A soft toy may spread swine flu virus if it cannot be
adequately sanitized. (credit: scol22, sxc.hu)

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Chicago parents concerned about protecting their children from exposure to swine flu virus can follow certain toy safety steps and recommendations for good hygiene when kids are playing with shared toys to reduce the chance that their sons and daughters will come in contact with H1N1 germs.

Following find advice and recommendations relating to swine flu H1N1, toy safety and hygiene, and how to stop the spread of swine flu through toys.

Avoid touching toys that come into contact with mouths

In general, people are warned not to share dishes, glasses, and utensils to avoid the spread of droplets of H1N1 flu virus from other people's mouths.

In the same way, children should also not share any toys that tend to come in contact with other kids' mouths or saliva, such as teethers that have been in babies' mouths or any baby or toddler toy played with by young kids that have been chewing on their fingers and coating the surface of the toys with saliva.

Wind instruments or other toys that are placed in or near older kids' mouths should also not be shared to prevent the spread of swine flu germs.

Avoid shared toys that cannot be disinfected

The guidelines released by the Department for Children School and Families in the UK discourage students from sharing crayons, pencils, and pens, which can be difficult or impossible to adequately clean and disinfect. If children are sharing and passing around toys like musical instruments, the DCFS recommends wiping and cleaning hands after each use and discourages children from sharing any wind instruments at all.

Clean and disinfect hard toys like plastic cups
often to prevent the spread of Influenza A virus
H1N1 between kids. (credit: Celia Enders)

Soft toys (like stuffed animals and teddy bears) can be difficult or impossible to disinfect, so many nurseries and schools are being advised to remove those items from general play. Presumably dress-up costumes are okay as long as they are regularly laundered.

Clean and disinfect all toys often

Hard toys that can be scrubbed clean with hot water and soap or disinfectants should be cleaned regularly between uses. Cloth toys that can be put through washing machines should be laundered often.

Practice good toy hygiene

Parents and teachers can also encourage children to follow good hygiene when sharing toys. Children should wash or sanitize hands before and after playing with toys, should not sneeze or cough on shared toys or on their hands during playtime, and should not touch their eyes, nose, and mouth while sharing toys.

Find out more about toys and resources to help parents talk to kids about swine flu.