How to Keep Baby Teethers Clean & Safe For Little Ones
Babies tend to put toys in their mouths constantly, especially when teething. It is a sensory and development method within their environment, however, as a parent, it is important to keep the teethers and toys sterilised to prevent the spread of germs and diseases. When it comes to toys intended for a baby’s mouth, hygiene and safety are paramount.
What are the best ways to keep baby teethers clean?
1. BOILING HOT WATER
This is the most common method for most parents to kill germs. Put the teethers in boiling water for about 5 minutes and allow the teethers to completely dry before giving them back to the baby. This method works well for both plastic and wooden teething toys, but please remember to check the product labels and tags before attempting to boil the teethers in case they cannot withstand the heat without melting.
2. STEAM AND COLD WATER STERILISATION
An electric steam steriliser can also be used to kill any germs. Simply pour a small amount of water into the steriliser, put the cover on and the water will then turn into steam. All Matchstick Monkey Teething Toys are suitable for steam and cold water sterilisation. Please note that our Matchstick Monkey reusable teether cases are not suitable for any steriliser.
3. UV STERILISER
These are becoming more and more popular to sterilise various items in the household. It is handy especially for baby items such as bottles, teethers and soothers as it doesn’t require any water or chemicals to clean. Our teethers have been tested for UV sterilisers and you can use them according to the individual manual instruction.
4. BAKING SODA AND WATER
Baking soda and water are also safe options. By mixing the two, you can clean the teether with the paste and then rinse it off and dry it. Once the toy is rinsed, the teether can be used again by the baby.
5. WHITE VINEGAR AND WATER MIX
Although this method will not smell the best, it is one of the safest ways to sanitise teething toys for babies. Adding the same amount of water to white vinegar in a mixing bowl, will create a natural cleaning product and will clean the teethers without worry over any toxic residue left for the baby to digest. Wipe the teethers with a cloth and allow them to dry before returning to the little one.
6. DISHWASHER
All Matchstick Monkey Teethers are dishwasher safe and can be popped in for a quick clean. However, it is important to note that some dishwashers may leave unwanted soap that the baby could ingest, so make sure to double-check the teething toy is thoroughly cleaned before the baby handles the teether.
How often should I clean teethers?
How frequently teethers need cleaning depends on how loved they are (a.k.a how much they get played with). Teethers are used on an ongoing basis when babies are little so it is recommended to clean them daily, if not every other day. These are general guidelines for when your child is healthy. It's always important to clean and sanitise toys more frequently when your child is ill or has the flu and to do it all again once they've recovered.
MATCHSTICK MONKEY TEETHING PRODUCTS WITH BIOCOTE®
At Matchstick Monkey, all of our teethers contain BioCote® Antimicrobial Protection. During the manufacturing process, we add BioCote® to our teething products to prevent the growth of bacteria and microbes on the surface of the product.
Lasting the entire time your little ones use the teether, BioCote® is not just a coating that can wear off, which is brilliant news! However, it is still highly recommended that you give your teethers a clean to help keep unwanted dirt at bay.
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