Having a baby brings many new concerns into the lives of parents. One concern that many parents have is how to safely and effectively clean baby supplies. Healthy Children encourages parents to give their house a good cleaning but to avoid products with harsh chemicals because they can be harmful to babies. Most baby experts recommend using simple cleaning products such as soap and water to safely clean baby supplies.
Breastfeeding Supplies
There are many supplies that a breastfeeding mother relies on and they must be cleaned properly. Elaine Farber, author of "Baby Lists: What to Do and What to Get to Prepare for Baby" suggests using products by Medela, a leading breast pump and accessory company, including Cavicide, which is a germicidal cleaner that is effective when cleaning electric breast pumps. Another option by Medela is Quick Clean Breast Pump and Accessory Wipes which are also considered to be one of the best products on the market, according to Farber, because they can be used anywhere. Quick Clean Micro Steam Bags, also by Medela, Farber says, are one of the best products for cleaning breast pump parts because they kill 99.9 percent of all germs safely and effectively using water and the microwave.
Formula Feeding Supplies
The "American Dietetic Association Complete Food and Nutrition Guide" by Roberta Larson Duyff and the American Dietetic Association suggests that the most effective product for cleaning bottles and nipples is plain old dish soap. The reasoning behind such a product suggestion is the fact that baby's immune systems are not fully developed and hot water and dish soap is a proven way to kill germs and sanitize baby bottles and nipples after each use.
Baby Clothing
Many parents feel that they must wash their baby's clothing in specially formulated baby laundry detergents, such as Dreft. However, according to Baby Center, the number one recommended laundry detergent for babies by dermatologists is All Free Clear. All Free Clear is hypoallergenic and fragrance free, which Baby Center recommends for baby's sensitive skin. All Free Clear washes baby clothing while also getting rid of dust mites, allergens, and cat dander which Baby Center reports makes it a safe choice for use with baby clothing.
Baby Toys
Keeping baby toys clean is important since babies tend to put everything into their mouths, says Karen Sokal-Gutierrez, M.D., M.P.H., who weighs in with expert advice in partnership with Fisher Price. Sokal-Gutierrez says that there are two steps to cleaning baby toys: cleaning and sanitizing. For cleaning, she says the best product is plain dish soap and warm water. For sanitizing, Sokal-Gutierrez says that the best product on the market is bleach. She instructs parents to mix 1tbsp. of bleach in 1 quart of water or 1/4 cup of bleach in 1 gallon of water in order to effectively sanitize toys.
References
- Healthy Children: Bringing Baby Home: Preparing Yourself, Your Home, and Your Baby
- "Baby Lists: What to Do and What to Get to Prepare for Baby"; Elaine Farber; 2007
- "American Dietetic Association Complete Food and Nutrition Guide"; Roberta Larson Duyff and the American Dietetic Association; 2006
- Baby Center: Tender Loving Care
- Fisher Price: What's the Best Way to Clean Baby Toys?
