How Mould Can Impact Your Baby's Health

CONTENTS

• What is mould?
• How mould can impact your baby's health
• How to prevent mould in your baby's room
• What to do when you see mould in the baby’s room
• Get in touch

A child's bedroom should be a safe place, but when an infestation of mould breaks out, your baby could quickly become unwell. Because a baby is vulnerable and their body is developing, allowing mould to remain in their room results in chronic illnesses or worse.

ICE Cleaning is the UK’s leading mould removal company. Our technicians are Dewpoint-accredited and will use state-of-the-art technology to identify the source of mould and remove it to ensure it never returns.

Read on to learn more about how mould can impact your baby’s health.

What is mould?

This common fungus can be found in many places across the UK, both indoors and outdoors. When it is outdoors, we do not usually see it as a threat, but when it is in our homes, it is unsightly and unhealthy.

Mould occurs when lingering mould spores find an area to settle that is warm, moist, and provides dead organic materials. Issues like damp, low ventilation, and irregular temperatures exacerbate mould growth and cause it to spread faster.

If left long enough, mould can quickly get out of control and spread throughout your home. Some individuals who experience asthma or allergies may be more susceptible to the effects of mould, which results in symptoms like:

• Wheezing
• Irritated eyes and skin
• Nasal congestion
• Dry cough
• Chest tightness

How mould can impact your baby's health

Babies are more vulnerable to illness due to their underdeveloped immune systems; therefore, they are vaccinated early in life. Vaccinations and illness can help a baby’s body recognise invasive bacteria and learn how to fight it. However, with mould, this is not the case.

Babies react to mould exposure by coughing and sneezing, much like adults. But exposure to mould could change their health permanently. A study found that babies living in mouldy homes are three times more likely to develop asthma by age seven.

Other chronic illnesses include hypersensitivity pneumonitis, an immune system disorder caused by breathing in allergens or moulds that trigger a reaction. Other respiratory conditions may form later in life, resulting in irreversible effects that follow your child for the rest of their life.

How to prevent mould in your baby's room

Because a baby spends most of their time in their room sleeping, it is integral that you maintain a clean and well-ventilated environment for your child. Keeping the room at a regulated temperature and allowing clean air to circulate through it is the best way to do this, as well as:

• Using a dehumidifier
• Using a fan to circulate air
• Cleaning up spilt liquids
• Changing the baby’s sheets often
• Cleaning the room regularly
• Open the window to allow air in
• Dry baby clothes outside or in a dryer
• Wipe down condensation when you see it
• Feed the baby in another room

In the event of damp issues or a leak occurring in the home that affects the baby’s room, you should remediate this as soon as possible. The presence of damp and moisture will encourage mould to grow quicker, leading to a more difficult issue.

What to do when you see mould in the baby’s room

If you spot mould in the baby’s room, do not allow them to sleep in that room any more. You must place their cot or bed in another bedroom to keep them safe and prevent them from entering that room again.

It is essential to seek professional dry-cleaning of any clothing or fabrics that mould has encountered. Additionally, take further measures to sanitise toys and feeding bottles. Do not try to clean any mould, as this may encourage it to spread or cause illness.

DIY and commercial solutions cannot remove mould, they will only briefly eliminate the surface stains. Without professional mould remediation services, the mould will return due to the consistent presence of mould spores lingering in your home.

Get in touch

Our mould removal services ensure the complete elimination of mould with our lifetime guarantee*, where our technicians will return to the site if the mould returns, free of charge. We use innovative technology that scrubs the air, eliminates mould at the source, and makes your home safe again.

Our team can help you with your industrial cleaning needs, and you can learn more by reaching out to us at 0208 066 0360 and enquiries@icecleaning.co.uk. Our technicians could be on-site within a few hours to help you, effectively removing all traces of mould and advising you on future prevention.

*subject to advisories