This is a partnered post with BIC. All thoughts and opinions expressed below are my own.

If you open up my desk drawer you are going to find a variety of lots of colorful PENS! I have always been a fan of stationary items since I was a child like notepads, notebooks, labels colored ink pens and especially gel pens! Being a full time blogger I live by a daily planner and using pretty gel pens makes planning my days so much more fun! I can never have enough pens!

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There’s no doubt about it: we’re attached to our gadgets. Nearly two-thirds of Americans owned a smartphone in 2015, and we rely on this technology during virtually every part of our day. Many people can’t bear to be away from their cell phones — there’s even a phobia that describes people who fear being caught without their mobile or being out of range — and according to LG, approximately 90% of people experience anxiety when their phone battery runs low. While it’s somewhat understandable, then, that we like to bring our phones everywhere we go, research shows that there’s one place that should be off-limits: the bathroom.

A 2015 survey conducted by Verizon Wireless found that 90% of people use their phones in the bathroom. But because your cell phone contains, on average, 25,000 germs per square inch, your mobile device is actually dirtier than your toilet seat. One U.K. study conducted in 2011 found that one out of every six smartphones contained — brace yourself — fecal matter. And while you can (and always should) wash your hands after using the facilities, you might not think to disinfect your phone. Using these dirty gadgets can cause everything from acne and allergic reactions to staph and E. coli infections. Smartphone owners should invest in microfiber cloths and cleaning wipes specifically made for electronics. There are even devices that will clean your phone with UV light and charge the battery at the same time.

But bacteria isn’t the only reason to make your commode a phone-free zone. Dropping your phone in the toilet, sink, or tub is an ever-present threat. If you don’t want to have to stick your phone in a bag of rice and eventually pay for a replacement (remember, water damage probably isn’t covered under your warranty), don’t bring your gadgets in the W.C. in the first place. Even if you happen to have a water-resistant model, do you really want to reach in and grab it?

Using electronics in the bathroom can actually be fatal, in rare cases. One Texas teenager recently died from electrocution when she decided to use her charging smartphone while she was taking a bath. Others have suffered electric shocks under similar circumstances. While these incidents are few and far between, it’s just one more reason to keep your tech out of the toilet.

Not only should you place limits on where you and your family use your devices, but you should also address how much you use them. Increased screen time and app usage have been linked to higher rates of anxiety and depression, especially amongst kids and teens who aren’t monitored during their tech activities. And some experts feel that higher usage rates might lead to stunted speech and language development, as well as poor eyesight and sleep disruption.

An increasing number of doctors and health experts suggest that taking breaks from tech use can be beneficial, especially when cell phone use seems to be tied to an increase in anxiety. While the world has become dependent on gadgets, it’s become important for many families to make certain times off-limits for phone and computer use. While the best way to start might be to instate a “no phones allowed” rule in the bathroom, refraining from cell phone use before bed or in the early morning can make a big difference.

Newborn babies sleep a lot. Up to 10.5 to 18 hours to be exact. Which is why it’s so important that parents maintain a safe sleeping environment for their baby. Even the smallest of objects such as a stuffed animal in your child’s crib can lead to terrible consequences.

Fortunately, new legislation is being proposed to reduce the infant mortality rate in the United States. Both in D.C. and Trumbull County, Ohio, baby boxes are being considered the newest and safest way to keep infants safe.

The baby box is a rendition of Finland’s famous maternity package, which provides soon-to-be mothers with a blanket, clothes, and a simple box for their infant to sleep in. These boxes are clear of anything that may cause suffocation to a child and promotes safe sleeping habits for the parents as well.

“We don’t know all the causes of sudden infant death, but we do know that sometimes co-sleeping can cause problems,” said Brianne Nadaeu, a D.C. Councilmember, to Fox 5. “So we want parents to have a safe place to put their child while they are sleeping while it is also convenient for them.”

A baby box allows for parents to have their child in the bedroom with them without risking suffocation or the child rolling off the bed. The closeness of the box also allows the parent to keep an eye on their infant to prevent SIDS.

However, the baby boxes aren’t only a lifesaver for the child. The government-sanctioned boxes are also a lifesaver for the new mother who often can’t afford a crib or another alternative. This often leads to bed-sharing, which can be dangerous to the newborn child.

The Baby Box Company is the only company making these infant-safe baby boxes for new parents thus far. However, the new D.C. bill will enable other companies to partake in the production of the boxes as well.

“We have consulted with hospital association,” said Nadaeu. “We are hoping they might be our willing partner to provide the boxes as parents are leaving the hospital. One of the challenges is where do you store them because they are kind of big if you are taking thousands of them, so we are working on that now.”