Shopping cart cover??

Alison - posted on 09/12/2009

Kids need germs to stay healthy. I've never seen those covers and I have no interest in owning one. I've seen people wipe shopping carts the with anti bacterial wipes before. They supply them free of charge in some stores and people actually use them to clean the handle part of the cart even if they don't have kids.

Lindsay - posted on 09/12/2009

We have a cover, but have never used it. The grocery store nearest our house provides clorox disinfecting wipes to wipe down your cart before you put your child in it. I too am a germ freak, and if they didn't have the wipes I probably would have used my cart cover.

. - posted on 09/11/2009

Quoting Konda:

OMG who said their babies could sit in their infant carrier until 8 or 9 months?? How big were your babies? Benjamin turned 3 months yesterday and I was just looking at him in his carrier and his head is almost to the top...which means I have to spend more money on a new seat.

Anyway, I had one of the covers, but unless you wash it every time you put it in that cart, then you are just wrapping those germs right up in it. I did use it on high-chairs occasionally. However what I used most often was the Bumbo, the little rubber seat, I'd just put it down inside the cart and Nicholas loved riding and looking around. They had just come out at the time, so people loved to stop and talk to us. I also used it in restaurants, it was clean and I didn't have to use the nasty high-chair, and I hate the high-chairs when they put them on the end of a booth/table and they serve hot food over my child. So Benjamin is just now able to hold his head steady so he will start using his soon.

The first thing that came to my mind when I saw the pics wat marketing gimmick, make money on germaphobic mothers (i don't meant to offened).

There are mothers out there who bubble wrap their kids, won't let them climb a tree, play with bugs (worms) etc etc because they are afraid of their kids getting dirty or hurting themselves (not severly).

I personally wouldn't have the paitence to put my son in one of those covers. We are not in the supermarket long enough. If Dante decides he wants out of the seat then I just pick him up. However in saying that, I do now wipe his hands after he has touched the hand rail as a few months ago my partner suffered from swine flu and the only public place we went to where he could have got it from was the supermarket (he was the only one between us who used the trolley).

But as for public toilets, I put toilet paper down on to the toilet before I go. I think keyboards are one of the worse "germ" places

Nichole - posted on 09/11/2009

I guess it's just me being a new mom then. My hubby tells me I need to relax a little and let him get dirty!! I will learn with time, I guess. I still love my cart cover though.

Kylie - posted on 09/11/2009

I don't put my baby in the trolley..everything goes in his mouth.. so i wear him in my ergo. My daughter sits in the trolley sometimes and i always wipe the seat and handle over with antibacterial wipes..those trolleys get filthy..and i don't know if the trolley boy has swine flue..better to be safe.

Joy - posted on 09/11/2009

Quoting Lindsay:

Quoting Konda:

OMG who said their babies could sit in their infant carrier until 8 or 9 months?? How big were your babies? Benjamin turned 3 months yesterday and I was just looking at him in his carrier and his head is almost to the top...which means I have to spend more money on a new seat.

That would be me! Both of my kids used their infant carriers until they were a year old and switched to the convertible carseats. I just quit lugging the seat around when they were 8 or 9 months old! Although Cooper was born big, they were both on the smaller side by the time they were a year old....=)

Jacob was also in his infant seat until about 8 or 9 months, maybe longer, I can't remember lol  I know I stopped taking the carrier out of the car and carrying it when he was about 6 months old.  We bought a new seat in anticipation of needing one that could be used forward facing and through the toddler years.  I think we only had the new one rear facing for maybe 2 or 3 months.  I know we turned it forward facing when he was about 13 months.  He had been at the weight and height requirements since he was 10 months but we waited.  Now he's climbing in and out by himself just about :(  And I gave my shopping cart cover away thru freecycle.  I called it "gently used" lol Understatement....I used it once I remember, maybe twice, accounting for my horrible memory lol

Charlie - posted on 09/11/2009

Quoting Laura:

Quoting Jodi:

Quoting Lisa:

I just happen to also scoop juice berries that fall out of the package onto the grocery store floor up and pop them into BooBoo's mouth before he can scream bloody murder.

Lisa, that's the 3 second rule, LOL :)  We use that one all the time!!!

I'm even more lenient...we have a 5 second rule.  LOL...I have a list, though, of things that I never thought I would have to say to another human being...Don't eat chewed up gum that you find on the subway is one of them LOL.

