New parents are flooded with advice about what to clean, how often, and with what products.
Some routines truly protect your baby’s health, while others add stress without real benefit.
We sat down with Dr. Melissa Han, a pediatrician who specialises in newborn care, to answer the most common cleaning questions parents ask — and to separate the routines that matter from the ones you can let go.
1. “How clean does my home really need to be?”
Dr. Han:
Not spotless — just consistent.
Your baby’s environment doesn’t need to be sterile. In fact, normal household microbes are part of building a healthy immune system.
Focus on the areas your baby touches:
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feeding tools
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changing surfaces
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floors where they crawl
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your hands before feeds
Everything else can follow your usual home-cleaning rhythm.
“Healthy babies don’t need a hospital-level home. They need a predictable, safe routine.”
2. “How often should I clean bottles and pump parts?”
Dr. Han:
Wash after every use. Sterilise at least once daily — more if your baby is under 3 months or born premature.
Milk residue is the real issue; it grows bacteria quickly, especially in warm climates.
A simple cycle works best:
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Rinse
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Wash with mild cleanser
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Rinse
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Air dry
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Sterilise
No shortcuts — but it doesn’t need to be complicated.
3. “Do I need to wipe toys every day?”
Dr. Han:
No.
Unless your baby is sick or a toy falls on a dirty floor, a daily wipe-down isn’t necessary.
Instead:
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clean drool-covered toys every 2–3 days
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deep-clean toys weekly
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sterilise teething toys if your baby is under 6 months
Soft toys can go in a laundry bag and be washed with mild detergent.
4. “Is it safe to use regular household cleaners?”
Dr. Han:
For high-contact baby areas? Not always.
Conventional cleaners often contain strong fragrances, ammonia, or bleach — effective but harsh on sensitive skin and lungs.
Choose:
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plant-based cleaning tablets or mild cleansers
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fragrance-free formulas
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products tested for baby-safe use
Keep heavy-duty cleaners for non-baby areas only.
5. “How should I clean my baby’s high chair?”
Dr. Han:
High chairs gather food, saliva, and bacteria.
Wipe them after every meal with a mild cleanser or water-soaked cotton wipe.
Do a deeper clean weekly — remove the straps, tray, and seat insert, then wash and air-dry.
Air drying is key; moisture invites bacteria.
6. “What about pacifiers and teethers?”
Dr. Han:
Sterilise pacifiers daily for newborns and wash with warm water and mild cleanser once your baby is older.
For silicone teethers:
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wash after every use
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sterilise a few times per week
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store in a clean, breathable container
Avoid using your mouth to “clean” a pacifier — it introduces adult bacteria.
7. “Is hand hygiene really that important?”
Dr. Han:
It matters more than anything else on this list.
Most germs that reach babies come from caregivers’ hands, not surfaces.
Wash hands:
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before feeding
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after diaper changes
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after touching pets
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after returning home
If water isn’t available, use baby-safe hand gel — but wash when you can.
8. “What routines actually make the biggest difference?”
Dr. Han’s Essentials:
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Clean feeding tools thoroughly
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Sterilise daily
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Air dry (never towel-dry)
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Maintain clean hands
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Keep high-contact surfaces simple and tidy
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Don’t stress about perfection
“Consistency protects better than intensity,” she says. “Do the right things every day, not everything all at once.”
The Takeaway
The world doesn’t have to be spotless — just thoughtfully cared for.
With a few science-backed habits, you can keep your baby safe without overwhelming your days or your mind.
Clean tools, clean hands, a clean rhythm — that’s what really matters.
Related:
Explore Cleaning Tablets, Sterilising Pouches, and Pure Cotton Dry Wipes for a gentle, pediatrician-approved hygiene routine.