Parent and Baby

Clean as a Whistle

Now that your little bundle of joy has arrived, you have to make sure that your baby is always kept clean and his surroundings hygienic. Your baby is more prone to infections because his immune system is still developing that is why you have to ensure that everything is speck and span. The following are some tips on how you can your baby more protected.

Baby bottles and nipples are by far the most used baby items and since it will directly come in contact with baby’s mouth, you have to make sure that it is absolutely clean. After feeding your baby, rinse the bottle with water so that the leftover formula won’t dry out. Leave water inside to soak if you don’t plan to wash it right away. In washing baby’s bottles and nipples, scrub them well and make sure thta you get to all the crevices of the bottle including the nooks and crannies of the nipples. Leave the bottles and nipples to dry in a clean place. You can also use your dishwasher’s hottest drying option. For sterilizing the bottles, you can use a baby bottle sterilizer or a deep stainless steel pot. Fill the pot with enough water to cover the bottles and nipples then bring to a boil and simmer for at least 20 minutes. Don’t leave your sterilizer unattended as the bottles and nipples might melt if you leave it too long.

Baby clothes, beddings and cloth diapers can cause allergies and rashes. Make sure that you clean these items carefully. Wash your baby’s clothes separately and use a mild detergent. There are specially-made baby detergents that are formulated to effectively disinfect yet are gentle on baby’s clothes. Set your washing machine to hot water or if your machine does not have the hot water setting, you can use kettle-boiled water instead. Rinse all the items thoroughly to make ensure that all the soap has been rinsed out. Soap residues can cause rashes and allergies. As much as possible, leave the clothes to dry under the sun.

Baby toys come in a variety of materials and the cleaning method will vary also. Keep in mind that baby toys should be cleaned at least once a month and every time the baby has been sick. Plastic toys can be washed with dishwashing liquid to keep them clean. Wipe the toys using a mixture of baking soda and warm water or white vinegar and warm water. These are mild disinfectants that can be used to sanitize your baby’s clothes and other items. Toys that are made of cloth can be washed in the washing machine and make sure that it will be dry as soon as possible. Larger toys can be placed in a big plastic bag. Sprinkle a liberal amount of baking soda and shake the bag thoroughly. Use a vacuum or a brush to remove the baking soda afterwards. If you like, you can bring the toys to the laundry shop and have them dry cleaned.

It is very important that teethers be clean at all times. You can wash it with dishwashing liquid and rinse thoroughly. Do not include teethers in sterilizing the baby bottles as teethers will burst.

All cloth items in the crib should be washed in the same way as the baby’s clothes and the crib itself should be kept sanitized at all times. To remove dust, wipe the crib with soft, clean cloth. Brush with soap and water and use a damp cloth to wipe the frames. Disinfect using a mixture of baking soda and warm water and white vinegar. You can also wipe with alcohol if you have the urge to further disinfect it.