Teddy Bear Bath Time!!!

If your kids are like mine, you may feel, sometimes, that the stuffed animal zoo has taken over your entire home.  If you feel this way, well, it's probably true.

But stuffed animals (and baby dolls) can be great, healthy toys for children.....girls AND boys.  I was told by a co-worker at a previous job that little boys who had stuffed animals would grow up to be gay.  To that guy: you are an idiot.  If a little boy is going to grow up to be a gay man, I guarantee it has absolutely nothing whatsoever to do with whether or not he had stuffed animals as a child.  In the 70's there was "Free to Be You & Me" starring people such as Marlo Thomas ("That Girl") and Alan Alda ("M*A*S*H") and others.  One of the songs I like best from the show is William's Doll (watch newer version here) about a little boy who wants a doll.  His friends tease him saying "A doll, a doll, William wants a doll!"  His father is against the idea and tried to persuade his to like "boy" things like baseball.  In the end, William's grandmother is the wise one who knows that having a doll can set him on the road to learning how to be a good daddy when he grows up.  It's a good story, and a good lesson for parents of boys.



Kaleb has LOTS of stuffed animals, and a couple of dolls.  These, along with his books, are the toys he plays with the most.  He prefers books and stuffed animals to his cars, toy tools, and everything else.  Do I worry?  Of course not.  He hugs the animals and kisses them.  He wants me to hug and kiss them too.  Sometimes he lays them on the floor and covers them with blankets.  He often will sit on the floor and "read" books to them.  Playing with these dolls and stuffed animals is teaching him compassion, which is a lesson far too few people learn anymore at any age.

Of course, playing with these toys all the time gets them dirty.  And so, while Kaleb is at daycare today, all the stuffed animals and dolls are getting a bath.  I thought that my parent-friends might like some info on cleaning stuffed animals, since obviously they aren't all able to go through the washing machine.  The following is the best way to clean stuffed animals that are not machine washable.  However, this CANNOT be used on any that have batteries or voiceboxes (animals that talk or light up or move on their own) as the heat can corrode or explode the batteries in these devices.  For all other stuffed animals and baby dolls:
1. Remove any clothes being worn by the toys.
2. Gather a laundry basket of animals and dolls and their clothing items.
3. Get a clean bath towel, and wet it thoroughly in the sink.
4. Wring out the towel just until it isn't dripping all over.  It should still be wet and heavy.
5. Fold the towel in half and lay it in the bottom of your clothes dryer.
6. Lightly FeBreeze each animal, doll, and clothing item on all sides.
7. Toss FeBreezed animals and clothes into the dryer on top of the wet towel.
8. Set the dryer to MEDIUM heat, and run long enough to completely dry the towel.
9. Animals, dolls, and their clothes will come out steam "cleaned" and smelling fresh.
10. The towel is still clean, and can go right back into your linen closet!

In addition to holding enough water to make steam, the towel will also pick up any pet hair that may be on the stuffed animals.  Rubbing against the terry-cloth towel fibers will "fluff" the animal's fur up, too!  Your stuffed animals and dolls will come out looking almost new, except for any stains (which are not removed through this process)!!

This "cleaning" method is also great for pillows, cushions, or blankets that your child plays with that might not be machine washable.  Additionally, it works for fabric books, diaper bags, purses, and throw pillows (like the ones you might have on your bed or couch).

To your children, these toys are not just toys.  They are loyal and cuddly friends who should be taken care of and loved.

My Raggedy Ann, now 24 years old, cuddling with Kaleb's Raggedy Andy.