How to clean your baby's pacifiers
We often receive questions from parents who are unsure how to properly clean pacifiers. There are countless suggestions—some more reliable than others—on how and how often to clean pacifiers, so it's completely understandable if you're feeling confused.
In this blog post, we’ll walk you through how to clean pacifiers correctly, how often they should be cleaned, and debunk a few persistent myths about pacifier cleaning.
Important: Many parents report accidentally ruining pacifiers by boiling them in a pot. Pacifiers must NOT be boiled. They are not designed to withstand boiling temperatures and may become damaged. Instead, follow the method above to ensure bacteria are eliminated without compromising the pacifier's durability.
Tip: For children over 3 months, you can sterilize pacifiers by placing them in a sieve and pouring boiling water over them. This method is faster and prevents water from accumulating inside the pacifier.
How Often Should I Clean My Baby’s Pacifiers?
Maintaining good pacifier hygiene involves regular cleaning. The younger the baby, the more crucial it is to protect them from bacteria and maintain proper hygiene. This is because a newborn’s immune system hasn’t yet been exposed to many bacteria and hasn’t developed the ability to fight them off.
Preemies, newborns, and babies up to 3 months old are more vulnerable to bacteria than older infants, so their pacifiers need more frequent cleaning. Preemies, Newborns, and Babies up to 3 Months: Sterilize pacifiers every time they fall on the floor and at least once daily.
Babies Over 3 Months: Sterilize pacifiers once daily and rinse them under cold water if they fall on the floor.
In this blog post, we’ll walk you through how to clean pacifiers correctly, how often they should be cleaned, and debunk a few persistent myths about pacifier cleaning.
How to Sterilize Pacifiers
- Follow these five simple steps to sterilize pacifiers:
- Place the pacifiers in a clean bowl
- Pour boiling water over them
- Let the pacifiers sit for about 5 minutes
- Remove them and let them air-dry
Important: Many parents report accidentally ruining pacifiers by boiling them in a pot. Pacifiers must NOT be boiled. They are not designed to withstand boiling temperatures and may become damaged. Instead, follow the method above to ensure bacteria are eliminated without compromising the pacifier's durability.
Tip: For children over 3 months, you can sterilize pacifiers by placing them in a sieve and pouring boiling water over them. This method is faster and prevents water from accumulating inside the pacifier.
How Often Should I Clean My Baby’s Pacifiers?
Maintaining good pacifier hygiene involves regular cleaning. The younger the baby, the more crucial it is to protect them from bacteria and maintain proper hygiene. This is because a newborn’s immune system hasn’t yet been exposed to many bacteria and hasn’t developed the ability to fight them off.
Preemies, newborns, and babies up to 3 months old are more vulnerable to bacteria than older infants, so their pacifiers need more frequent cleaning. Preemies, Newborns, and Babies up to 3 Months: Sterilize pacifiers every time they fall on the floor and at least once daily.
Babies Over 3 Months: Sterilize pacifiers once daily and rinse them under cold water if they fall on the floor.