How Big is Your Social-Germ Network

Social networking is nothing new to us, right?  Facebook, Twitter, Instagram….we come into contact with hundreds of people each day through social media and for people in the public eye, like actor Ali Larter it’s even more so the case.  Recently though, Ali revealed that the size of her 15 month-old daughter’s social network is actually bigger than her own.  The twist? She’s not talking about Twitter or Instagram, rather the number of germs that both she and her daughter come into contact with on a daily basis. Larter, best known for her roles in the hit television show Heroes and the Resident Evil movie franchise, is partnering with Lysol®, an RB brand, to educate new parents across the country about germs and effective ways to create a healthier home.  This got me thinking about the size of my family’s social-germ network and now I’m asking the question none of us really want to think about, How Big is Your Social-Germ Network?

How Big is Your Social-Germ Network

With a house full of kids we know what germs are all about.  The big kids bring home all kinds of germs from school and the 3 little boys are germ factories since their hands and (much to my dismay) mouths are all over everything like the handrail in the above picture!  Did you know that, according to the US National Library of Medicine, young children can touch and re-touch more than 300 surfaces in just 30 minutes – and that they take a liking to objects like TV remotes, shoes or cell phones.  They are exposed to so many germs!  I don’t even like to think about the things I’ve seen my children put in their mouths or the things they’ve licked.  They are curious little creatures and part of the curiosity is exploring and being exposed to things and with those things come germs, hence the increased size of your child’s “social network”.

When the children were babies or when we were expecting, we were much more diligent about disinfecting every surface in anticipation of them coming into contact with germs.  I’m ashamed to say that as they’ve gotten older we’ve become more lax about it.  All it takes is a round of illness to remind us that germs are not age restricted and that even adults and big kids don’t wash their hands and keep things clean enough.  Cleaning and disinfecting surfaces needs to be a common practice ALL the time, year round and Lysol makes doing so easy!  “As a leader in the field of health and hygiene for more than 100 years, Lysol is committed to developing products and solutions that provide superior germ kill,” says Rory Tait, marketing director, Lysol. “For new parents, it’s about arming them with products that make their home a healthier environment, so they can rest easy and focus on the joy of being parents.”

“As a mom who has two young children, I understand the desire to feel like you’re doing everything you can to keep your baby healthy … and how it sometimes feels like an impossible task,” said Larter. “Parenthood isn’t perfect and there are things that are outside of your control – like what your baby will want to touch or explore! – but there are simple things you can do to feel confident you’re creating a healthy environment.”  Larter has some great tips for new moms.

Ali Larter’s Tips for New Moms

Understand the Size of Your Baby’s Social Network. Recently, I learned that my baby’s social network is bigger than my own.  I’m not talking about Twitter, or Instagram … but the number of germs that she comes into contact with every day. It’s important to be aware of these “followers” and to kick them out of the home by disinifecting commonly touched surfaces with products that kill 99.9% of germs like Lysol Disinfecting Wipes so you can have peace of mind and focus on the fun parts of being a new parent!

Create a Germ Free Runway. My kids’ curiosity and desire to explore is high these days. Whether they are crawling, playing, or running around, they’re constantly coming into contact with the floors in our house. One of the simplest ways to help create a healthier runway for their play is to keep germs at a minimum outside and have guests take off their shoes before entering the home.

Get on Baby’s Level. Baby proofing your home may seem like an obvious step as a new mom, but through my two babies, I’ve learned that you need to get on baby’s level to do this effectively! Crawl around the floor and look for things they might find appealing at their eye level.

Schedule Regular Social activities…for YOU. With a new baby in the home, it’s inevitable that your social life takes a backseat. While I know it can be hard being away from your baby even for a minute, it’s so important to socialize outside the home. Whether it be a night out with the girls or even just a date night with you partner, keeping your social life alive helps keeps your mind and outlook healthy.

Are you a new mom or expecting soon?  Take the Lysol interactive quiz for New Moms to determine you and your baby’s “social-germ network”.