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Home › Articles › Toddler Health › Stuffed Animal Safety

Stuffed Animal Safety

What Teddy Isn't Telling You

By Renee Roberson

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Teddy Is Kind of Alive
No one wants to imagine their child's cute and cuddly teddy bear crawling with germs. But the reality is that germs that cause the cold and flu often take up residence on children's beloved stuffed toys, especially when the toy is lugged around public places and school settings.

Experts such as Stanley Fineman, an allergist at the Asthma Allergy and Asthma Clinic, recommends washing stuffed toys at least once a week in hot (130 degrees Fahrenheit) water, especially during cold and flu season.

"Usually stuffed animals made of acrylic fur and 100 percent polyester stuffing, like those made for infants, are machine washable," says Sarah Kirby, associate professor of Housing and House Furnishings at NC State University.

Drawing from her own experience, Wood now recommends that when parents purchase a stuffed animal for their child, they should look for a high-quality one that can be put in a washing machine on a regular basis.

"I cannot count how many times 'B' has been thrown in the washing machine and been washed and dried," Wood says. She even sprays him with fabric refresher sometimes to give him a fresh smell.

To machine wash, Kirby advises parents to pre-treat siled spots and check the toys for split seams first. Then place them inside a mesh bag and add two or three towels or other soft washables to balance the load. If the animals are yellowed badly, you can add an enzyme cleaner to the detergent and water. Set the machine on the delicate or gentle cycle and set the toys in the sun to air dry.


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