You may think that there is not much you can do to prevent or control air pollution. But there are actually a number of things you can do to minimize your contribution to air pollution and ensure that the air you and your baby are breathing is the freshest air possible.

Here's how to minimize your exposure to air pollution, both indoors and outside:

OUTDOORS

• Pay attention to air-quality advisories, especially if you live in or near a big city. If the levels are high, don't spend a lot of time outdoors.

• When traveling by car, try to limit the amount of time you spend sitting in heavy traffic. Seek out less traveled routes or walk instead.

• Hold your breath or turn your head when you see exhaust spurting out of the car in front of you or when you are filling your car with gas.

INDOORS

• Do not smoke and avoid exposure to others who do.

• Ventilate your home well by opening windows and doors regularly, especially when dusting, vacuuming, and painting.

• When entering your home, leave your shoes at the door and ask your guests to do the same to avoid tracking harmful chemicals indoors.

• Do not dry clean your clothes. If you cannot avoid dry cleaning, make sure you air-out your clothes before bringing them indoors, or select an environmentally safe dry-cleaning service that does not use perchloroethylene.

• Use natural cleaning agents like baking soda and vinegar around your home instead of synthetic chemical compounds.

• Wet-mop your floors frequently to reduce your exposure to dust.

• Do not use synthetic chemical pesticides or fertilizers in your home, on your lawn, or in your garden.

By taking control of your indoor and outdoor environments, you can significantly reduce the number of pollutants that you and your baby are exposed to with every breath you take.