CM Club - Different babies on different days - cleaning things?

[looneytune]

I've now got 2 babies (2 months & 4 months) on different days (Mon-Wed & Thurs/Fri) and I'm trying to decide how I clean things between babies. At the moment, they have seperate playgym's and when on the bouncer chair, I put muslin down but what about toys. The plastic ones (when bit older) can be washed but what about soft toys? Would something like dettol disinfectant spray at the end of the day be ok? Or are we expected to wash them all and hope they dry in time for the next morning?

Any advice/opinions would be gratefully received

Hi Looneytune

I think I read somewhere that by putting soft toys in the freezer for (actually not sure how long for) that sterilises them! or maybe I am just going off my trolley - Can anyone else confirm this??

TBH I think I would prefer my child to be exposed to the others germs than have all toys sprayed with dettol twice a week. Probably not the answer you wanted.

TBH, when I've had two little ones, they don't really need a whole lot of toys, so they bring their own favourites and one child has some of mine and the other has some others of mine. That way, I do a wash of soft toys at the weekend and the plastic ones go in the dishwasher!

Agree with you bozza. Its all very well following the rules at home, but what happens when you go to playgroups with them. Their toys probably don't get washed for months!

TheIronLady - I've heard of the freezer too. Problem is that the younger the baby, the bigger the toys (usually) - I just don't have the room in mine.

Bozza - I totally agree, I'd much prefer my own ds was exposed to germs, he always was at toddler groups and he's hardly ever ill, sure this has something to do with it. My friend used to clean like mad and her and her ds are always ill when bugs are going round! (both our ds's are 4)

princesscc - I have 3 special favourites that the babies love and I like them both to be able to play with them each time. You are so right about toddler groups.

The thing that's made me think of doing more (I was just planning on washing them properly if got sick on or look dirty) is that the mum of this new baby said it was ok to go to toddler group today but asked that I make sure a muslin is put down whereever she goes. This is fine but it got me thinking!

I put a whole load of soft toys in the machine a couple of days ago and they were pretty much dry when they came out! I just left them out to air over-night and they were fine the next day. I don't do them that often and totaly agree with the sharing of germs!!

Putting soft toys in the freezer overnight kills the dustmites. Hot wash in the washing machine will do same, but can damage some toys.

I think its important to clean toys regularly (just read that threadworm eggs can survive up to 2 weeks outside the body yuk! - only takes affected child to scratch their bum & pick up a toy). I've seen some really grubby ones at doctors surgeries & toddler groups!

As many toys are played with by children attending together/same day its pretty much impossible to clean after each child's use and I don't think many parents would expect that any way. If you really wanted to, as they attend on different days keep a separate box for each child.

I have just completed my ICP course, and we were told that the best way to sterilise soft toys was overnight in the freezer.

I plan on doing them regularly but do you think I need to do them every Wednesday night for the Thursday? If not, how often?

Any more advice? Trying to decide if I have to go through the whole cleaning thing on the Wednesday night (before next baby) or will weekends do?

I think weekends will be fine, or even every other weekend, as long as they haven't been sick on them or anything obviously! It will help build up their immunity IMO/IME.