Germs are good...and I agree that "sanitized" children are in for a world of hurt when they get to school.  Most children are walking bags of germs.

Hahahaha i do the 3 second rule too but it also depends on what food i dropped and how delicious it is , the more delicious the bigger the time frame it gets LOL!

Lindsay - posted on 09/11/2009

Quoting Konda:

OMG who said their babies could sit in their infant carrier until 8 or 9 months?? How big were your babies? Benjamin turned 3 months yesterday and I was just looking at him in his carrier and his head is almost to the top...which means I have to spend more money on a new seat.

That would be me! Both of my kids used their infant carriers until they were a year old and switched to the convertible carseats. I just quit lugging the seat around when they were 8 or 9 months old! Although Cooper was born big, they were both on the smaller side by the time they were a year old....=)

Konda - posted on 09/11/2009

OMG who said their babies could sit in their infant carrier until 8 or 9 months?? How big were your babies? Benjamin turned 3 months yesterday and I was just looking at him in his carrier and his head is almost to the top...which means I have to spend more money on a new seat.

Anyway, I had one of the covers, but unless you wash it every time you put it in that cart, then you are just wrapping those germs right up in it. I did use it on high-chairs occasionally. However what I used most often was the Bumbo, the little rubber seat, I'd just put it down inside the cart and Nicholas loved riding and looking around. They had just come out at the time, so people loved to stop and talk to us. I also used it in restaurants, it was clean and I didn't have to use the nasty high-chair, and I hate the high-chairs when they put them on the end of a booth/table and they serve hot food over my child. So Benjamin is just now able to hold his head steady so he will start using his soon.

Jodi - posted on 09/11/2009

Quoting Amanda:

and i do hover over public toilets, for the simple reason that when i have to go, i HAVE to go and don't have time to give any piddle puddles a quick wipe down, and i hate when you don't see it and sit in it!

Ahhhh, you don't have boys do you?  It's amazing how quickly it becomes a total habit to check the toilet seat before you sit down when you have little boys, LOL.  And the floor before you walk in it ;) 

Jodi - posted on 09/11/2009

Quoting Esther:

Krista - I'm consistent. I plant my butt right on any toilet too ;)

Me too Esther :)  And my kids.  The only ones I hover over are those stainless steel ones - they are freezing and way too cold, LOL!!  I carry the hand sanitizer because a lot of public toilets don't have soap, or even  a tap that works so we can wash hands properly afterwards!

Amanda - posted on 09/11/2009

i have a cover, and used it for a little while when my son started riding in the cart just for extra comfort, never really gave (and still don't) the germs a thought. luckily he doesnt chew on the cart, but i have never been a germaphobe, he gets exposed to a hearty mix of germs and dirt:) and always has. thus far he has been really healthy (knock on wood). and i do hover over public toilets, for the simple reason that when i have to go, i HAVE to go and don't have time to give any piddle puddles a quick wipe down, and i hate when you don't see it and sit in it!

Erin - posted on 09/11/2009

Quoting Esther:

Krista - I'm consistent. I plant my butt right on any toilet too ;)

Me too!!!!!

Cathy - posted on 09/11/2009

I live in England .... the shopping carts get a daily wash from rain. The only wiping down they get from me, is to dry them off.

Esther - posted on 09/11/2009

Quoting Evelyn:

Quoting Esther:

Krista - I'm consistent. I plant my butt right on any toilet too ;)

Esther....I love ya girl..but eww eww ewww ewwww EWW! I HATE public restrooms...I avoid them unless TOTALLY necessary. I'm like crazy mom in those places. DONT TOUCH ANYTHING!! DONT TOUCH THE DOORKNOB OR THE FAUCET..lol. Dont EVEN get me started on port-a-potties. (i carry a cup in there to pee in so I dont even have to consider sitting down, I do the same w/my daughter...ugh ugh ugh)

LMAO - well, I wipe the urine & feces off first (hahahaha - just thought I'd gross you out a bit more) and I haven't been consumed by flesh eating bacteria yet (and if they do decide to start nibbling at me, I have a few pounds I can spare them ;)

Amie - posted on 09/11/2009

Quoting Esther:

Krista - I'm consistent. I plant my butt right on any toilet too ;)

Same here! =)

Evelyn - posted on 09/11/2009

Quoting Esther:

