We contacted the American Academy of Pediatrics to find out whether disinfecting and sanitizing toys is really necessary. While the organization does not have an official policy on cleaning, disinfecting, and sanitizing kids’ toys at home, Danette Swanson Glassy, MD, FAAP, told us that unless someone sick with fever or diarrhea touches your children’s toys, “at home, cleaning is enough.” She then said, “As needed, and once per week is reasonable advice, but there is no evidence (no studies done) that show this is necessary.”
Shanina Knighton, PhD, research associate professor at Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing at Case Western University in Cleveland, recommends disinfecting or sanitizing toys if children or visitors to the home have been sick, if toys have come into contact with food or sticky hands, after toys have been used outside or on the floor (especially if you wear shoes indoors), and if toys are shared between several kids at home. “Doing timeouts to wash hands before, during, and after toy play can help cut down on germs and the need for cleaning them frequently,” she says.
When you do need to disinfect or sanitize your children’s toys, make sure that the cleaning products you use are on the EPA’s list of registered disinfectants. Look for the EPA registration number on product labels to confirm that they are registered and allow products to sit on toys for the recommended amount of time (this varies by product; you’ll find this information on the label) before rinsing with clean water and wiping dry.
