Share your stories about your children’s favourite toys with Munchkin Nursery Steriliser - £100 voucher to be won

[CeriMumsnet]

Whether it’s a cuddly bear or a favourite blanket, young children become very attached to certain toys and comforters. Many parents will know the struggle of keeping these toys clean - particularly when they get taken on outdoor adventures or when your DC won’t let them out of their sight, even at mealtimes! With this in mind, Munchkin would like to hear your stories about your children’s favourite toys and comforters, and how you navigate cleaning them.

Here’s what Munchkin UK has to say: “Life with a little one is always going to be messy, but luckily the Munchkin Nursery Steriliser means that in just five minutes you can make sure toys, blankies and soothers are clean and ready to use, meaning you can spend less time cleaning and more quality time having fun”

Which toys were your DC particularly attached to and what’s the weirdest place/situation your child insisted on taking them? Did you experience that heart sinking feeling when you realised the toy they’re attached at the hip to had been left behind or lost? How did you rescue them? How did you keep their favourite toys clean, and did you experience any washing related disasters? What distraction methods did you resort to when your children’s favourite toys had to be taken away to be washed?

All who post on this thread will be entered into a prize draw where one lucky MNer will win a £100 voucher for a store of their choice (from a list).

Thanks and good luck with the prize draw!

MNHQ

Insight T&Cs apply

[BristolMum96]

My toddler has a favourite cuddly toy she's had from birth. He's not machine washable on the label but has survived the machine not sure why they make unwashable cuddlies suitable from birth!

[flowersfromheaven]

My daughter had a favourite teddy called scuffs it went everywhere with her she used to smell it whilst twiggling the fur (what was left of it) I used to have to distract her just to be able to put it in the washer, One time when we was going on holiday aboard she lost Scuffs at the airport well we could not find it, So we promise her she could pick another one as soon as we get there and so we did she had the full run off the shop she must have picked every teddy up in the shop sniffing them, only to turn and say this one smells like scuffs, It was a white furry cat she had that a couple of years until she lost it. Months after my daughters friends Mother told me she found the cat months after she lost it , it was behind her daughters toy box, I told her to bin it.

[jacqui5366]

My sons Thomas from Brio went everywhere with him, and would keep him occupied on many a plane flight choo chooing across the little table.

[EvilHerbivore]

DS2 was obsessed with Stuffy from "show me show me" but obviously they don't do merchandise so I had to commission a woman to make one for us.
However I am also a bit crap with measurements and when she asked me what size I wanted it I wildly underestimated how big it was going to end up - DS2 loved it but ended up dragging round this absolutely massive cube half the size of him for about six months, everywhere we went

[voyager50]

Thankfully when mine was little he just liked having a muslin to suck and hold so there was no real problem about using it as we had dozens of them!

[Asuwere]

We've never taken toys out with us, so although DC had favourite toys that they had to have at bedtime, we never had to worry about losing them. They also liked getting involved in washing them and would sit in front of the washing machine to watch them going around then would help hang them out on the line. :)

[UpOnDown]

Mine had a favourite 'mussie''

[Ashhead24]

Mine took his favourite teddy to nursery when he first started, he then decided he had to take it everywhere. Fortunately it survived the washing machine ok. We did buy a second one but have never had to use it and he's know moved on to a different teddy.

[biffyboom]

Ds adores his large IKEA stuffed shark, it goes round the house with him in the day and to bed at night. It whiffs. I've tried sponge cleaning it. I took him to IKEA and tried to buy him a new one, but the suggestion of replacing didn't go down well.....so it still whiffs, and ds often likes to talk about seeing his sharks cousins at the shop.

[Kweenxo]

At the moment DS is attached to peppa pig and he would bring it to the bathroom with him all the time whenever it was time to have a bath. He would hate having a bath otherwise and would proceed to also bathe peppa haha. It's honestly so cute to watch.

[MumC2141]

The favourites tend to vary now, so it isn’t a major issue. One favourite night garden toy when my daughter was younger did have to get washed a few times and the sound stopped working but she wasn’t too bothered thankfully..

[jellybeanpopper]

Bunny and Panda come everywhere, we went on holiday and DD insisted we take some other teddies instead. All week she sulked because she wanted to go home as she missed them. The joy on her face when she saw them again was incredible.

[jellybeanpopper]

With respect to cleaning I have had to stick them in the washing machine a couple of times after she's been ill or accidentally dropped one in a muddy puddle but I have also used a popular baby brand sterilisation spray and given toys a wipe down.

[jellybeanpopper]

We had great fun washing Lego in a bucket of soapy water in the garden one summer!

[Hopezibah]

My daughter has two cuddlies that she adores and are her "bedtime" cuddlies - although they did come everywhere to start with so we had to buy spares! Thankfully they are fully machine washable - although they are looking a little worse for wear these days.

My son has "blue bear" who has faded to grey and is a bit too fragile to keep washing these days.

[Dangermouse80]

Many favourite toys which each got a spell of being taken everywhere. All about the soft texture. Luckily all the toys survived the washing machine'

[m0jit0]

My eldest has a cuddly toy they got free with an Easter egg which she takes everywhere. He's survived multiple limb reattachment surgeries and washes and is still going strong. Thankfully we manage to acquire a few spares just in case the worst should happen 🙈.

[wellingtonsandwaffles]

Luckily mine never had one specific toy, though they get weirdly attached to specific rocks and sticks from the wood which become part of play despite a million other toys! Can’t really clean them but at least can replace!

[sheilads105]

My DD has a cuddly rabbit that came on holiday to Cyprus. Got tangled up in the sheets when the beds were changed and just narrowly missed being washed and dried. Tears aplenty followed by huge smiles.

[lolly2011]

My eldest had a bunny, it went everywhere and would not let it go, my youngest had a mouse with a bell inside, it was frequently covered in food and washed and he absolutely loved it.

[sharond101]

My daughter has a scotty dog she got from a Santa visit 3 years ago. She takes it to bed and says she loves it the most as it smells good! I spend my life sewing its hat back on or trying to find it!

[Ihoeihoeihoe]

My little boy has just turned one and he cannot sleep without a fluffy blanky! He tickles it over his hands and face. Luckily we have a few and he doesn’t mind which one so we’re able to wash them enough!

[Bubblebox]

Dd is an odd little soul and has s porcelain cat instead of a cuddly. .she walks around with her thumb tucked between its head and upturned tail.
Nice and easy to clean (especially as it goes in the bath with her) but I live in constant fear of it smashing as it is really old and I haven't been able to find a 'just uncase' replacement

[Pegase]

I basically put everything either in the washing machine or dishwasher. We have one of those giant 3 foot teddies though that won't fit do so not sure what to do about that!

[sqirrelfriends]

Despite my best efforts to encourage something replaceable as his comfort item, DS chose a limited edition bear that is now unavailable. This bear gets filthy, DS has a habit of sucking on its hat so it needs regular washing. He's better than he was but there was a time that the bear never left his sight.

I used to have to wait until he was asleep, sneak into his room to wash and dry the bear. This worked most of the time but on occasion I would return with said bear to DS sniffing and asking me where it had gone.