They can be emitted through a process known as off-gassing from many common household items and consumer products including processed wood, carpet fabric, sofa materials, cleaning products, freshly painted walls, new cushions, and mattresses. VOCs are potentially harmful. They are known to cause Sick Building Syndrome and Building Related Illnesses. Some VOCs are also endocrine disrupting chemicals, which means they can cause a wide array of diseases and conditions. As a new mum, you should take steps to limit your baby’s exposure to VOCs because newborns and infants are more susceptible to the negative effects of VOCs. Where do VOCs come from? Carpet fabrics, mattresses, and even car seats are known to emit VOCs such as benzene, acetaldehyde, toluene, and formaldehyde, all of which have negative health effects in humans and pets. In a study carried out at the University of Texas, 20 mattresses made of polyurethane and polyester were tested for VOC emission. researchers found that all the mattresses produced VOCs and that new mattresses produced up to 4 times more VOCs (in terms of volume) than older mattresses. The mattresses that were tested in the study came from 10 different manufacturers, which means that the presence of VOCs in mattress and cushion foams is an industry wide problem.

However, many of them are overwhelmed by the high cost of higher education, and some are even forced to drop out of school. If you are a student looking for ways to help fund your education, here are some opportunities that you can take advantage of. Applying for scholarships and grants Students can take advantage of the numerous scholarship and grant programs from the government, non-governmental organisations, as well as private companies. Government grants and scholarships are usually very competitive and in short supply, so most students have a much better chance of getting scholarships from private entities such as businesses, companies, religious organisations, among others. If you are a student, you can easily find a list of available scholarship opportunities on your university or college website. To increase your chances of winning a scholarship, do your research and apply to all the programs for which you are eligible. Taking part in essay writing and creative contests Many businesses stage creative contests with cash prizes to help students fund their higher education. These contests aim to nurture creativity and innovation and to raise awareness on certain topics. Essay writing competitions are by far the most common types of contests that are created by companies because they are easy to carry out.

Companies and businesses are always willing to sponsor essay competitions because they help raise brand awareness among students and young people who could end up becoming their employees or customers in the future. If you are a student looking to participate in corporate scholarship and essay contests, you can find a long list of ongoing and upcoming contests here

When choosing a childcare centre, you want to ensure that your child is going to be happy, safe, healthy, and mentally stimulated throughout the day. This means that the centre you select should be welcoming, friendly, and clean, and the people who work there should be dedicated to protecting children and helping them to develop. Here are a few tips on how to find a good childcare centre for your child. Ensure that the childcare centre is located close to where you live or work The centre should be close to your house and your place of work for the purpose of convenience.. Mornings are usually hectic since you have to get your kid ready, drop him off, and get to work. If you want to beat the morning traffic and to get to work on time, the last thing you need is a long detour. Here are a few tips on how to find a good childcare centre for your child. Ensure that the childcare centre is located close to where you live or work The centre should be close to your house and your place of work for the purpose of convenience. Mornings are usually hectic since you have to get your kid ready, drop him off, and get to work.

For more details on good hygiene practices in childcare centres, you can read this article

Our children live in an age of unprecedented digital connection.  They sms, mms, tweet, post, like, digg all aspects of their life and their thoughts.  They are sharers and keep in touch with their friends almost instantaneously via their mobile devices and computers. All their communications and information is going online, not just in their sms messages, or photos posted, or words tweeted but in online game chat rooms, liking Facebook posts, comments on blog articles, images uploaded via mobile apps that own the data they are uploading and the list goes on. How do they know who has access to this information?  Have they secured access to it properly? Should it have even been posted online at all? As a parent, have you had discussions with your child about what digital reputation is and how your child can manage their online image? As a parent are you aware of different ways to manage online access in your home to foster a balanced use approach? Cybermums is here to support and educate parents about the risks their children face online and the digital security they can implement to help keep their child safe online.  We actively encourage open discussion and family decision making regarding the use of technology in the home.