Watch Out! There Could Be Accumulated Mould Hidden In Your Baby/Toddler’s Sippy Cup/Drinking Bottle

It’s really upsetting for any parent to find out mould has accumulated in a cup their child drinks from every day especially when they are as thorough as possible when cleaning.

Earlier last year, over three million Tommee Tippee cups (the type of the sippy cup in the image above and some other models) were recalled in the United States and Canada by the manufacturers for mould issues after a mum shared on Facebook a picture of a valve with black mould in it.

This was followed by numerous complaints from shocked parents who said their babies got sick as a result of drinking from their cups which they also discovered had mould coatings in the valve when forced open.

Image credit: Facebook/Penny Powell

I also bought one of these tommee tippee sippy cups for my baby, Tamtam (I especially like the cup because of its anti-spill valve). I was concerned that I couldn’t reach the valve’s interior when washing it, so I was always sniffing it after washing only to discover after a few uses that it was smelly even after cleaning it thoroughly. So I stopped using it long before I got a recall mail from the sellers. It was then I discovered that it was mould building an apartment in the valve of my baby’s cup, causing the lid to smell.

Free replacement were pledged  by the manufacturers after issuing a statement of apology, but only those who bought it from the manufacturers or their distributors will get a personal notification of its recall.

The white ‘valve’ included in the sippy cup is an anti-spill valve placed within the lid to prevent the liquid inside the cup from leaking. This particular one (see image below) can be removed from the cup but cannot be taken apart to clean the interior unless broken (just like the one Tamtam used), causing moisture to be trapped inside the valve thus becoming a breeding ground for moulds.

Pediatricians says mould cannot cause an actual illness especially if the child’s immune system is high but may cause nasal congestion or puffing in persons sensitive or allergic to mould.

Other baby items to watch out for aside sippy cups are;

Feeding bottles, drinking water bottles, pacifiers, teethers  (the ones with holes in them), bath toys and all other toys that are likely to come in contact with the mouth because these items also come in contact with bacteria on a daily basis and babies are prone to getting an infection.

To make sure your baby/toddlers cups and bottles are safe for use all the time; Here are some tips for buying and caring for baby’s feeding items (sippy cups, bath toys, teethers and feeding bottles).

When buying your baby’s sippy cups/drinking bottles, choose cups;

i.                    That can be disassembled completely for easy cleaning.

ii.                 With clear transparent valves and straws so as to identify moulds or dirt build up sooner.

Do not leave cups and bottles for a long period without cleaning.

Disassemble all parts of the cups completely and wash daily in hot soapy water, rinse thoroughly under running water and then in hot water, wipe clean or better still, allow to dry completely before use (especially bath toys and teethers).

You can also sterilize cups and bottles according to manufacturer’s instruction for sterilization.

Put recommended liquids in cups as other liquid may not be suitable for use in the cup.

Follow routine replacement as instructed by the manufacturers on the package.

Check your baby’s and toddler’s cups for areas you can’t reach to clean especially ‘the covers’ for moulds or any hidden dirt. If you have any similar cup(s), it is advisable to stop using them and get ones with transparent valves or straw.

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