The House-Hunting Checklist
The things we check as a CIRS (mold illness) family before we consider a home:
Location & environment
Age of the home
Distance to nearest wastewater treatment plant or lift station (open-air plants = worst, lift stations = variable risk based on distance). NOTE: Endotoxins can also be elevated from poor plumbing seals. If you home tests positive for endotoxins, a plumbing smoke test can tell you where the issue is coming from. (more testing info in my guide below)
Retention ponds nearby? Cyanobacteria risk if there's no fountain/aeration
FEMA flood zone check
The home itself
Any history of water damage
Signs of hidden mold:
Bubbling paint
Peeling paint
Water staining
Rust
Musty or earthy smell that lingers, especially after rain or humidity
Warped, soft, or spongy drywall or flooring
Condensation on windows or cold pipes
Smell or signs of fresh paint that might be masking something
Age of HVAC system, whether it has a built-in dehumidifier, overall home humidity level
Vents in every closet
Kickout flashing at all inner gutter corners
Any holes or gaps where air/moisture could get in
Utilizing AI in your search
You can hand an AI the city's public coordinate/permit data and have it map wastewater and lift station locations for your area (Like this one my hubby built for Houston during our search). This will help you narrow down your search area.
This is a very short list of things we make sure checks the list before touring. Analyze home listing photos like it’s your job. To some level you won’t be able to check everything listed under the home until you actually see it, so check the environment boxes first. These are things you can check with an untrained eye or just by asking questions. When you are ready to start the home process don’t be afraid to bring in 6x the amount of inspections as “normal”. Your forever home needs to be healthy, not meet the bare minimum.
Some sleep struggles aren't a phase, a regression, or a habit that needs breaking. They're a signal that something in the environment isn't right. This guide was created for the parents who have tried everything and still have a baby or toddler waking constantly, seeming uncomfortable, or just not themselves, and who suspect there might be more going on than a typical sleep issue.
Inside, you'll learn how to actually read your home for hidden mold, connect the dots on symptoms that seem unrelated but often aren't, and get a clear, doable next step - whether that's grabbing an air purifier tonight or knowing exactly which test and which type of provider to call next.
What You'll Get Support With:
Spotting What's Easy to Miss
A room-by-room walkthrough of the visual and physical signs of mold.
Connecting Symptoms to the Environment
A full breakdown of sleep-specific and whole-body symptoms in babies and toddlers, from waking 6+ times a night to gut discomfort, rashes, swollen lymph nodes, and sensory sensitivities.
Understanding the Airway & Development Piece
How chronic congestion and mouth breathing from mold exposure can shape jaw development, bite, and long-term sleep quality — a connection most parents never hear about.
Making Sense of Genetics
An accessible explanation of HLA-DR and MTHFR gene variants, why some babies react so much more than others, and how this can tie into feeding and oral restriction struggles.
Testing Without the Overwhelm
A clear comparison of HERTSMI-2 and ERMI home testing, what the scores actually mean, and exactly when it's time to bring in a trusted expert.
Finding the Right Help
How to locate a Shoemaker Protocol–trained, mold-literate provider, plus trusted, vetted resources to start with.
What to Do Starting Tonight
A realistic action plan for living in a home with known or suspected mold while you sort out the bigger picture.
Cleaning Without the Panic
Why you don't have to throw everything away, and how to safely clean and keep your family's belongings by material type.
Why Parents Love This Guide:
It connects sleep, symptoms, and environment in one place — no more piecing it together yourself
It's non-alarmist: informative without fear-mongering
It gives you real next steps, not just a list of scary symptoms
It respects that you don't have to overhaul your whole life overnight
It's backed by trusted, vetted resources instead of guesswork
Everything is written in a way exhausted, overwhelmed parents can actually absorb
I created this guide because too many parents are told to "just try a different sleep routine" when the real answer was hiding in the walls. You deserve real answers, not more guesswork.
Get Mold & Your Little One's Sleep for $18 and finally get clarity on what's really going on.
Please download your files within 24 hours of purchase.
