When your baby drops her pacifier, your first thought may be to apply the five-second rule or to give it a bit of a cleaning by rinsing it off in your mouth. Unfortunately, these methods come nowhere close to actually sterilizing the pacifier to kill germs. Doing that requires a bit more effort. While Parenting magazine suggests that it’s not necessary to keep your baby’s pacifier sterilized under normal circumstances, you will want to sterilize if your baby has developed an illness like thrush. Some pacifiers come with a sterilizing cap, but you can also sterilize at home.
Boiling Method
Step 1
Fill the pot with water. Set it on the stove to boil.
Step 2
Place the pacifier in the boiling water.
Step 3
Set a timer for 10 minutes.
Step 4
Remove the pacifier with tongs.
Step 5
Allow the pacifier to cool. After you remove it from the boiling water, it will be much too hot to give to your baby. Allow it to cool completely.
Sanitizing Cover Method
Step 1
Add water to the sterilizing cap. You’ll see a “fill line.” Do not exceed this amount.
Step 2
Place the pacifier into the water in the cap. The cap will snap on.
Step 3
Microwave on “High” for two minutes.
Step 4
Allow it to cool before you give the pacifier back to your baby.
Warnings
- Do not use hand sanitizer to sanitize your baby’s pacifier.
Photo Credit
- pacifier image by Jane September from Fotolia.com
