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Hygiene and safety are critical in healthcare facilities and doctors’ offices, particularly when children are involved. But no matter how on time your practice is, sometimes there’s a wait. While digital entertainment is probably nearby, sometimes it’s nice to have analog options to keep kids calm, engaged, and entertained in your waiting room.
Of course, these toys are used by everyone and could become a vector for germs without proper care. The thought of frequently cleaning these waiting room toys and the fact that the internet is a screen away makes it tempting to skip the waiting room toys altogether. But there are ways you can keep your pint-sized patients entertained and safe without a screen.
The best way to keep your waiting room toys safe and clean starts with choosing the right toys. You want toys that are not only fun and educational but also durable and can stand up not only to frequent use, but some serious cleaning.
Soft toys, like stuffed animals, are cuddly and fun, but really hard to clean and disinfect. Thoroughly cleaning and sanitizing soft toys often means steam cleaning or machine washing them. A simple spot clean where you see visible dirt just won’t do. You also have to dry a soft toy all the way through. That’s easy for a blanket, but you likely have to open up a stuffed animal to make sure the stuffing is dry and won’t mold.
Frequent cleaning is a must to keep waiting room toys safe and clean, so choose items that are simple to wipe down with either a bleach wipe or spray-on solution. Wood is a great choice, but anything nonporous is also fine. So, some soft toys are OK, like soft cubes that have a nonporous covering.
This is an obvious tip, but it’s also a critical one. Even if your practice generally sees older children and adults, you never know who’s coming along to the appointment and sitting in the waiting room. Double-check your toys to ensure there aren’t any choking hazards because babies and toddlers put just about everything in their mouths.
Not every loose piece of a toy is a choking hazard. Puzzles with large pieces and jumbo-size building blocks are safe, even when they are frequently tasted. And whether they’re a tasty treat or not, keep in mind that each and every one of those loose pieces needs to be cleaned and sanitized frequently. You may want to consider toys with fully integrated pieces, or limit the amount of toys with loose pieces to minimize how much you have to clean.
Magazines and books can encourage quiet activity and engagement while stimulating the mind and creativity. However, magazines, books, and crayons are difficult, if not impossible, to clean. If you want to include reading materials as part of your waiting room toy selection, select things your patients can take with them and include a take-home package of crayons, too.
Once you know which toys are right for your waiting room, you’ll need a plan to keep them clean and safe. While you don’t have to follow every one of these tips, here are the top ones to consider.
Cleaning your waiting room toys twice a day is a good way to ensure the toys are safe and clean.
At mid-day, wipe down all the toys with a disinfectant wipe, making sure you get all the nooks and crannies where germs can hide, then let the toys dry completely. Also, wipe down the tables, chairs, and doorknobs. If you’re booked all day and the waiting room is full of patients, have a supply of clean toys ready to fill in while the dirty toys dry. For large toys or wall games, consider marking the toy off-limits while it dries.
At the end of the day, wipe everything down again. Only this time, use a stronger, medical-grade solution to sanitize and disinfect the toys, and let them air dry overnight.
In addition to twice daily cleaning, give the toys a thorough and intensive clean at the end of every week. For example, instead of wiping the toys, consider soaking them in a germicidal solution for a few minutes to ensure every surface is cleaned.
One other great way to keep waiting room toys clean is to give parents and kids a designated place to put dirty toys. Just like you might have a container of clean and dirty pens, have a bin of clean and dirty toys. This gives you a chance to clean it before anyone else has a chance to play with it, reducing the chance of germs spreading.
If possible, a play area just for sick kids with separate easy-to-clean toys helps keep germs away from everyone else. While not all sick kids will be up for playing, some will, so having options just for them will help them stay calm and out of the main waiting area.
In addition to toys, your waiting room should have some kid-sized furniture, so they have a place to sit comfortably while they wait and a safe place to play. But make sure there’s plenty of space between each chair and around the table. It may not be perfect, but it can help prevent germs from passing to the toys and each other.
Hand sanitizer is great in a pinch, but isn’t always the best solution for getting rid of germs, and not always the best choice for small children and babies who may still suck their thumbs. Consider adding a child height sink in your waiting room to encourage proper handwashing before and after playing with the toys.
While adding a sink with plumbing to your waiting room may not be possible, a portable sink is the perfect solution. Many have hot and cold running water, soap, and paper towels, and come in child-height, too — all without the hassle of traditional plumbing.
Waiting room toys entertain and comfort kids before they see the doctor, but without the proper care, can spread germs and illnesses. Choosing the right toys and having a solid cleaning routine makes keeping your waiting room toys safe and clean sufficient for staff to complete.
Kindermark Kids offers developmentally-appropriate furniture, toys, and decor for waiting rooms. Whether your children’s waiting area is small or large, we have durable and quality products that will last for many years. Contact Kindermark Kids today to learn more about our waiting room toys and furniture.
