Toys? Wash Or Buy New?

[Sw33th34rt4my]

Here is my dilema.  Myself and my 2 daughter who live with their father have Celiac.  My husband and step-daughter (who is 3 and only with us on the weekend) are not gluten free.  We then added a little boy to our mixed family in late December.  I have all my step-daughters baby toys like her stacking rings and other plastic things like Mega Bloscks.  I'm going to be keeping my son gluten free until I feel he is old enough to try.  Now, I know my step-daughter did not wash her hands after eating when she was younger before she played with her toys.  Will washing all these plastic toys in bleach and or soapy water be good enough to prevent cross contamination to him and myself or will I need to replace all the toys?

Thanks for the help!

[nvsmom]

Washing toys is usually fine. Just soap and water -throw them all in the bath tub  and wash them up. 

 

I would check the bottoms of toy boxes too.  You know how Cheerios and fish crackers like to gather in spots like those.  LOL

[kareng]

I would just wash them, too. Good idea about the bottom of the toy box or bins.

[africanqueen99]

Sorry - just clarifying a different point.  You and two of three kids have celiac and you all live with your husband.  His daughter visits on weekends.  Husband and step-kid eat gluten at home.  Right??

 

I would have a very difficult time with gluten eaters in my house/car.  Mostly because I know how dirty kids can be.  Like the toy box/Goldfish scenario.  Kids just drop food and others will pick it up.  The toy issue wouldn't have even hit my radar when I think about all the rest of it.

 

In my family of five we have two with celiac and one nursing a celiac.  So majority rules that it's gluten free.  BUT, even when we thought only the youngest had it my husband and I decided there would be no gluten in the house/car and that I would only cook/serve things that every member of my house could eat.  I hear on here (and with friends) about having family-member specific cooking utencils and toasters and all that - lord, that would be a ton of work for me when I'm just trying to get food on table.  My motto is to make my life easier!!

 

So, back to the toys.  A good washing should be good.  And clean the toy box.  Oh, and the car - cheerios seem to multiply under car seats!

[Sw33th34rt4my]

Thank you for the replies.  My two daughters that have Celiac live with my ex and I am now remarried.  We don't have a lot of gluten in the house but sometimes my husband and step-daughter want bead or pasta.  She never leaves the table with it and food is never in out car.  That makes things a little easier.  I know before we were married and livining together my step-daughter didn't always wash her hands after she was done eating though.  As for the toaster.  We still have that too.  I don't have bread or anything toasted for myself so we don't need two. Right now I'm the only gluten free eatter in the house.  If it becomes more of an issue later on we will have a totally gluten free kitchen.  Thanks again for your help!