Mold in bath toys

Strunella

Despite the fact that DH told me that the mystery black gunk I was seeing come out of the bath toys was mold, I didn't look it up until just now.  Ugh.  Seems like some recommendations are to bleach the toys and some are to throw them right out.  I always squirt out the water after bath time, but I guess it doesn't matter.  Blech!  Now what? 

DS also loves to play with his stacking cups in the bath, except now he is using them to drink the bath water.  Blech!  So I don't let him have them anymore.

He has a plastic fish bath book, but then I read babies shouldn't put these in their mouths.  Buh-bye fish book.

So what's left?  What are safe bath toys?

Amberry10

Blech is right! All I do is buy cheap bath toys then toss them when I start seeing the mold and replace them with more cheap bath toys. I'm interested to see if anyone has another suggestion. I guess I can bleach them, but know that the mold was in there give me the heebie jeebies.

jillybean800

I know that I recently saw some bath toys advertised that were without holes so that water couldn't get in...maybe it was in the one step ahead catalog?

lulu8109

Yeah, we had some squirting bath toys similar to these and I noticed a little dark stuff at the openings, so we tossed them.  Then I started reading Amazon reviews and saw a lot of complaints about mold.  DS really liked them, so we've kept the ones that we didn't use at bath time.  He likes to play with them while I change his diaper.

For baths, he has these caterpillar stacking cups that have little drains in every cup.  We just tip them over at the end of bath time, so all the water drains out and we don't have to worry about mold.

jarebearsmom

He's been using the toys with holes but now that I've read this I guess we'll be getting rid of those. He has NO bath toys that doesn't have holes so idk what we'll do

OhSewCrafty

We do have some regular bath toys, but we mostly use - get this - washed out plastic food containers. Ketchup/mustard bottles squirt water, yogurt ups pour water, parmesan cheese container has the big pour spout and then the little hole spout, etc. That way, they're given a second life and if they get gross, I can just recycle them.

watermellens

OhSewCrafty:

We do have some regular bath toys, but we mostly use - get this - washed out plastic food containers. Ketchup/mustard bottles squirt water, yogurt ups pour water, parmesan cheese container has the big pour spout and then the little hole spout, etc. That way, they're given a second life and if they get gross, I can just recycle them.

awesome idea!

lrn327

We have those caterpillar cups too which are good.  C also has the Boon Splat toy and a couple Boon ducks which don't have holes.  They were a tiny bit more expensive but never, ever scum up and he plays with just those few happily every single bath.  He adores the Splat toy.  They have a few other ones including this new bubble beads that I might get him.  I figure I actually save money because I haven't had to throw anything out yet b/c of scum.  He also has the two Sandra Boynton bath books that he loves.  

Strunella

Thanks for the ideas! I'll definitely try some of those toys...and start eating a lot of ketchup so we can have some empty bottles!

ChristineRich06

My 3 year old had an Ariel doll that she played with in the tub. I threw her in the mesh thing to dry & we didn't play with her for a few weeks. DD took her out and she was all slimy and gross. It freaked me out. I sprayed her with bleach and washed her but I can't make myself give it back to DD. She may have to go in the trash.