Manky teddy

[evansmummy]

My 13 month old has this dog type soft toy from Mothercare that he adores. He's had it for about 6 months and even dropped his dummy to instead suck on the tail of this dog thing. We bought a second one in case of losing one, but also to be able to wash them, because as he sucks on this thing to go to sleep, and for comfort during the day, it is DISGUSTING. It's tail goes all brown and stinks, it is revolting. I have no idea how he can put it in his mouth, but he loves it.

The problem is that he has got a nasty rash around his mouth, and I presume it's from the wet dog. We've tried all sorts of creams and things, but I figure that as long as he keeps sucking the dog (!), it won't go away.

What can we do?

[Twiglett]

vaseline round his mouth .. its from the saliva probably

[evansmummy]

So you don't think it could be nasties lurking in the dog's tail from?

[cod]

Message withdrawn

[Rhubarb]

Wash it with baby soap. But the rash is probably from saliva. Agree with vaseline or savlon, put it round his mouth when he's asleep so he doesn't rub it off.

[yawningmonster]

just by the way after washing and drying toy put in freezer for a couple of days, will kill any lurgies good and proper.

[maximillion]

It doesn't get any better. My DD is nearly four and has almost chewed the ear off the teddy my mum gave her as a baby. She had the scabby mouth for about five months when she was 2 (including whilst being bridesmaid at our wedding...eeurgh) but will not give him up for anything. We even tried swapping him for a dummy at one point but she woke in the night and couldn't sleep without him. She loves teddy so much and plays with him all the time that I can't bear to 'lose' him. The next stage will be when she starts school in September - will have to think of a good bribe to make sure that teddy 'sleeps with the fishes' from then on...