Your baby’s binky is their best friend—but it can get dirty, fast. As a parent or caregiver, looking after your little one’s health and safety is a top priority. A pacifier can offer comfort to a crying baby, and even help them soothe themselves in unfamiliar or stressful situations. It’s important to keep your baby’s pacifiers clean—and it’s simpler than you may think. Want to learn how to clean pacifiers? We’ve got the ultimate guide!
How to Sterilize Pacifiers
Learning how to sterilize pacifiers may sound complicated, but don’t worry, you don’t need any fancy machines or harsh chemicals. A pot of boiling water will do the trick! Let the pacifier sit in boiling water for five minutes to sterilize it, killing any germs or bacteria. That’s right–sanitizing pacifiers is that easy! Do you have to sterilize pacifiers before every use? Not necessarily. You will want to sterilize your baby’s binky if your child has been sick, if someone else in your household has an illness, or if another child has used it—but it’s not necessary between every use!
How to Clean Pacifiers
On a more regular basis, you can clean pacifiers in the dishwasher. Dropps Unscented Dishwasher Detergent is safe for binkies and baby bottles without sacrificing cleaning power. Just one pod should do the trick! Be sure to place the pacifier on the top rack to prevent melting. No dishwasher, or need to do a quick clean? We have a few options for how to wash a pacifier by hand! You can dissolve a Dishwasher pod in a sink or bucket of warm water for handwashing, or use our Unscented Power Dish Spray to clean it. Be sure to rinse and dry thoroughly, and voila! Your baby’s binky is clean and safe to use.
How often should you clean pacifiers?
We recommend cleaning pacifiers regularly, including any time that it comes in contact with the floor, carseat, or any other less-than-clean surface. When in doubt, a daily cleaning should suffice, with a full sterilization at least once a month. If your child is going to daycare, you may want to sterilize the pacifier more often to prevent the spread of germs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you have more questions about how to clean pacifiers? We have answers!
Are You Supposed to Wash Pacifiers?
Yes, absolutely! While you don’t need to keep your baby in a bubble, babies and toddlers have weaker immune systems than adults, so regular cleaning of their items is a must. Washing your child’s pacifier will lessen their exposure to germs that can cause illness.
Do You Need To Sterilize Pacifiers?
While you do not need to sterilize pacifiers daily, sterilizing pacifiers should be a part of your weekly or monthly routine. It’s easy to do, and will completely eliminate all microorganisms on the binky. We recommend sanitizing new pacifiers before you give them to your baby to ensure any germs it came in contact with in manufacturing or a store are removed.