If you are a new parent, you’re probably wondering how long to boil pacifiers. You can try several methods, including Microwave sterilization and the Spit-clean method. Read on to learn more about sterilizing pacifiers in the microwave and avoiding harmful bacteria by making your baby spit them clean! Also, don’t put honey or sugar on the pacifier!
Are you worried that your child’s pacifier is a germ magnet? We have the same worry. However, we have also encountered infants who relied solely on that contaminated binky for solace.
So what should a mother do? The various approaches to pacifier sterilization have been investigated, and the best ones have been tested and compared. We’re disclosing our findings so you can keep soothing your kid without being concerned that you could be endangering them.
Various Pacifier Cleaning Techniques
There are numerous approaches to cleaning a pacifier, but some are more effective than others. Let’s examine some of the approaches and their positive, negative, and ugly aspects.
Making a Mouthful of it
A mother may occasionally be seen bending down to pick up a pacifier that has fallen to the ground.
If there isn’t any nearby flowing water, they will clean it on their own. They’ll put it in their mouths and give it a tongue bath, demonstrating how much mothers will sacrifice for their children. Ingesting germs ourselves is preferable to allowing them to contact our infants’ lips.
While it might not seem like a good idea to wipe your child’s pacifier with your mouth, it might not be as horrible as you think.
The Method of Running Water
If you run a pacifier under a running faucet, you can eliminate surface debris but not the tenacious bacteria and germs attached. Additionally, pacifiers do indeed contain microorganisms. Infected pacifiers can even be brand new.
While having running water is preferable to having none at all, you shouldn’t take your Paci’s appearance for granted because it is clean.
The Method of Boiling Water
To destroy bacteria, many parents choose to boil their baby’s pacifiers for a short period. This is a great solution if you are confident that no dangerous substances will leak out of the pacifier during the heating process.
If you choose this method, wait until the pacifier has completely cooled before giving it to your child. It can take more time than you believe. Instead of pinching the nipple to feel how hot it is, try shaking any trapped water onto your wrist.
Microwave Sterilization
The nipples should be kept dry and clean regarding microwave sterilization of pacifiers. However, after sterilizing pacifiers, they should be kept in a covered dry container. If they are left in the microwave for a long time, the solution may cause the pacifier to become damaged or deteriorate. If you’re unsure about the process, read on to find out more.
Microwave sterilization of pacifiers is an easy and affordable method to kill bacteria and germs in these soft plastic products. It only takes a few minutes to sterilize a pacifier and eliminate the need for hand washing. You can sterilize a single pacifier or several. Just make sure to choose a pacifier that is microwave safe. If you’re unsure, read the label of your pacifier and choose the appropriate method.
Spit-Clean Method
One way to sanitize your baby’s pacifiers is to boil them. This process will kill bacteria and other harmful chemicals, but allow the pacifier to cool completely before giving it to your baby. Once cooled, you can shake the pacifier to remove any trapped water. This method is especially effective for more than three months old pacifiers.
While spit-cleaning your baby’s pacifiers can be a simple task, it is not recommended. Although some studies show that pacifiers may help reduce the risk of allergies, they may strengthen your baby’s immune system. After all, kids are already exposed to plenty of bacteria and germs on their own, so why add to that by washing pacifiers?
Another method for boiling pacifiers involves using saliva. If you are unwilling to use saliva, you can place the pacifier in a glass or Mason jar. Mason jars are clear, see-through containers. A plastic storage tub with dividers creates easy-to-access storage. A small plastic storage dresser is also a good option. This type of storage dresser is inexpensive and does not take up much space.
Avoiding Sugar and Honey in Pacifiers
There are numerous reasons to avoid giving your child a pacifier laced with honey and sugar. Honey contains a fungus called Clostridium botulinum, which can cause infant botulism. Botulism can lead to muscle weakness and difficulty breathing. Fortunately, most infants are not susceptible to botulism. It’s important to always keep sugar and honey out of your baby’s pacifier.
The American Dental Association and the Canadian Academy of Pediatric Dentistry strongly recommend limiting pacifiers to bedtime and comfort only. The pacifier habit must be broken before permanent teeth erupt, so it’s best to wean your child from it before this age. Thankfully, most children outgrow pacifier use by age three. You may find it easier to wean your child from the habit if you can wean them from it earlier.
