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NEW YORK — Reports of mold found inside of "Sophie the Giraffe" teething toys are once again circulating on social media — causing many parents to worry.
According to GoodHouseKeeping.com, pediatric dentist Dana Chianese said she was cleaning a Sophie the Giraffe toy last month when she noticed something smelly coming from a hole on the toy.
The mother said she decided to cut it open and found what resembled a "science experiment" – disgusting mold coating the inside of the toy her child had just been teething on.
The toy is made by French company Vulli, and comes with a warning that the giraffe can be damaged if fully submerged in water. The company recommends that it should only be cleaned with a damp cloth and soapy water.
Chianese told Good Housekeeping she followed these directions. But many parents agree it's not always easy to keep moisture from getting into the toy. And she's not the only one who has found the mold.
In 2016, a parent named Stephanie Oprea, posted to Amazon a photo of her child’s Sophie the Giraffe toy, which appeared to be full of mold.
Also, on What to Expect, a user said she cut the legs off the giraffe after hearing reports of them getting caught in babies' throats. But what she discovered made her cringe.
So what can be done to prevent this?
The director of the Cleaning Lab at the Good Housekeeping Institute says to make sure the toys are cleaned with hot sudsy water and completely dried. They can also be disinfected with a solution of 1/2 cup Clorox bleach per gallon of water. Soak them for five minutes, rinse and air dry.
Good Housekeeping recently received a statement from Laurie Schraenen, a spokeswoman for Sophie the Giraffe: