Baby chew toys are designed to stimulate and entertain your baby by encouraging their natural tendency to put everything in their mouths. If your baby plays with chew toys, you will want to make sure that you clean them on a regular basis to prevent your baby from ingesting any germs or bacteria that can build up from regular use. According to Fisher Price, your baby can pick up illness-causing germs quite easily from her toys, and washing them will help prevent her from getting sick.
Step 1
Collect all your baby's chew toys in one area so you can get them all clean at the same time. Make sure you gather the toys from your diaper bag, car and other areas where you keep baby toys so you do not miss getting her favorites clean. Donna Smallin, author of "Cleaning Plain and Simple," writes that you can help prevent your baby from getting sick if you remember to wash all of her toys at one time.
Step 2
Clean each toy. Scrub each individual toy with hot, soapy water, recommends Fisher Price. The cleaning step is meant to remove any dirt and grime that has built up on the toy. Cleaning is also the first step in killing any germs living on your baby's chew toys. Remove the toys from the water and allow them to air dry.
Step 3
Sanitize the chew toys. Sanitizing comes after cleaning because removing germs from toys that do not have dirt or grime on them will result in cleaner toys. Fisher Price says that the sanitizing step will also kill any dangerous germs after someone in the family has gotten over being sick. Use 1 tbsp. of chlorine bleach for every quart of water. Place the chew toys in the solution and leave them to soak for a few minutes. Make sure each toy is completely submerged in the bleach water solution. Allow them to air dry completely to make sure the bleach is fully evaporated before giving them to your baby to play with.
Tips and Warnings
- Smallin writes that you can also place your baby's chew toys in the top rack of your dishwasher to effectively clean and sanitize them. Place the toys in a mesh bag to keep them contained and to prevent them from slipping through the rack. Allow them to air dry completely before giving them to your baby to play with.
- If your baby chews on her stuffed animals, you should wash them regularly as well. Place them in the washing machine and wash them using hot water. Let the toys dry completely before returning them to your baby.
Things You'll Need
- Baby chew toys
- Water
- Soap
- Bleach
References
- Fisher Price: What's the Best Way to Clean Baby Toys?
- "Cleaning Plain and Simple," Donna Smallin; 2005
