Many parents prepare their home for a newborn baby with safety precautions like using outlet plugs, corner covers and cabinet locks. A precaution many parents may not think about, however, is not as obvious but can be just as dangerous: household germs.

A germ is any microscopic entity that can make you sick, including bacteria, viruses, molds, mildew and even cigarette smoke, according to Dr. Bryan Sibley, medical director of Beacon Children's Specialty Hospital in Houston, Texas. Germs in the home are usually spread through the air or through food. Germs may be found in food that has not been stored properly and may include bacteria like salmonella and shigella, which cause intestinal disease and symptoms like severe diarrhea and vomiting. Dr. Sibley often sees patients who have contracted food poisoning from poorly prepared food.

Airborne germs are usually passed through contact, most often through the hands, and can cause illnesses like coughs, colds, flu and bronchial pneumonia. In fact, between 92 and 95 percent of infectious diseases are hand-carried, says Emily Bergmann, infection control coordinator and nurse at Children's Memorial Hospital in Chicago, Ill.

Pets also can spread germs, but most household pets are harmless, says Dr. Sibley. "Humans are much more likely to spread germs to infants than are pets," he says.

Content on this site is not a substitute for professional medical or healthcare advice, diagnosis or treatment, and may not be used for such purposes. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical question or condition. Reliance on information presented on this site is at your own risk. This site contains the opinions and views of other users. Given the interactive nature of this site, we cannot endorse, guarantee, or be responsible for the accuracy, efficacy, or veracity of any content generated by our users.