Only cleaning your baby’s crib in the right way can protect them from dirt they have no defense against yet
Key Points:
- Babies are vulnerable to the unseen dangers that lurk in their cribs. With this expert’s insights, you can keep them safe, and sleeping sound
- Baby expert reveals how to keep your baby’s crib or cradle clean – and your baby healthy
- Using the right materials and avoiding toxic chemicals are key to cleansing your baby’s crib – but that’s not all
Maintaining a clean cradle is vital for your baby’s health and safety. Newborns have sensitive immune systems that make them susceptible to bacteria, allergens, and dust mites. Knowing how to keep your baby’s cot clean is therefore very important, but not all cradle cleaning materials and methods are 100% effective and safe.
“Babies are especially vulnerable to unsanitary conditions,’ says baby expert Annalisa Thomas, of Oilo Studio. “The kind of dirt we adults wouldn’t even notice can cause them to get very sick, developing dangerous allergies, respiratory issues, skin irritations, and eye infections. So it’s important to clean your baby’s crib or cradle in the right way.”
Below, Annalisa explains the right ways to go about cleaning your baby’s crib.
Expert-Approved Tips for Cleaning Cribs Safely
To clean your baby’s crib properly and keep them safe and healthy, Annalisa suggests the following procedures and materials:
Key steps:
- Strip the crib down: Firstly, remove the blanket, pillow, and sheets, the mattress protectors, and all the baby’s toys from the crib or cradle.
- Cleanse everything: Now wash everything in hot water very thoroughly. Use a baby-safe detergent. Make sure it’s baby-safe when you buy it.
“You can do this by hand or in your washing machine,” says Annalisa. “Just make sure you use a baby-safe detergent, or consider something organic if possible. Make sure that the water you wash and rinse them in is clean, too.”
- Vacuum: Vacuum clean the crib frame thoroughly with a powerful machine.
“Done properly, vacuuming will remove dust and bed ticks that could cause your baby to suffer serious problems such as allergies, and respiratory or lung infections.”
- Wipe the crib: Mix a little skin-friendly soap with warm water, then wipe down.
“Use a new, clean, and soft cloth dampened with skin-friendly soap, and wipe ALL surfaces of the crib. Make sure you get into the hard-to-reach places – it’s there that the dirt which can harm a baby lurks and builds up over time.”
- Air dry: Leave the crib or cot to air-dry entirely before putting all the previously-removed bedding and soft fabrics back on.
Points to remember:
- Non-toxic chemicals: Don’t use bleach, ammonia, or other astringent chemicals on a crib or cradle as these chemicals can harm your baby.
- Read the mattress cleaning instructions: Read and follow the cleaning instructions provided by the crib mattress manufacturer.
“If you don’t have these cleaning instructions anymore (perhaps the crib is second-hand), research online, or follow my cleaning tips to sanitize the mattress. If the mattress is more than five years old or used previously, renew it, if possible.”
- Spot clean: For persistent, localized stains, use a baby-safe stain remover.
“Spot clean like this before you do the all-over clean I’ve recommended.”
- Frequent cleaning: Clean baby’s crib regularly – every couple of months.
Baby expert Annalisa Thomas of Oilo Studio comments:
“While over-protecting your baby from normal levels of dirt can be seen as unhelpful, it’s incredibly important to protect them from things their growing immune systems can’t cope with. It’s things like that which can lurk unseen in their cribs. You won’t know the damage has been done until it’s too late and your baby has more serious problems such as with their skin, lungs, or eyes, or an allergy that could be with them for life.
“I stress the importance of regular cleaning and the use of non-toxic cleaning materials and methods. Don’t use scented cleaners – smelling good isn’t a surefire sign of efficacy. While cleanliness is crucial, over-sanitizing can affect a baby’s health negatively, too. So while having a clean crib or cradle to sleep in is very important, exposure elsewhere to a small amount of everyday dirt can help to make their immune systems stronger, ready for the big wide world beyond.”
About Oilo Studio
Oilo Studio is a luxury brand specializing in nursery furniture, bedding, and baby essentials. Known for its high-quality gliders, recliners, and organic cotton textiles, Oilo blends modern design with comfort to create products perfect for stylish nurseries. They also offer fine art prints and home design ideas, catering to customers who value both aesthetics and functionality. With a focus on eco-friendly materials, many of their items are crafted from organic cotton. Oilo Studio’s products are designed to elevate both the nursery and the home.
Article brought to us by Oilo Studio
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Glenda, Charlie David Cates
