Cleaning a Mesh "Feeder"

I tried the inside-out-top-shelf-of-the-dishwasher technique, and to be honest depending on the food (especially bananas!) I ended up just throwing it away anyway! Eeew. Not so mushy foods like melons work better when it's time to clean it out.

I loved it. I put in on top shelf of dishwasher. You can buy extra mesh things for them. I put watermelon in it.. blueberries, grapes... even cherry tomatoes. My kids loved them and so did I. The fear of choking is not even an issue. I put peas and carrots cooked in it.. almost all fruits and veggies that we ate. i even put small ice cubes when they were teething.. i think it's an awesome thing.. good luck..

i KNOW WHAT YOU MEAN ABOUT THOSE MESH THINGS. i FOUND THAT SOAKING IT IN DISHWASHER DETERGENT AND WATER FOR A FEW MINUTES AND THEN RINSING WELL AND PUTTING IT THREW THE DISHWATER GOT IT LOOKING LIKE NEW AGAIN. oTHERWISE i KEPT THROWING THEM OUT.

I bought some extra mesh bags with our mesh feeder, because I had the same issue with trying to get them clean. I always soaked them in hot soapy water and would only reuse them a few times before chucking them, because I just couldn't get them clean! Although I'm sure as long as you get all the food out, it's pretty clean, just discolored. Those were a teething dream to me, I would stick frozen food in there and let Brendan chomp away!
Lynsey

I think the mesh teethers are the greatest! They ARE in fact disposable. You can buy more inserts to take on the go and replace as needed. However, I toss mine in the dishwasher, and although they're discolored, they're clean for a few more uses. FYI, banana is the worst! Try frozen papaya, apple, melon (which reduce to nothing), pear, grapes (peeled of course), even veggies. My friend did chick peas for some protein!

I turn mine inside out and throw it in the top rack of the dishwasher, after rinsing it as good as I can.
Also I don't know if you have noticed but the dang Biter Biscuits are such a mess in the end. My Husband and I actually took 1/4 off the end of one and stuck that in the mesh as well. It took a little getting used to for my son but it helps with A. paranoia about leaving the room for even a second while he is eating one (a huge issue with me) and B. cuts back on the amount of clean-up. I still give him the biscuits alone with out the mesh because I think it is good for his fine motor skills and helps him continue to learn to chew, but on those mornings when I am running around and he wants something to do I stick one in the mesh and he is as happy as a clam, and the clean up takes about half the time
Good Luck
A.

A toothbrush, hot water and soap works pretty well.

Tough one. I have let mine soak in hot, soapy water; I have also tried running through the dishwaher. Once they get dry they are less "gross", but they do get stained by the food, so they never really feel 'clean.'

Hey, K.,
I just read some of the responses... I guess I have a crappier dishwasher than everyone else here, because that definitely did not work for me. I read somewhere else to soak them in a solution of water and OxyClean, and then wash it with something that's safe for dishes. That helped some, but not much. We ultimately gave up on them because we felt they never got clean enough.
-A.

I turn it inside out and put it in the dishwasher. Comes out totally clean. Good luck!

Hello-I agree with you about the cleanliness of them. But in the other side of it, the baby is learning vital lessons on feeding himself and what he likes and dislikes and textures as well. I put al my bbaies things, rattles, toys, pacifiers, cups, and teathing toys right in the diswasher. it cleans everything and I use the hot water to sterilize. I do not use and "jet dry". Good luck adn this is a good step!!

I think that humans have survived without them for thousands of years and it doesnt take that long to cut things up in tiny peices for the few months you may have to. Heck a child could choke on anything. The bottom line is dont be paranoid and unless your child has a disability take a step back and relax. Our culture is becomeing less self reliant and promotes paranoia. I am the mother of 3 a set of twins one of which has cerebral palsy.

I never used them, I always just stayed in the room with my 2 little ones. My sister, however, used them with both of her kids. She always just ran them through the dishwasher.

I used to turn them insde out and put them in the dishwasher and that worked perfectly.

Banana is definitely the worst; I've thrown out a set after using it with banana also. Someone said they do make replacement mesh for them, I think that depends on the brand because mine does not come apart or have replacement parts. My son is 2 and still uses his mesh feeder, but only for ice cubes. I find it calms him on hot days to give him ice, but there's no way I would give him an ice cube without a mesh feeder for fear of choking. Actually when he was younger I used them for juice (very diluted with water) ice cubes in his high chair. I rarely put real food in them but used them more as a calming distraction when necessary.

I'm not sure if that helps at all, but good luck.

I was nervous about choking as well, and bought one with our first...she loved it. I popped ours right into the dishwasher...and it came out clean every time...If you don't have a dishwasher, try using a toothbrush.

Best wishes,
J.

I always just tossed mine in the dishwasher (cleans & disinfects!) run it through hot water - if your sink has a "shower" stream of water option(as opposed to one flowing stream)- run it under that first, or pre-soak to get the food loosened up.

I used it constantly! I actually had two - turn them inside out in the dishwasher when you need to. Otherwise - I just turned it inside out and scrubbed it/picked at the pieces till it was clean. My dgtr used to, and still does, but can now handle it, stuff her mouth with food so she was always coughing and able to clear, but did stop breathing once (and it wasn't something that should have caused it), but was able to clear it. I NEVER left her with food - but that one time stopped my heart! The person who created the mesh feeder was a father whose son choked and almost died on a teething biscuit. They are great - until a chunk comes off!! The mesh feeders were a life saver in this house - she ate tons of stuff in them tooling around the kitchen in her walker while I cooked dinner!

It's really just bananas that make it crazy-gross. Strawberries were also a little troublesome -- but we found that other foods worked pretty well. But we tossed one set out after the bananas!

I don't have the patience to read all of these responses, but I loved our "biter bags" for all three kids. I never put banana in it, but everything else worked great - even steak! I never gave it much thought, but put the bags in the washing machine (clothes washer) about once a week. Some stains just never come out - just like your clothes, but I knew they were clean. No dryer though. Good luck! :)

why no try a food processer..I purchased a small one so my child didnt have to suck on wire mest made in china..

They're great for everything EXCEPT squishy foods. Soak it in water and then scrub it against itself to get the banana out...and I wouldn't use it for banana (or any other mashy fruit) again. Try putting meat in there, or ice chips or frozen fruit if he's teething. They're great, but bananas can be eaten just as they are - he'll probably mash it up with his hands just fine.

Good luck!

no idea how to clean them but i would love to know what everyone thinks of them. im on the fence right now of whether or not to try one. cleanliness would def be a factor for me too- bananas are sooo sticky, lol.

I use to throw mine in the dishwasher with my bottles and stuff. I have one of those baskets, I just threw it in there. We kind of used it for my son. But my daughter never used it for food, now she just plays with it around the house.