Hey there, parents! Welcome to Parenting Essentials 101. First lesson? Babies drool. A LOT. And they love to gnaw on their toys. This combination of moisture in a sealed space can lead to mold growth—something that should be common knowledge. Apparently, it isn’t.
In a recent episode of Parent Panic, several moms and dads were shocked to find mold lurking inside their little one’s beloved Sophie the Giraffe teething toy. Jessica Hargrove, a pediatric dentist and mother of two energetic toddlers, shared her alarming discovery with Good Housekeeping after catching a whiff of a musty odor coming from her child’s toy. “Out of sheer curiosity, I decided to cut into Sophie and found a science experiment thriving inside,” she reveals. “Smelly, disgusting mold in my baby’s favorite chew toy!” Despite following the care instructions—wiping it down with hot, soapy water and avoiding submersion—mold still took residence. Understandably, this devastated her; she confessed, “It breaks my heart to think I let my babies chew on moldy toys for months. I won’t buy any chew toys with holes or recommend them to my patients anymore.”
Yikes! This is a tough pill to swallow for any parent, especially in the chaotic reality of raising little ones who seem to thrive on sleep deprivation. But let’s not overlook the fact that mold growing inside a toy that’s constantly in your baby’s mouth shouldn’t be a total shocker.
Amazon is filled with reviews echoing similar horror stories. One user, Emma Carter, warns, “Beware! If you have a drooling baby, moisture will seep into the hole and you’ll end up with mold! Ours was used for two years, and the inside is coated in black mold!” Another reviewer adds, “My grandson loved this giraffe, but when it started to smell foul, my son cut it open to find mold everywhere. It wasn’t even used as a bath toy, but we washed it to clean it.”
Got it—this is disgusting and alarming, but it should have been anticipated. And mold isn’t just an eyesore; according to the CDC, it can lead to health problems such as respiratory issues, itchy eyes, and skin reactions. Fortunately, keeping plastic toys with holes clean doesn’t have to be a daunting task.
Cleaning Methods to Keep Toys Mold-Free
Cleaning experts at The Maids offer these easy, baby-safe methods to keep bath and teething toys mold-free:
- Vinegar Soak: Mix 1 gallon of water with ½ cup of white vinegar and soak the toys for about an hour. Scrub them once the mold loosens, rinse, and let dry. If they still smell like vinegar, simply rinse again and dry before returning them to the toy box.
- Dishwasher: Running bath toys through the dishwasher sanitizes them and eliminates any mold or gunk lurking inside and out. It’s a straightforward solution that really works!
- Boiling Water: Boil the toys in water, using tongs to squeeze out any nastiness from the insides. Allow them to cool and dry thoroughly afterward.
So, don’t blame Sophie for getting moldy. She just needs a good scrub, like any other plastic or rubber toy that your baby loves to chew on.
For more insights into parenting and related topics, check out our other blog posts on home insemination kits and learn more about the process at Make a Mom.
Summary
Discovering mold inside your baby’s teething toys like Sophie the Giraffe can be shocking, but it’s crucial to understand that babies drool and moisture leads to mold growth. Cleaning methods like vinegar soaks, using the dishwasher, or boiling water can help keep these toys safe for your little ones.