Remember that episode in House where germ-laden stuffed toys were the cause of a series of baby sickness in the hospital?Beware of the dangers of being cute.
But, fret not.
It's still OK to buy your favorite cuddly teddy bear or cutest stuffed penguin and be safe from harm.
1.
Don't just go after looks.
It may look the most adorable thing in the whole wide world, but don't just buy a stuffed toy because you like the way it'd look in your baby's arms or in your baby's room.
2.
Inspect the toy, particularly the seams, the eyes, nose, and any other attached parts.
Gently tug the parts to see if they will come off easily.
Remember, babies and kids are notorious tuggers and pullers.
A poorly-sewn stuffed toy might easily come apart.
Think of all that stuffing scattered all over the floor should that happen.
Not cute at all.
3.
Check for wires.
Yes, some toys have wires in them to help the parts keep their shape, such as ears or tails.
Wires like these can poke out of their casing and pose danger to your baby and kids.
So it's probably a good idea to just stick with the pure stuffed toys, with no wires at all.
4.
Make sure it is washable, whether hand-wash or machine-wash.
The thick fur and down of stuffed toys are a veritable breeding ground for bacteria and germs, even those nasty dust mites.
Not to mention dried baby drool.
Everytime toddlers picks up their favorite stuffed animal, they're actually exposing themselves to a host of germs and microbes.
Which is why you'll want to buy a stuffed toy you can safely handwash, or better yet, just toss in the washing machine.
Some stuffed animals however are surface-wash-only, while others have electronics embedded in them, so check the manufacturer's warnings and recommendations on how to clean the stuffed toy.
How do you safely wash your kid's stuffed toy? 1.
Place the toy inside an old pillowcase and knot it tightly.
2.
Wash on gentlest cycle.
3.
Rinse twice.
4.
On the final rinse, you might like to add a cup of vinegar,to effectively get rid of all soap residue (Don't worry, it won't smell funny when it dries).
5.
Air-dry, or much better, dry under the sun.
6.
Use a gentle brush to restore the fluff.
Lastly, whatever you do, never buy used and pre-owned stuffed toys.
It may be a rare vintage Smurfs stuffed toy, or limited edition Raggedy Ann, or the last existing Dora the Explorer doll on earth, but resist the temptation.
Even if it's still in good condition, you have no idea where it previously came from or what it's been through.
At the end of the day, foryour child's safety, your best bet is to just buy a brand-new stuffed animal your child can create fresh lasting memories with.