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Housekeeping

Find cleaning advice from other Mumsnetters on our Housekeeping forum.

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Original poster

how often to clean babytoys

42 replies

babyjjbaby · 21/01/2008 22:30

dunno how often to do them not very often for stuff which is kept in boxes so it stays clean but the stuff which is in the playpen and big stuff like fisher price dinasoar giraffe dancin band stand stuff which is kept out seems to get really dusty i always steam clean it as it is quick and easy instead of messing about with wiping stuff then drying it so need some advice please

OP posts:

PrettyCandles · 21/01/2008 22:57

I read somewhere that babies who have at least two colds in their first year are off sick less during their first year at school than children who were never ill during their first year.

Also, 2nd and 3rd children tend to be healthier than the first child, in the long run, as they catch at an earlier age all the illnesses their eldest brother/sister has brought home from school. So by the time they go to school their immune system is stronger than their eldest sibling's was.

Let the toys get a bit of dust or dirt on them!

(BTW, I wasn't allowed to play with the dr's toys either, and had to grit my teeth and sit on my hands to let my LOs play with them!)

Cali · 21/01/2008 23:00

unless he has some disorder of his immune system, then being exposed to 'normal' dirt does children no harm. Having worked in Childrens hospitals, unless it was infectious diseases, toys were only cleaned when visibly dirty and no MRSA, MSSA (and whatever the current superbug health professionals are being blamed for is) were never a problem!

colditz · 21/01/2008 23:02

well, it's your choice, babyjjbaby, but be prepared to do a LOT of cleaning ... not wanting him to play with toys that are not spotless is a WANT, not a NEED, and you won't be able to take him to toddler groups unless you relax a bit.

As he is 7 months old I am presuming he's not too mobile ... when you find him chewing shoes and waving the toilet brush around and brushing his hair with it, you'#ll see where we're coming from

Original poster

babyjjbaby · 21/01/2008 23:04

well when he is doing that then so be it but i am asking about now not then sorry but i only wanted some simple advice

OP posts:

Bluenosesaint · 21/01/2008 23:12

I just wipe them over when they look obviously dirty. I don't think a set routine is necessary ...

colditz · 21/01/2008 23:14

Our advice has been don't bother! LOL

Original poster

babyjjbaby · 21/01/2008 23:31

if idin't want to bother i wouldn't of asked qustion

OP posts:

colditz · 21/01/2008 23:39

Yes I know babyjjbaby, but none of us agree with you that baby toys need to be cleaned, so I'm afraid nobody is able to help you with this. It's like asking a bunch of people who don't like jam how much jam they should eat in a week - they're all going to say none.

By all means clean them if you want to... so probably the best answer is "Whenever you feel like it"

Bluenosesaint · 21/01/2008 23:40

I'm not quite sure why you have asked the question though babyjj

You obviously you want to clean the toys ...soooo ...clean them ...

Surely how often you clean them is irrelevant - cleaning them when they're dirty would do, no?

Cali · 21/01/2008 23:41

Think what we meant, is that you do need to clean toys unless they are obviously dirty.
Living in an environment that is too clean and not being allowed to develop a healthy immune system, does children no good at all.
You cant protect them from every germ, children get ill, babies too.

Bluenosesaint · 21/01/2008 23:41

x-post

Cali · 21/01/2008 23:43

sorry meant to be you do NOT need to clean toys.....have been up since 5am (after 3 hours sleep), please excuse typo's - has nothing to do with large glass of wine

PrettyCandles · 22/01/2008 00:02

But by not cleaning his toys now, you would give him an easier entry into the time when he will be teething on the buggy wheels in your hall. It'll be quite a shock to the system if he goes from sterile home to averagely grubby outside world.

Niecie · 22/01/2008 00:04

I agree with the others that I don't clean toys unless they are obviously dirty/sticky/covered with something gross. Some hard plastic toys never get cleaned at all.

I think (although I haven't checked so don't shot me if I have it wrong) that there is a link between delayed exposure to colds in infants and the risk of acquiring leukaemia. A bit alarmist but it does illustrate why it isn't wise to wrap small children up in cotton wool.

That said letting my children play with toys at the doctors is a step too far when they were under two. Our current docs have bead frames so not so much of problem but anything that other children can pick up and put in their mouths - no thanks.

Twiglett · 22/01/2008 10:01

babyjjbaby .. I sincerely hope you are actually able to take the advice given on this thread, even though it appears to completely contradict your instincts. Your child will be healthier if you don't clean things unnecessarily and if you avoid using bacterial sprays .. and that's what we all want .. healthy, happy and robust children

warthog · 22/01/2008 19:24

eh? you're supposed to clean toys????

TheBlonde · 22/01/2008 19:25

I admit I washed a load of soft baby toys this week (they are 3 years old)

Otherwise clean when they get puked on or muddy imho

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