Krista - I'm consistent. I plant my butt right on any toilet too ;)

Esther....I love ya girl..but eww eww ewww ewwww EWW! I HATE public restrooms...I avoid them unless TOTALLY necessary. I'm like crazy mom in those places. DONT TOUCH ANYTHING!! DONT TOUCH THE DOORKNOB OR THE FAUCET..lol. Dont EVEN get me started on port-a-potties. (i carry a cup in there to pee in so I dont even have to consider sitting down, I do the same w/my daughter...ugh ugh ugh)

Joy - posted on 09/11/2009

I admit that I DO have antibacterial soap in my kitchen but only because I HATE touching raw chicken and I feel like I MUST wash the icky chicky juices off my hands with something strong lol I also line the seat with tp in public or if I'm someplace that appears to be clean, I'll just wipe the seat with a little tp and then sit on it. Other than those two things though, I'm far from a germophobe.

Jenny - posted on 09/11/2009

I'm with Esther. My kids went straight in the cart, no antibacterial products in my home and I sit right on the seat. Germs be damned. I wash my hands with palin soap and water a few times a day and keep my house tidy but not sterilized. I think avoiding germs is detrimental in the long term as evidenced by the "Superbugs".

Johnny - posted on 09/11/2009

Quoting Mary:

Totally off-topic, but Carol, need to know how you like the Ergo? She'll ourgrow that Bjorn soon, and I've been looking at that...

It's great. Doesn't forward carrry, but otherwise. It's really easy on the back and simple to put on.  I wear her everywhere in it.  I hate taking my stroller on transit.

Krista - posted on 09/11/2009

Well, I respect your consistency, Esther!

Esther - posted on 09/11/2009

Krista - I'm consistent. I plant my butt right on any toilet too ;)

Krista - posted on 09/11/2009

I have to say I'm surprised!! There was a thread on here not too long ago about papering the toilet seat and hovering, and the majority of moms said that they did this because of the germs, but no one cares if their baby sucks on a shopping cart handle (or even holds onto it and them puts their fingers in their mouth). It's pretty much equivalent to letting your baby lick a public toilet seat.



I'm not a huge germaphobe, but I think that I take reasonable precautions to keep my son somewhat protected from the super germy things out there. If it means that he has to suffer through a couple less colds a year, I'm okay with that! I'm pretty sure that even while using my shopping cart cover, I'm still exposing him to plenty of germs that will strengthen his immune system. It's just a comfy little cart cover...it's not like he's being wrapped in shrink wrap when we go out in public!

Jodi - posted on 09/11/2009

Quoting Laura:

Don't eat chewed up gum that you find on the subway is one of them LOL.

Ewwww...yep, I am with you on this one.  Chewed up gum from anywhere is actually one of the things that freaks me (I wasn't about to say the only one, but I won't go into the others, it's a bit gross).  I found Taylah one day with some gum in her mouth at the supermarket and she had found it on the floor,  I freaked out about that one!!

Isobel - posted on 09/11/2009

Quoting Jodi:

Quoting Lisa:

I just happen to also scoop juice berries that fall out of the package onto the grocery store floor up and pop them into BooBoo's mouth before he can scream bloody murder.

Lisa, that's the 3 second rule, LOL :)  We use that one all the time!!!

I'm even more lenient...we have a 5 second rule.  LOL...I have a list, though, of things that I never thought I would have to say to another human being...Don't eat chewed up gum that you find on the subway is one of them LOL.

Germs are good...and I agree that "sanitized" children are in for a world of hurt when they get to school.  Most children are walking bags of germs.

Jodi - posted on 09/11/2009

Quoting Amanda-Lynn:

Quoting Jodi:

Quoting Lisa:

I just happen to also scoop juice berries that fall out of the package onto the grocery store floor up and pop them into BooBoo's mouth before he can scream bloody murder.

Lisa, that's the 3 second rule, LOL :)  We use that one all the time!!!

We REALLY love our food, I swear my kids and hubby count down the minutes to any meal, so we have the 10 second rule LOL! Wouldnt wanna waste any of that food.

 Yeah, well, I don't count to 3, LOL.  I just make a guess, but I'm slack sometimes!!  Hubby worked in the food industry for many years, so he is a bit of a stickler. 

