Parents warned about the dangers of hidden mould in children’s lunch boxes, bottles
How often do you give your kids’ lunch boxes, drink bottles and toys a good scrub? A Bundoora pediatrician’s disturbing new poll reveals mums and dads are finding mould in all kinds of kiddie equipment — including spots you may never think to check.
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A Bundoora paediatrician is urging parents to regularly inspect children’s lunch boxes, drink bottles and toys for hidden mould.
It comes after 87 parents out of 104 who voted in Dr Luke Sammartino’s poll noticed mould in their children’s everyday products.
Dr Sammartino said parents had identified mould in baby bath toys, teethers with air hole openings, sippy cup straws, insulated drink bottle attachments and lunch boxes with removable compartments.
“It can be very unnerving for a parent to discover mould in an everyday item that their child plays with or drinks from and, understandably, they may begin to worry,” he said.
“Mould requires certain conditions to exist, including moisture and warmth, and everyday items can become a breeding ground for mould to grow if water becomes trapped in things like lids, valves and drinking straws.
“It pays to be vigilant as a precautionary measure.”
Dr Sammartino said while not all mould was harmful, it was not an ideal scenario.
“Children who have a weak immune system or those who are sensitive or allergic to mould may experience symptoms such as nasal congestion, coughing or wheezing as a result of exposure,” he said.
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The Bundoora mother of three and author of parenting book Mama and the Doc Maria Ligerakis said she planned to regularly inspect her children’s everyday items.
“Parents strive to do the best they can for their children and there’s nothing worse than feeling panicked, worried or unsure when it comes to the health of your child,” she said.
“In addition to following the washing and care instructions on products, parents should check items such as toys, teethers and sippy cup straws regularly and replace them as required or source spare parts if they are available — This is so important for peace of mind.”
HOW TO PREVENT MOULD
1. Rinse your child’s cup after each use and allow time to thoroughly air dry.
2. In the case of sippy cups, disassemble and wash each part separately.
3. Use a bottle cleaning brush.
4. Use hot, soapy water to soak bottle parts.
5. Inspect bath toys regularly as mould can squirt out when the toy is squeezed.
6. If using lunch boxes with removable compartments, wash each part separately and allow time to thoroughly air dry.
7. Check teethers for air holes (designs that squeak typically have these) as mould can grow inside.
8. Be aware that some teethers and baby accessories are not designed to withstand heat (in this case, wiping with a damp cloth may appear on the care instructions).
9. Replace bath toys and baby items with air hole openings regularly.
10. Check if spare parts (including any straws, valves and attachments) are available.