CLEAN FLOOR - DREAM FLOOR

Your floor is your baby’s whole world when they start the exciting journey of crawling. It’s their first taste of independence after all. As fun as it might be for them, it is just as worrisome for you. 

On one hand, it means there will be an array of things littered on the floor. From toys to crumbs, to anything your little one can get their hands on. So you find a crumby spot here and a sticky spot there, and somewhere within, you have come to accept your floor’s fate begrudgingly. Add your furry friend into the mix, and oh what a nightmare. 

Then the other anxiety of how safe is the floor after all, for all you know it might be sprawling with bacteria, dust, and other allergens.  

However, none of this can stop your baby's Christopher Columbus exploration of this surface that is finally accessible to them, now that they're mobile. So a very important aspect of baby proofing your home during this time is cleaning, cleaning, and some more cleaning. Don’t worry you don’t need to invest in a lot of paraphernalia unless you absolutely want to but here are some of the ways you can make your floor a baby safe place.

All-Natural, Baby-Friendly Floor Cleaner  

Your everyday, commercial floor cleaner does more harm than good. For starters, it is loaded with chemicals and toxins. If this is accidentally ingested it can trigger reactions ranging from rashes to allergies. No matter how much you reprimand them, there might be a very good chance that your tiny tot is picking up objects or toys from the floor and probably putting them in their mouth. These cleaners are not just unsafe for them but also for you and your pets. Koparo’s All Natural Floor Cleaner has a superb concentration of organic ingredients, anti-bacterial essential oils, and no added dyes. It was designed keeping in mind the health of our crawling little ones and our adorable pets. A good mop will ensure bacteria, toxins and chemicals stay out the door and the only thing that remains is the refreshing smell of mogra and rose. Playtime can now continue without any fear. 

Avoid Shoes in the House to Keep it Clean

This might already be a golden rule in a lot of desi homes anyway. It’s a wonderful custom leading to a fab hygienic habit. Shoes bring an array of bad things into the house without us even knowing. Before you know it, pathogens make their way into the bedroom, one of the most sacred spaces of your house. Ensure your home slippers aren’t ever switched when stepping out for even the smallest tasks, you never know what you might be bringing in. 

Keep designated eating areas 

Those crumbs can be very tiresome to clean and even more irritating to feel them on the soles of your feet. Let’s not even talk about the mysterious sticky spots of the 3-day old juice. This calls for assigning “eating spots” for your child. No food must leave the eating barrier, this can be your dining room or a part of the living room. Discipline and habit building start young.

Invest in a good vacuum cleaner

This might require a little bit of research and money but it’s worth it. Vacuum cleaners save so much time and energy and if you live in a dusty city, they are sure to become your best friends. 

Have a Go-To Cloth and an All-Purpose Cleaner ready

Accidental spills and drools are something you’re far too used to by now. Our sympathies. This is where your go-to cloth and all-purpose cleaner might present itself in the form of a lifesaver. Ensure you keep them at a place that is very easy to access. Try Koparo’s All Purpose Cleaner, just like its baby-friendly floor cleaner counterpart, it is also extremely safe and 100% toxin-free. 

Additional Note For Pet Owners

Babies and Pets are definitely our favourite genre of hilarious and heartwarming internet videos. But there's a lot you need to do to keep your floors clean for a baby if you are also a pet parent. Ensure you wash their paws and dry them well after every walk. Drying also helps in ensuring your furry friend doesn’t develop infections, moisture is everybody’s enemy it seems. If you have a cat or an especially furry dog, make sure you brush them regularly, according to their requirements. Summers are the time when they shed their hair the most and as usual, your floors and black pants are the worst victims. However your baby can accidentally ingest or even inhale fine hair, so you must be sure you rid the floor of the same. 

Now that you know how to get the floor clean, it's important to spend some time figuring some safety basics.

• Move electrical cords and wires out of the way; plug up electrical outlets; lock drawers or cupboards that contain dangerous items (e.g. medicines, sharp objects, or breakables), and get rid of items on the floor that are small enough to fit into your baby's mouth and possibly choke her 
• If your house has multiple floors, you’ll need to install a gate at the top and bottom of the stairs — that way your baby won’t be able to crawl up from the bottom and tumble back down. 

Some tips from seasoned mums and their intrepid crawlers to help you along the way.

1. Sweep the floor before the crawling session as at times, splinters, nails, other objects that may have inadvertently come into your home via your shoes may not catch your eye but they can be dangerous for the little ones.
2. Dress them in loose and comfy clothing. 
3. Always keep a lookout, no matter how baby-proofed your floor is, they can always get hurt or ingest something hazardous. While they are very hardy (yes, you can breathe easy), being alert is your middle name now.

Happy (and safe) exploring!