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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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"I don't even want to think about the hygiene implications of the grime," Haggerty says. "The nonstop abuse means Tedda has to go in the wash once a week and be bleached once a month. Jack deals with the loss stoically and has been known to temporarily transfer his affections to Panda. But Tedda will always be his first love," she says.

Dust Mites, Yikes
A dirty and ragged teddy bear may be the least of a parent's problems. If your child has a lot of stuffed animals in his or her bedroom and suffers from chronic sinus infections or asthma, dust mites could be the culprits.

According to Fineman, children's stuffed animals can harbor certain allergens, such as the dreaded dust mite. The American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI) lists dust mites as one of the top five most troublesome allergens.

Dust mites are microscopic creatures that live in bedding, mattresses, upholstered furniture and carpets. They prefer temperatures at or above 70 degrees, so the ACAAI recommends using air-conditioning in homes to keep humidity low to slow down dust mite growth during warm weather.

"Stuffed animals tend to collect dust and dust mites, so we recommend keeping oly a few stuffed animals in a child's room, preferably machine-washable ones," Fineman says.


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