Clean as a whistle — Keeping baby things sterile
You want to protect your baby from germs. One way to do this is cleaning infant items that they touch and put in their mouth. This includes things like bottles, feeding implements, pacifiers, infant toys and teethers. Another part of keeping baby things sterile is keeping your own hands clean. Wash your hands often, especially before handling baby items. Wipe the surfaces that you touch often in your home with antibacterial wipes or spray. Our Plano pediatricians are always happy to offer advice about keeping your baby safe.
Cleaning infant items you use to feed your baby
Some of the old rules for cleaning and sanitizing baby bottles don’t apply today, but it’s still vital to keep the bottles, nipples, caps and rings clean. Here are some tips for properly keeping baby things sterile for feeding time.
- Clean bottles after each feeding.
- Take the bottle apart, separating each component, and wash in the dishwasher with hot water or by hand.
- If you hand wash bottles, thoroughly clean the sink or basin and the bottle brush after each cleaning. You can clean basins and brushes in the dishwasher. You can also boil or steam them.
- Air dry the components.
- Do not add new formula or breast milk to a partially filled bottle.
Pacifiers get a lot of use, and they can get grimy and dirty. When the binky falls on the ground, you need to wash it in warm, soapy water. Do not put it in your own mouth to “clean” it. It’s always a good idea to carry extra pacifiers with you in case one gets dirty.
Keeping baby things sterile helps prevent the spread of germs
From infancy through the toddler years, cleaning infant items is important. At this age, almost everything goes in a baby’s mouth. Try these ideas from our Plano pediatricians to help eliminate germs on toys and other items babies touch frequently.
- Dilute bleach in a solution of 1/3 cup of bleach in one gallon of water. This disinfects toys made of metal, rubber or plastic. Rinse them off and make sure they are completely dry before giving them back to babies.
- Wipe wooden toys and board books with antibacterial wipes.
- Clean or wipe things like baby play spaces and trays often.
Our Plano pediatricians are here to help you keep your baby safe
You don’t have to obsess about keeping baby things sterile. Common sense, good hygiene and regularly cleaning infant items go a long way in the battle against germs. Talk to our pediatric team about germs and your baby, and the best approaches to keeping baby things sterile. Contact us for an appointment.