Having said that, my daughter had pacifiers, and whenever she dropped it, I just used to run it under water and give it back to her to get any gunk off.  She's alive and well, and she's hardly ever sick!!

Amanda - posted on 09/11/2009

Quoting Jodi:

Quoting Lisa:

I just happen to also scoop juice berries that fall out of the package onto the grocery store floor up and pop them into BooBoo's mouth before he can scream bloody murder.

Lisa, that's the 3 second rule, LOL :)  We use that one all the time!!!

We REALLY love our food, I swear my kids and hubby count down the minutes to any meal, so we have the 10 second rule LOL! Wouldnt wanna waste any of that food.

Jodi - posted on 09/11/2009

Quoting Lisa:

I just happen to also scoop juice berries that fall out of the package onto the grocery store floor up and pop them into BooBoo's mouth before he can scream bloody murder.

Lisa, that's the 3 second rule, LOL :)  We use that one all the time!!!

Amanda - posted on 09/11/2009

3 kids all put into shopping carts straight without wiping them down (unless really dirty) and no seat cover. They are all alive and well... Children should get sick like other mothers said germs are good.



Antibacteria wipes, and cleaners should be ban from sale its endangering the general population. It is proven that using those soaps and wipes actually helps MRSA grow on your child or you. After testing hands and surfaces that had been cleaned by these cleaners, the only germ that survived was the MRSA germ, the good germs that actually eat MRSA were all dead, which means MRSA was free to grow and spread without any conflicts on your hands. Also those cleaners can actually cause auto immune diseases which is much more dangerous then a simple cold.

Katie - posted on 09/11/2009

I don't have the patience to juggle baby in one arm and try to put the damn cover on with the other. The cover I had was pretty tight and would keep popping off one end while I tried to get the other on. I think the germs are better than the obscene amount of profanities I mutter while trying to get the damn thing on. Bah, people worry way to much.

Joy - posted on 09/11/2009

My cousin gave me a shopping cart cover and I used it once. It was too much of a pain in the ass to bother with, for one. You have to either A) hope there's an empty cart somewhere near your car so that you can put it on while the baby is still strapped into the car. Or B) You have to take your baby into the store with you, in your arms, and wrangle the thing onto the cart one handed, which is impossible when most of the covers have straps.

Like I said, I used it once. As for the germs, my son sits in the cart, and I never carry wipes (anti bacterial or otherwise). If there is something gross on the cart, I get another cart. Germs are good and a cart cover isn't going to protect a baby from anything. The germs in the air are just as "harmful" as any you will find on a shopping cart. I'm not saying we should let our kids lick door knobs and eat things off the floor in public. But we also can't over shelter them either.

Esther - posted on 09/11/2009

Quoting Amie:

I don't agree with you. My kids do just fine and are completely healthy in that germ filled seat. Along with everywhere else they go.
There's something to be said for allowing kids to get dirty. They are exposed more so their immune systems are stronger in the end. By the time mine are adults they'll be living long strong lives. Feel worse for the kids in the bubble lives than I do mine honestly.
It's gotta suck trying to live in a germ free world.

YAY Amie!! With you all the way. I got one of those covers from a friend and have never once used it or felt tempted to use it. I'm all about allowing him to be exposed to germs. Within reason of course, but I don't freak out when he drops a pacifier and sticks it right back in his mouth. I also don't care if he picks up a stick outside and puts that in his mouth. I'll tell him no, but I don't go scurrying over to rip it out of his hands and rinse out his mouth with Lysol (jk).



Read this: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/27/health...

Evelyn - posted on 09/11/2009

I'm with most of you ladies...there's nothing wrong w/a few germs. Keeps the immune system strong. Where I AM a germ-a-phobe is in public restrooms...UGH UGH UGH. I have a 7 yr old girl and going to bathrooms in public is my own personal nightmare. When she was smaller I'd just hold her over the toilet seat and tell her to have at it...but now that she is older..it's a bit more difficult. She's too little to "hover" so that doesn't work either. So I carry around a tiny can of lysol..wipe the seat down, use the toilet seat cover AND cover it again like 3x with toilet paper before I'll let her go. It usually takes a good 5 minutes of prep time before she can even go lol. As for the buggys...when she was a baby I didn't use one of those seat covers. Too time consuming...I just sat her in the cart and would line it w/a baby blanket. I'd wipe it down w/a wipe if I had one on hand..but it wasn't a big deal. I am a big Purell user though.

