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Original poster

Bacteria in ds toys

11 replies

jmum6 · 07/04/2006 10:43

I washed one of ds rattles in the dishwasher and now it's got some water inside it. My Dad reckons I should throw it away because of the bacteria in it growing and multiplying.

I don't think it's necessary, and I'm usually very panicky about these sorts of things.

Should I throw it away to be on the safe side?

OP posts:

MrsBadger · 07/04/2006 10:45

if DS is > 6 months I wouldn't worry about it as he's chewing everything he can lay his hands on anyway.
It'll dry out by itself eventually.

Original poster

jmum6 · 07/04/2006 10:45

This by the way from my Dad of the free roaming chickens, who can't see the fuss being made of bird flu!

OP posts:

Chapsmum · 07/04/2006 10:53

jmum6 it is normal to worry about these sorts of thing, however what you should realise is that there are bacteria everywhere.
You should feel comfortable exposing your ds to bacteria that is found in your home. Water from the dishwater is done at 60% so the chances of it containing bateria ATM are slim. I would not let him drink foosty water but the rattle is prob ok.
You should relax about bacteria in the home. There has been allot of re-search done into the way people react to bacteria found on their bodies around their houses etc. The theory is that over the months and years we build up a natural tollerance to these bacteria (if allowed). It means in the long run you will be building his immune system rather than protecting it.

Thing to take into consideration are milk/dairy products (as these carry listeria when they go off).
To give you an example my friend is meticulously(sp) clean. every thing was washed and steriliesed, I am more relaxed and the chap has been licking carpet from a young age. Her DD contracted rota virus, my chap has so far been skitz free (touch wood).
I am sorry this is such a long answer, but the obsession with cleanlyness and bacteria can often be conterproductive

HTH

Chapsmum · 07/04/2006 10:53

60degrees sorry

Original poster

jmum6 · 07/04/2006 12:14

Thankyou CHapsmum - whats foosty water?!

OP posts:

Chapsmum · 07/04/2006 19:31

foosty, sorry scottish slang for old, minging etc

peaches27 · 13/04/2006 20:01

Is it like fusty?

chapsmum · 13/04/2006 20:43

if that means minging then yes!

edam · 13/04/2006 20:47

Hmm, I'm with chapsmum on the hygiene hypothesis (that you need to build your immune system up by exposure to bacteria in the home). But not sure I'd be happy about dishwasher water - if it's inside the toy, it could be the dirty water, rather than the clean water left after rinsing (and even if it's clean it could have remnants of rinse aid).

expatinscotland · 13/04/2006 20:51

wait till he has a sibling and just can't resist sticking his hands in the baby's mouth, giving him/her a swig of his drink - which he's just pulled out of his mouth, of course, and sharing toys he's just picked up off the floor.

chapsmum · 13/04/2006 20:51

hi edam, old thread....
Thing is if plates are suitable for baby to eat off of the water they are washed with is probably ok with minimal contact.

IE would not reccomend drinking it, but a little in a rattle (providing its not foosty ) would probably evaporate. And has been treated at 60degrees. so very little bacteria.

At the end of the day, the chap. despite my best efforts eats of the floor, so TBH tha rattle probably wouldn't hold his interest for long enough anayway!!!

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