A pacifier made of honey and sugar can cause dental problems for your child—bacteria in the mouth feed on sugar, which results in decay. The acids attack the tooth enamel, leading to childhood caries and pediatric tooth decay. Additionally, pacifiers can transfer bacteria to the middle ear, causing otitis media and worsening dental problems. Studies have shown that pacifiers used beyond the first year of life have a higher recurrence of ear infections.
Avoiding Making Pacifiers Out of Bottle Nipples
The first rule when introducing a pacifier to your baby is to wait until your baby is calm. A screaming or angry baby might reject it. Instead, wait until your baby has finished eating and is sleeping. A pacifier dipped in breast milk is usually safe. Also, don’t pin the pacifier to clothing or other items. You should also avoid using a pacifier with moving parts because they can crack the nipple and loosen over time.
Although it is possible to avoid making pacifiers out of bottle naps and other parts of your baby’s mouth, you should remember that your baby’s teeth will develop in time. The pacifier may cause the upper teeth to splay out and the lower teeth to fold in. The pacifier will also affect the shape of your child’s teeth, so make sure you choose a pacifier with air holes.
What will you Need to Clean your Baby Pacifier?
When it comes to cleaning the pacifier that your child uses, you won’t need very much specialized equipment, if any at all, regardless of whatever approach you go with.
The following are a few things you might want to consider while keeping on hand.
- Dish detergent
- Clean dish towel or a new sponge.
- Electric sterilizer.
- Sterilizer that uses in the microwave.
- Baggies are made of plastic.
How to Properly Clean and Sanitize your Infant’s Pacifier?
Cleaning and sterilizing your pacifiers completely doesn’t require a lot of thought, effort, or time.
What you need to do is as follows.
Your baby’s pacifiers must first be washed before being sterilized. Hot, soapy water should be added to a clean sink. Use a clean bowl in place of your kitchen sink if it hasn’t been cleaned. Since worn kitchen sponges are bacteria breeding grounds, use a freshly cleaned dishcloth or new one instead. You don’t want to take the chance of spreading more germs than you are eliminating.
Once the pacifiers are spotless, inspect them to ensure they’re still in good condition. Throw away any damaged parts as soon as you see any cracks, tears, or other damage.
After washing the pacifier, toss it if the nipple still feels sticky. This indicates that the material is no longer in good condition and should not be used for your baby’s teething toys. Heat the water to a rolling boil if you decide to boil a pacifier to clean it. Boil it for five minutes while adding the pacifier.
Follow the manufacturer’s directions if you’re using an electric sterilizer because the procedure varies depending on the model.
Should you Avoid Overheating the Pacifier?
Make sure to only place the pacifier on the top shelf of the dishwasher when sterilizing it that way. It can be too hot on the bottom rack.
However, ensure your pacifier’s brand is suitable for dishwasher washing before using it. The majority of pacifiers are dishwasher-safe, although latex pacifiers cannot be.
Let the pacifiers dry out before putting them away. They should dry rather rapidly by air. To move things along more quickly, grab them by the handle and shake off any extra water. Although it does require more time, some sterilizers offer a drying option that handles this process for you.
Instead of putting your pacifiers on a soiled kitchen counter, dry them on a clean dish towel.
Pacifiers should be stored until used to keep them clean between uses. They are portable and may be tucked into diaper or pocketbook bags. They should be kept in a plastic Ziploc bag.
Should you Sanitize your Pacifiers?
However, cleaning a pacifier doesn’t need to be difficult. According to Dr. Sherman, all it takes is a quick suds-up with hot water and dish soap. You don’t need to bother with special sanitizers or boil them.
Were they concerned with pacifier wipes that are already packaged? They might be useful in a pinch if you are far from a sink. Dr. Sherman observes that they most likely aren’t any more effective than regular soap and water. They are not required if you have access to a sink or soap and water at all times.
Conclusion
Pacifiers do contain microorganisms. Ingesting germs ourselves is preferable to allowing them to contact our infants’ lips. You can try several methods, including microwave sterilization and the spitting-clean method. Microwave sterilization of pacifiers is an easy and affordable method to kill bacteria and germs in these soft plastic products.
You can sterilize a single pacifier or several. If unsure, read the label on your pacifier and choose the appropriate method. A pacifier made of honey and sugar can cause dental problems for your child. Honey contains a fungus called Clostridium botulinum, which can cause infant botulism.
How to Properly Clean and Sanitize Your infant’s pacifier is easy and doesn’t require much effort or thought. The majority of pacifiers are dishwasher-safe, although latex pacifiers cannot be. The pacifier habit must be broken before permanent teeth erupt, so it’s best to wean your child from it before age three.