Erin - posted on 09/11/2009

Quoting Mary:

Totally off-topic, but Carol, need to know how you like the Ergo? She'll ourgrow that Bjorn soon, and I've been looking at that...

Also off-topic (sorry) but OMG Mary!!!! I can't believe Molly still fits in the Bjorn :-o Milla outgrew hers months ago (much to my chagrin).

Erin - posted on 09/11/2009

I put Milla straight in the trolley, but she's also not trying to lick the handle so I may change my mind if that happens =P I'm just not that bothered by germs. I let her play in the dirt. She shares dummies with her 2 cousins and my neighbour's baby when they're playing (I have no idea why but they all think it's hilarious - like a baby show of dominance lol). Our Lab licks her on the face occasionally too. And guess what? She's FINE. Kids are meant to get dirty, and unless it's something really blatantly GROSS I have no problem letting her explore. Like I said, if the time comes where she's actually trying to lick the trolley I would wipe it down, but for now she's too interested in what's going on around her to care.

Mary - posted on 09/11/2009

I'm with Carol and Amie...I have a cart cover that has yet to come out the bag (shower gift). I'm just not a big germ-a-phobe to begin with, and I believe that the use of all those antibacterial products, as well as the overuse of antibiotics, have caused the development of all the super bugs like MRSA and VRE . I can see the benefits of those cart covers from a comfort perspective, but have yet to need it, since I find it much easier to shop with the girl in the Bjorn (and she LOVES that thing!!). And...it would be downright silly for me to freak about germs, since the girl is crawling all over our 2 dogs, and my far from sterile house. My ped assures me that this is a good thing...I'm helping her build a strong immune system!



Totally off-topic, but Carol, need to know how you like the Ergo? She'll ourgrow that Bjorn soon, and I've been looking at that...

Jinglebones - posted on 09/11/2009

I am with Sarah - a little bit of dirt is good. I let my kids do things that will probably send some of you over the edge, so I will refrain from going into details, and I have a little one with a compromised immune system. My theory is that we have to help build it up by exposing him to regular everyday germs, and he is coping just fine. I hate to think what hell you poor hygenic souls are going to go through when your kids hit school age. On the other hand, I also am an avid handwasher - I just happen to also scoop juice berries that fall out of the package onto the grocery store floor up and pop them into BooBoo's mouth before he can scream bloody murder.

Tracy - posted on 09/11/2009

My little boy has a micky mouse one. I even carry alcohol wipes and wipe the trolly over too. I don't sterlize everything just trolleys as my son loves to suck on EVERYTHING. The trollies are never cleaned unless they are left in the rain. I remember seeing something on ACA and how many germs they found on trolleys and shopping baskets, its gross.

Sarah - posted on 09/11/2009

Germs are good!! I've never even thought to put a cover over a shopping trolley.
I'm not into sterilizing everything and using disinfectant all the time and things.
I think a bit of dirt is good for you.
I think the saying goes....'you have to eat a peck of dirt before you meet your maker'
Unfortunately, for many years, i thought the saying was 'you have to eat a POUND of dirt' so Cadence may have had more than her fair share! lol!
:)

Jodi - posted on 09/11/2009

Quoting Loureen:

I have a cousin and as a direct result of his mother OVER sanitizing and NEVER letting him touch anything that hadn't been thoroughly bleached he now has an extremely weak immune system and is often in and out of hospital .

Sounds like my step-son.  He no longer responds well to anitbiotics for this reason.  His mum is a clean freak, and also freaks out any time he is sick and drags him off for some antibiotics.  If he is sick these days, he gets steroids because the antibiotics hardly ever work!!  And I believe it was due to this weak immune system that he ended up with viral meningitis last year, and that was really scary.  It was basically a standard virus that was going around, but because his body wasn't fighting it off, it went to his brain.

The only time I use a hand sanitiser on myself or the kids is when toileting (I used to use it when changing nappies because it was convenient to have it in the nappy change area, and I carry a small one in my bag to use in public toilets if there is no soap available, or if they are particularly dirty and look like they haven't been cleaned in a week).  My 4 1/2 year old has had antibiotics only twice in her life (both with severe ear infections).  My 12 year old hasn't had antibiotics since he had them after surgery 5 years ago.  I don't believe in dropping everything and getting antibiotics just because my kids are sick.  I believe in giving the body a chance to fight it naturally first.

