try to use furniture that doesn’t attract and hold dust (wood, metal, or plastic as opposed to upholstered when possible). Avoid shelves that hold pictures, books, and knickknacks; move those items to another room or store them in closed cabinets. Contain clutter. Although it’s difficult to remove clutter from any child’s bedroom, it is essentia every night to put all toys and books in closed containers, drawers, or closets.This reduces your child’s exposure to dust while sleeping. Avoid stuffed animals. It’s hard for children to give up stuffed creatures completely, but try to keep them to a minimum. At least keep them off the bed. If your child has a favorite stuffed animal, wash it regularly in hot water. Keep all food out of your child’s room to avoid attracting roaches. If your home has a forced-air heating system, turn it off in your child’s room, or cover the bedroom air vents with filters. Many places sell supplies that help reduce allergens in the bedroom. Most linen or bedding stores carry hypoallergenic mattress and pillow covers. They can also be purchased from online or catalog stores. Some useful items include: electrostatic cloths that remove most dust, HEPA filters to remove animal dander in the air, and a dust mite reducing solution. The Pet Question Children with asthma are often allergic to pets that shed hair, dander, and feathers. Some studies indicate that if pets are present in the home before the diagnosis of asthma, a child may already be sensitized to pets and less likely to be allergic to them. Once a child has been diagnosed with asthma, however, it is better to avoid furry and feathered pets. If you don’t remove a pet from your home, at least keep it out of your child’s bedroom at all times, even when your child isn’t in his room. Animal dander is very sticky, so if a furry pet lives in your home, every effort should be made to wipe down all surfaces each week. While this can be very difficult, it is important to keep your child from picking up and playing with the animal. Acceptable options for pets include fish, reptiles, frogs, or turtles. Smoke Tobacco smoke is the most common irritant for children with asthma. The best way to reduce tobacco smoke pollution exposure in the home is for the smoker to stop smoking. If there is a smoker in your family who has not completely quit smoking, the next best goal is to move the smoke away from your child who has asthma. Steps to a Smoke-Free Home Children with asthma are at a higher risk from the effects of cigarette smoke. Parents can take these steps to protect their children: Smoke only in one room Blow smoke out the window Use an air purifier or smoke filter Never smoke near a child Never smoke in a car with a child Smoke only outside the home Never allow smoke in your home or car Never allow smoke around a child