Keeping things sanitary when you have a young child can seem next to impossible. Items are always ending up on the floor, while there’s always a huge pile of laundry or dishes waiting for you. Especially if you’re out and about, sterilizing your child’s toy or pacifier after it gets dirty can be a huge hassle – especially if your baby or toddler is inconsolable without it.
But that’s why many people are drawn to the idea of a nursery sterilizer. With the push of a button, you can sterilize a wide range of items like toys, pacifiers, and stuffed animals using UV light.
Deciding If A Sterilizer Is Worth It
There is a wide range of sterilizers on the market. Some are specifically made for toys and larger items, whereas some are designed for bottles or pumping equipment. There are also portable sterilizers that are small enough to fit in a diaper bag and can clean pacifiers in a pinch.
With so many baby products on the market, you may wonder whether a sterilizer is worth the investment. Below, we take a look at the pros and cons to help you make the right decision for your family.
Consider the following advantages and drawbacks of sterilizers to decide if it would benefit you.
Pros Of Using A Nursery Sterilizer
Pro: sterilization in minutes
One of the biggest advantages is how quickly sterilizers can clean your child’s items. This is especially handy in cases where your baby or toddler is becoming fussy because they can’t have a soiled toy or pacifier.
Pro: convenient for on-the-go
It’s extra challenging to clean a baby item when you’re on the go and don’t have access to a sink or supplies. But a sterilizer can solve this problem if you go for a portable model. Just remember, portable varieties will be small and only able to hold a select few items (like pacifiers or small toys).
Pro: neutralizes odors
Most sterilizers don’t just kill germs but can help neutralize odors. Your child’s stuffed animal may be a bit musty after so much love but sticking it in a sterilizer can do as much good as throwing it in the laundry – without messing up the texture of its fur.
Pro: peace of mind
As a parent, the last thing you want to do is give something to your child that would make them sick. Even if you’ve wiped their soother off after it falls to the ground, you may feel concerned about giving it back to your baby without an effective clean.
Sterilizers can offer parents peace of mind by knowing the item in question is thoroughly cleaned. Many sterilizers promise to eliminate up to 99% of all household germs.
Cons Of Getting A Nursery Sterilizer
Con: an additional cost
There’s a wide price range for sterilizers – Smaller ones can be anywhere between $ 30- $ 50, while it’s easy to spend over $ 100 on a larger model. Babies are expensive – some families spend $ 10,000 on baby items in their child’s first year. If you’re going to buy a sterilizer, it’s just adding another expense to your budget.
Con: there are other sterilization options
Another thing to remember is that there are other ways to sterilize your child’s items, like running them through the dishwasher or laundry machine. These may not be as convenient, but before you buy a sterilizer, evaluate all the ways you can already clean baby items to see if it’s really worth the investment.
Whether a sterilizer will be beneficial to your family depends on your needs. The only person who can decide if it’s worth it is you, so keep these pros and cons in mind and go with your gut.
Sources: Global News, Bigamart, Munchkin, Good Housekeeping,
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