When the pacifier, binky, or sucky gets dropped, it’s good to have more on hand or use #TastyClean to clean off before handing it back to a child.

#TastyClean is a safe and effective way to clean your baby’s pacifier.

Pacifiers are undoubtedly good for infants and babies. For instance, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has found that a binky, suckey, or paci used for sleep can decrease the risk of SIDS. A pacifier also gives babies a tool to help them self-soothe in moments of anxiety. But while all of those things are great for a kid, pacifiers can also present something of a hygiene nightmare. That’s because they are routinely dropped, traded with other babies, chomped on, and otherwise abused. And parents often don’t consider the care required to keep the baby-plugs clean. That can find kids being needlessly exposed to any number of gross paci-related health issues. Luckily it’s not that tough to up the pacifier care game.

Importantly, for pacifier care to not cause disruption in a kids life, it’s helpful to have plenty on hand. That way, as pacifiers are cleaned or disposed of, the baby still has one handy. Multiple clean pacifiers should also be packed in diaper bags and cars. Necessity has driven many a parent to desperately wipe off a filthy pacifier or even take one for the team and swish the dirty binky around in their own mouth to “clean” it before giving it back to their kid. NO!

“It’s not a good idea to clean a baby’s paci with your own mouth as you can pass adult bacteria to your baby that can cause cavities”, explains pediatrician Dr. Tanya Altmann, a spokesperson for AAP and author of Baby and Toddler Basics. “Also, you can swap germs either way that may cause illnesses from colds to cold sores.”