Charlie - posted on 09/11/2009

My child has gone straight in the chair but usually he is just in his pram and i carry a basket .
I am not to worried about germs obviously i wouldn't sit him in one if there was say a puddle of vomit , i really hate the overuse of antibacterial wipes .
I have a cousin and as a direct result of his mother OVER sanitizing and NEVER letting him touch anything that hadn't been thoroughly bleached he now has an extremely weak immune system and is often in and out of hospital .
I can understand wanting to protect children from germs but i think some people go overboard , exposure to dirt and some germs is beneficial to children and their immune system .

Johnny - posted on 09/10/2009

Amie, you are so right about the anti-bacterial crap that permeates everything. And in addition to helping create the Super Bugs, that stuff, particularly Lysol, are full of some really nasty chemicals and known carcinogens. The Purell stuff is alright, it's mostly alcohol, but most of the bugs we are trying to kill are normally all over us anyway, no matter what we think we're doing to avoid them.

That being said, I've got a buggy cover. It's a 3 in 1: tummy time mat, buggy cover, high chair cover. I originally bought it for the tummy time because it's got a little cushion that propped up her chest, and she hated being flat on the floor. I don't really use it now because I rarely use buggies. I go to the store on my walk with my stroller everyday and just use baskets. On the rare occasion that I use a buggy, I put her in my Ergo, which keeps her well in control. She grabs at everything and I wouldn't want to spent my whole shopping trip saying no 6000 times over. I've only used it in highchairs when she didn't fit in them properly yet.

Amie - posted on 09/10/2009

Oh and just as a side note...
All those anti bacterial wipes, soaps, hand sanitizers, etc.... those are the reason we are seeing Super Bugs now. They adapt just like everything else in the world. What once was tame is no longer... it will keep happening too. With the over use of medication, sanitizers, etc. They will keep adapting until the simplest things will no longer be simple and we will HAVE to walk around with masks on all the time just so we don't catch something deadly. Extreme? Just a little... but so is disinfecting everything a child comes into contact with.

I just find it all odd.

Amie - posted on 09/10/2009

I don't agree with you. My kids do just fine and are completely healthy in that germ filled seat. Along with everywhere else they go.
There's something to be said for allowing kids to get dirty. They are exposed more so their immune systems are stronger in the end. By the time mine are adults they'll be living long strong lives. Feel worse for the kids in the bubble lives than I do mine honestly.
It's gotta suck trying to live in a germ free world.

Sharon - posted on 09/10/2009

I used antibacterial wipes and a baby blanket. Its to hot in Arizona to stand around in the heat juggling a baby and trying to slip one of those things on.

Lindsay - posted on 09/10/2009

That was one of those things on my baby registry that I didn't receive and didn't bother to go back and get. Both of my kids sat in their carseats that snapped on until they were probably 8 or 9 months old. Once they actually sat in the cart, I just wiped it down with anti-bacterial wipes. :)

Brenda - posted on 09/10/2009

I used a shopping cart cover too. I don't think I was necessarily a germ-a-phobe, I just thought it was more comfortable for my kids too. Mine was really nice, covered the entire cart seat and the handlebars. It was a kind of padded/quilted material and had attachments for linkaroos so they had all their toys to play with. Made shopping a breeze.

Jocelyn - posted on 09/10/2009

i never used one, but i also didn't really take my ds shopping that much when he was really little. but i always used one of those anti-bacterial wipes on the handle bar :)

Nichole - posted on 09/10/2009

Quoting Krista:

I have one, it's called a Buggie Hug and it's so great! Shopping carts are one of the germiest things out there, and my son likes to try to suck on the handle, so it's nice to have everything covered in nice, clean fabric! Here's where I got mine. http://www.chicpeek.ca/html/buggie_hugs....

Krista, that one is so cute. I may have to order one now, lol. I had to get one my son wants to put everything in his mouth. I love ours. In most stores they have wipes so you can wipe the carts down but I just don't think that is enough.

Krista - posted on 09/10/2009

I have one, it's called a Buggie Hug and it's so great! Shopping carts are one of the germiest things out there, and my son likes to try to suck on the handle, so it's nice to have everything covered in nice, clean fabric! Here's where I got mine. http://www.chicpeek.ca/html/buggie_hugs....