I am getting a lot of baby toys (Baby due Jan 23.08)....I was wondering if I should clean them first? I have a tendency to overclean....and I don't want my baby's immune system to suffer because of it... If I should clean them, how do I? Can I clean them in soapy disinfectant dishsoap water (then rinse-ofcourse)? I am waiting for a part on my dishwasher, so that is out of commision for a few weeks.... Do I clean the toy rings, etc...or not? Thanks!
2007-12-31 04:37:33 · 9 answers · asked by Fenway♥George 5 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Newborn & Baby
I washed all his stuff when he was little if I could (plastic, rubber, rag type toys you can either throw in the dishwasher or the washing machine); but I don't sterilize anything because I don't think kids need to grow up in a sterile environment. If a stuffed animal looks dirty anywhere I'll spot clean it, but I don't obsess. It's a good idea to clean them the first time because you don't know how many little kids were playing with it and chewing on it in the store, or how long it sat on a warehouse shelf full of dust and mouse poop before it got sent out. Now that he's a little early I know he's been exposed to germs and I don't worry so much (Just wait until you take them to the park and they eat dirt for the first time, that's when you start to just give in and accept the germs)
2007-12-31 07:18:52 · answer #1 · answered by boo 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You should wash things like teething rings, and you might want to wipe down other hard toys.
You shouldn't use antibacterial dishsoap though. These contribute to antibiotic resistant bacteria, and can leave a film on your skin that effects your own natural bacteria, your natural bacteria protects you from infection.
Just use plain soap, all soap traps bacteria and rinses it down the drain -after that who cares whether it is alive or not?
2007-12-31 05:25:44 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
It depends on the toy.
Teething rings and rattles, use hot soapy water.
The toys for when the baby is older is really necessary to clean at first, just once in a while wipe them with a disinfecting wipe.
In my opinion, it is better to be super clean then not!
2007-12-31 05:16:46 · answer #3 · answered by Kristy Lynn 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I always did... heck I still do w/ my 4 yr old.
It depends on the toy... some hard ones can be put in the dishwasher, others that have little holes in them I'd just use a wet rag dipped in a bleach solution, when the proper bleach solution is dry, it is totally non-toxic.
1/4 teaspoon of bleach for 1 quart of water
stuffed, plush toys can either be put in the dryer for an hour on highest heat setting - this not only bangs the dust out, but can kill any dust mites or other germs that may be living on them. these toys can also go into the freezer overnight, it doesn't bang the dust out but does kill any germs.
I still do this stuff w/ my daughter's toys, especially the stuffed animals... she loves to sleep with them so I usually put them in the dryer with her linens for an hour or two on Saturdays. and if she's sick, I do it every other day and put her pillow in the dryer too!!
and I do not have a tendency to over clean... my house is fairly messy - it looks like I live her with my child and that I babysit a couple of other kids...lol... but I think this is the same as doing the dishes - they put those little linking rings and rattles in their mouth, so they should be cleaned regularly just like their spoon should. I wouldn't go crazy doing it, but a quick wipe w/ a damp bleach solution cloth will only take about 5-10 minutes per week.
2007-12-31 05:05:37 · answer #4 · answered by Tanya 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
First of all a newborn is too young for Baby Toys.
Next, yes wash, rinse and dry, then store in covered containers until the baby is old enough for the toys.
After that, just clean them periodically. To aid the childs immune system don't go nutty on the cleaning. Use common sense here and you and Baby will be fine.
2007-12-31 05:00:21 · answer #5 · answered by Toffy 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I would wipe them down with a anti-bacterial wipe. I would not put them in the diswasher,or submerge them in water some toys may get water in them that will not drain out or inside parts that you can not reach will not dry completely and then they start to mold.
2007-12-31 04:49:27 · answer #6 · answered by TD R 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I always read the tags and things....usually they tell you how to do it. Most of them say use a mild soap to clean. Most of the time I wash my daughter's stuff with dish soap.
2007-12-31 04:43:52 · answer #7 · answered by fromthecabbagepatch 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
i would wash them with warm soapy water and rinse them. Baby wont play with toys for a few months so you can probably leave them in the boxes they came in until then. I disinfect my children's toys once a week or so.
2007-12-31 04:42:34 · answer #8 · answered by llllll_amanda_lllllll 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I would clean all of it. it will be in his/her mouth after all. dish soap and rinse well
2007-12-31 04:41:01 · answer #9 · answered by roxxygrrl13 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