My first question is: Should I wait to pack or not? We are moving in about 3 weeks. I was thinking I could pack the majority of my child's toys, blocks, and books. Just leave a box full and his big toys out for now. What do you think?
My second question is: Should I toss or save? My son's favorite bath time toys are kinda yucky inside. They are rubber dinos, kinda like the duckies. I have looked for these things everywhere unsuccessful. Is there a way to clean them or should I just toss? I don't really think he will be traumatized if I throw them away as long as I replace them with new toys? What do you think?
start packing last week!! You will be glad you did, and toss as much away as you can that you don't really need. Seriously, if they are yucky get rid of them. He will find something new to enjoy in its place.
Yes, start packing now. The more organized you are sooner, the better off you'll be on moving day.
On to your second question ... there was a news segment done on the Today Show about a year ago on bath toys -- OMG! I forwarded it to all my friends and family at the time it was sooo disgusting.
They cut open bath toys and tested what was in there:
"During tests Dr. Tierno conducted, bath toys were discovered to harbor fecal contaminants, such as E. coli and streptococcus, as well as staph aureus and other germs and viruses. They thrive in the warm, moist atmosphere of the bathtub, and since most toys are left there even when bathtime’s done, they never get a chance to dry completely, thereby allowing bacteria to multiply unchecked. When kids play with the toys, putting them in or near their mouths and using them to squirt water onto each other, those bacteria can quickly spread.
http://blog.al.com/bargain-mom/2010/03/the_today_shows_se...
Think poop soup!
Yes!
and
Soak them in a bucket of laundry soap and bleach. Suck up some water in them, shake and squeeze...repeat a zillion times...they will get clean! I've done this MANY times (can you tell?)! LOL
Updated
Yes!
and
Soak them in a bucket of laundry soap and bleach. Suck up some water in them, shake and squeeze...repeat a zillion times...they will get clean! I've done this MANY times (can you tell?)! LOL
I would start packing anything that you dont need now. The more you pack now, the less you will have to later, which equals less stress! :)
The toys, you could try to boil and bleach them if he really loves them, if that doesnt work then toss them and then find something similar, or something that he will love just as much.
#1 - pack as much as you can now!!
#2 - toss!
1. Pack as much as you possibly can as early as possible. Three weeks will pass very quickly. Yes, just leave one box of toys out for now. Once you move, the toys that have been packed up will seem like new to the kids.
2. toss
1. i would pack as much as you can, as soon as you can.
2.fill a sinkful of bleach and water and then soak the toys. squeeze them and let the mixture get in them. once you've done that and squirted it out, drain the water, and put in fresh water. do the same thing. then air dry.
Pack now! All but the essentials. And throw away as much as possible! It will make things much easier on you in the long run. Your child will not be as traumatized as you think by the clearing out of toys that ultimately aren't that special. I had a veteran mom help us pack last year when we moved. She tried to convince me to chuck more of the old toys. Silly me, did I listen? No, I even went back and dug things out of the trash. In retrospect, I wish I had listened to her then. I've thrown many of those same items away in the last week and wondered many times over, "Why did I keep this thing? WHY??"
1) Yes pack already. It takes a ton of time.
2) Toss yucky icky toys. Or clean it before boxing it so it does not mildew while in the box. And make sure all the water/moisture is out of it and dry it completely before boxing it.
Try cleaning them in the dishwasher. Not on super hot though.
I would KEEP his few favorite toys. BECAUSE, a move will usually tweak a child... and they NEED some remembered toys/favorite toys, in order to provide continuity for them and stability and so they feel 'safe' and comfy.
Save his favorite toys.
That is what I would do.
So he does not get stresses/traumatized by the move.
1. Yes, I would pack everything that you possibly can right now. There is nothing worse than trying to get moved and still having half of your house to pack. Ugh! Moving is such a headache...
2. I would personally buy new bath toys. Once they get covered in moldy funk, it's just not worth the hassle.
Good luck!
toss the bath toys....he won't be traumatized as he will get new ones and who knows! They may be better!!
keep a box of toys that he can play with...when you move - take the toys and "recycle" them...hold some back and then when he appears to be getting bored with the old ones - put those in a box and bring out the other ones!!!
1) Yes, wait to pack. Digging through boxes for the next three weeks will drive you mad. And as much as you think you won't be digging.....you will.
2) Toss the toys and buy new. The time you spend washing (probably unsuccessfully) you could just run to target and purchase new. He is probably do for an upgrade anyway! It sounds like a fun excuse to go spend $20 at Target!
warm soapy water with bleach, make sure the water gets inside the toys so the bleach kills all bacteria.. leave overnight, shake the water inside and drain each toy. Let the toys dry outside in the sunlight for a day make sure you squish all the water out before leaving it out.
(If the mold still stays in the toys after bleaching, toss it.) that's how you will know weather to take or toss.
good luck
Pack now.. little by little, you will be glad you did.
I don't know but it seems like it might be easier to pack all but the toys/books and save them for the very last minute. Or maybe pack all but a few of them so that your son can still have some things to keep him occupied over the next couple weeks.
We also have bath toys that get yucky inside. I just got a bowl of hot water, added a little bleach, and filled up the toys with the bleach water. It helped for awhile but I got tired of doing it over and over. If they are relatively inexpensive, it may not be worth the hassle.
