How Do You Clean Baby Toys And Teethers?

If you didn't know by now, having a child can be pretty darn challenging. From being woken in the middle of the night with them crying, feeding them, putting them to bed, changing their diapers, the list goes on and on. Still, one thing that typically goes overlooked is the management of your child's toys. In fact, unless you're a microbiologist, you may not have even thought twice about the cleanliness of your baby's toys.

Why toddler toys go overlooked isn't very surprising. They are usually small, all over the house, and frankly are not a pressing issue when you have to deal with a myriad of things domestic. But in the same breath, that should not be the case considering these toys could have a significant effect on your child's health.

What Toys Should Your Child Should Be Using

First of all, you should make sure that your child has the correct toys for their age group. An action figure with a bunch of microscopic pieces is not ideal for a two-year-old who puts his mouth on everything. There is a clear choking hazard in that situation. 

So, instead of choosing to bring items like that into your home, stick with some basics: extra large lego blocks, a giant coloring board, a mini basketball hoop, a toy drum set, et cetera. Just make sure that whatever you get for your child won't pose a potential choking or injury hazard.

While the type of toy you get your child is important to your child's safety, it is also essential that you clean your child's toys.

How Often You Should Clean Your Child's Toys

If kids are playing with dirty toys day after day, the chance of your toddler getting sick increases. Seriously, just think about it: a toy covered in drool, dirt, boogers, whatever, can create and gather all types of bacteria. That makes cleaning your kids' toys crucial.

Typically, how often one should be cleaning their child's toys depending on the amount of usage a toy is getting. For example, if your kid loves to play with and touch a stuffed dinosaur, it would probably be wise to throw that stuffy in the wash (if it is machine washable, of course). 

Still, that is only one type of toy. Plush items can be thrown into machines, but what about plastic toys? How do you clean those?

What To Use To Clean Baby Toys And Teethers

As stated above, you can almost always throw plush toys in the washing machine. However, you can not do that with plastic. With that being the case, parents have a couple of different ways to clean their kids' baby toys and/or teethers. 

Some options to safely clean them include throwing them in the dishwasher, using Clorox or Lysol wipes, or wiping them down in a 3% hydrogen peroxide solution. The most important thing is that the toys are clean and safe for your child to use. With all that is going on in your life (work, life, kids), adding a sick child onto your plate is one of the last things you want to do. So take the time now and clean those toys to avoid that disaster.