So many of you have messaged me about our current outbreak, there’s a lot to process and if you are trying to make sure you’re doing the best for your little ones, take a look at our top tips for keeping them safe:

Wash Up
* Stay away from crowded/public spaces and limit exposure as much as you can.
(Having said that, it’s not all doom and gloom, you can still have fun, play, go outside, enjoy social activities while being conscientious about choices!)
* Washing hands thoroughly with soap and water is still the best prevention over sanitizers
* Use parental/medical discretion when using masks especially for little ones 8 and under. N95 masks when used properly with a complete seal around keeps out germs and tiny particles but also restricts breathing to a certain extent which is why it is important to weigh the pros vs cons for your little one wearing a mask (immunocompromised, in a high-risk crowded area, etc).
They MUST be supervised and an exhale valve is highly recommended for little ones as it will help them breath easier HOWEVER the valved masks ONLY protect the wearer.
Please use discretion when deciding. For Ella Grace, because she’s both immunocompromised and has a respiratory condition, we’ve chosen to use a valve mask with her but would not risk taking her out if we thought she might have been exposed or sick.
The one-way valve allows the wearer to expel the humidity and carbon dioxide thus making it easier to breathe. The risk for that with coronavirus however is if you are potentially infected, the valved mask would mean that you would still be expelling your germs into the air instead of being filtered by a mask so please let’s us all do our part and fight this together.

Mask Tips
Our favorite valved masks are the reusable ones from Vogmask (you can order directly from Vogmask Singapore) or the disposable ones from Watsons Singapore under the brand name AIR+ Singapore.
We use reusable for everyday, disposable for high-risk areas like hospital, airport, very crowded spaces, etc. Surgical masks would also work, scroll down for the proper way of wearing and disposing them.
* DO NOT use a mask on little ones that are already having a hard time breathing (wheezing, breathless, distress), vomiting, lethargic and be sure to regularly check on your little one at all times especially if they are quiet.
* Remove masks for naptime/sleep. We also dispose of the masks when we leave the hospital before we get into the car.
* Depending on her mood or where we go, she also has a bucket hat shield that we purchased from Lazada that she sometimes wears with her mask. She prefers that over the headband shield though be mindful that it does restrict their vision. Please scroll down for tips on getting children to wear and keep their masks on!
* Practice and teach little ones good hygiene habits like proper hand washing, not eating their boogers , coughing/sneezing into their elbow instead of hands.
We have a book on germs called “Do Not Lick This Book!” from Me Books Nooks that Ella Grace likes and there are also quite a few informational kid-friendly videos too. The point isn’t to scare them into it but to educate and empower them to take charge of their body as that’s really the key!
We got this, mama tribe!
PLEASE tool
The number one question I’ve gotten from parents is HOW?!!?! How in the world do we get them to put it on, keep it on, stop throwing it on the ground, etc?!?!?!?!!?
The answer while simple (get their buy-in!) feels like an incredibly big task which is why I love the PLEASE tool. It helps little one take ownership by fundamentally working developmentally with their brain and how they are able to receive, process, and act on information.