Keep Kids Safe with Packets Up!

Editor’s note: This post is sponsored by the American Cleaning Institute.

As a military family, one of the biggest life challenges we face comes during a permanent change of station (PCS).

One of my favorite parts of the process is getting the keys to our new-to-us house, usually after weeks of traveling or living out of a suitcase in a hotel.

Before I had kids, I’d spend that first evening in our new home, planning and dreaming where we would put the couch and TV and what picture would go on which wall.

Now we have two small kids: A kindergarten girl and an almost-18-month-old boy.

And let me tell you, during our recent PCS, most of my mental energy was spent on how to make this house a safe place for the kids, especially our toddler.

My first thought as I flopped down on the air mattress that first night in our new home was, “How soon can I get this place childproofed?”

See, our son is a toddler. Don’t get me wrong, he’s a great kid. But he’s beyond fearless, unbelievably curious, and never stops going. Two weeks ago we had our first emergency room visit when his forehead met the stone wall in our backyard. I can’t decide if he’s aging me prematurely or keeping me young.

This house, as wonderful as it is, was not in the least bit childproofed when we arrived (much like all of the hotels we stayed in during our trip). I constantly found myself saying things like, “Why are you standing on the counter?!” or “Get out of there!” or “Don’t play in the trash!” and “Why is there a toy truck in the toilet?” and “Who ate the dog food?”

While my everyday might sound entertaining with this sweet boy, the reality of the matter is that keeping both our kids safe is a number one priority for me and my husband. Since I’m the manager of all things Household 6, I didn’t hesitate.

I dedicated an entire day to putting 52(!!) child safety locks on all our cabinets, from the kitchen to the bathroom and everywhere in between.

My husband is gone a lot with all things military duty, so he relies on me to be proactive and do everything I can to keep our family safe. When he’s absent, I can only think about so many things at once, so I’m always looking for new ways to prevent accidents from happening.

That’s where the American Cleaning Institute’s PACKETS UP! campaign comes in.

The American Cleaning Institute (ACI) created PACKETS UP!, a consumer education initiative, as part of its ongoing effort to help reduce the number of accidental liquid laundry packet exposures in children.

Since 2013, ACI has worked closely with industry manufacturers to equip parents and caregivers with information on the proper usage, storage, and handling of liquid laundry packets.

My son is a little boy and sees everything as something new to explore. So ACI has created this video, Through Their Eyes, to give proactive parents and caregivers around the globe a firsthand look at the world from a toddler’s perspective. Not only is it enlightening, but it also motivates me to do everything I can to take necessary precautions around the home, especially in the laundry room.

They even have a free cabinet cling for anyone who needs a reminder to put PACKETS UP! and keep kids safe. Click here and take 60 seconds to fill out the information to get your free reminder. When you receive your cling, be sure to place it in a visible location to serve as a daily reminder to store laundry packets up and away from children.

Together, we can help reduce the number of accidental liquid laundry packet exposures in children by keeping laundry packets up and out of reach of young children. Remember to always keep product containers securely closed before, during, and after use.

As much as I’d love to say that my son would never be exposed to a laundry packet, I can’t guarantee it. He’s currently in a stage where he finds random items and puts them in his mouth, then runs to me to “show” me, smiling all the way. He thinks it’s a game. But as his mother, who prayed for him before he was born, carried him nine months in my body, and now tries to be the best parent I can be on a daily basis, I know that keeping him safe is serious business.

We aren’t playing, son.

ACI is on a mission to promote better living. My husband is on a mission to defend our country. And I, as a military spouse and parent, am on a mission to keep our home steadfast, secure, and safe. PACKETS UP! provides support and resources about laundry room safety so that military families everywhere can execute their mission safely and successfully.

If you’d like more information on ACI’s PACKETS UP! initiative, visit their website or follow them on Facebook or Twitter using the hashtag, #PacketsUp.

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Sharita Knobloch

Sharita Knobloch

Sharita Knobloch has been married to her beloved infantryman husband Brandon for just shy of a decade. The joys and challenges of #ArmyWifeLife ignited her faith on a deep level, so she answered the call to ministry in July 2011. Soon after, Sharita received her Master’s Degree in Christian Leadership from Liberty University. She is currently in pursuit of her EdD in Educational Counseling with an emphasis in Pastoral Counseling, also from Liberty University. Sharita is not only an Army Wife, but is also a Tiny Human mama of two kiddos, a 6-year-old girl and a 2.5-year old boy. She is also a smallish-dog-owner, aspiring-runner, writer, speaker, and spiritual leadership coach. The Knobloch family believes that it is a great privilege to watch God work as they minister in their Army community, regardless of zip code or time zone. She has been serving with AWN in some capacity since February 2014 when she published her first blog for AWN, and has recently transitioned into the role of AWN Owner & Commander. Sharita gets way too excited about office supplies and journal shopping. She is a certified auctioneer, wore duct tape to senior prom (for a scholarship contest #DontJudge), loves napping, fitness, reading for fun, and cheering others on as they strive to reach their goals. Sharita overuses #Hashtags on a regular basis with #NoShame and frequently uses #America! as a verb.

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