How To Clean A Playpen In The Bathtub? Comprehensive Guide

When you’re on the go, a playpen makes it simple to keep your kid safe. They can, however, become quite filthy with time. This means that understanding how to properly clean a playpen is critical.

You can’t just throw a playpen in the washing machine because it’s so big. There is nothing wrong with letting your baby’s playpen get dirty, but it doesn’t mean you have to. Your baby’s playpen will be safe and clean if you quickly mop up messes and thoroughly clean it on a regular basis.

Why You Need to Clean Your Baby’s Playpen

Studies have suggested that newborns exposed to household germs and pet dander have a lower risk of developing allergies and asthma. However, the value of this exposure diminishes dramatically after the first year of exposure.

When a baby is raised in a sterile environment, their immune systems can become too sensitive. Even yet, it’s not a good idea for parents to avoid cleaning their children’s most frequently used things, such playpens.

So, how can you clean a playpen without putting your infant at risk of developing an autoimmune disorder? Do not use harsh chemicals or disinfectants, and only use a soft detergent to clean it.

Detergent selection is critical when learning how to clean a playpen.

Grease and oils can be broken down using detergents, which are chemical substances. Many of the detergents on the market contain surfactants, which are the chemical compounds that actually do the dirty work.

Surfactants lower water’s surface tension, making it easier for your wash water to permeate your fabric. Water molecules are held together by surfactants, as well. Cleansing begins with this operation.

Commercial detergents, on the other hand, often contain additional chemicals. The most prevalent additives include optical brighteners, enzymes, and fragrances. While these chemicals brighten colors, remove stains, and freshen the scent of your clothing, they can also irritate the skin of your infant.

Detergents free of perfumes and brighteners are best for cleaning playpens because they aren’t biological.

The concentrated form of Babyganic’s dermatologist-tested detergent ticks all the right boxes.

Washing soda is an excellent starting point for making your own detergent. Four parts washing soda, four parts baking soda and one part mild castile soap are all you need to make an ultra-gentle homemade detergent. It’s a cinch to whip up a batch using a food processor. Keep it in an airtight container at all times.

How to Clean a Playpen: Spot-cleaning

In the case of fresh spills, spot-cleaning is a highly useful method. With this strategy, baby food and formula are a big hit.

1. Blot

Blotting the stain is the initial stage in spot cleaning. You can use a dry cloth or several paper towels to remove some of the wetness from a fresh spill. After that, soak the stain with a damp cloth or sponge dipped in a mild detergent solution.

2. Flush with water

Once the stain has been removed, you should rinse the area with cool water. Using a sponge soaked in clean water, wipe the stain to remove it if you’re unable to place the stain under a faucet No detergent residue should be left behind in this process. You can proceed to the following step when the water is clear and you can no longer see any suds.

3. Let dry

To complete the process of spot-cleaning your child’s playpen, allow the area to completely dry off.

Do not use a hairdryer unless absolutely necessary. The heat could permanently set the stain if the stain wasn’t completely removed in the initial round of spot-cleaning.

How to Clean a Playpen: Deep-cleaning

Spot-cleaning isn’t always enough. You may want to deep clean your playpen if it has an all-over covering of filth, or if it has just been used heavily.

To thoroughly clean your playpen, you’ll need a bathtub or other vessel large enough to hold the playpen when it’s folded down.

1. Soak

Spot-clean any stubborn stains on your playpen before soaking it.

Next, run hot water and a few capfuls of dishwashing soap through your tub. In your tub, place a folded-down playpen on top of the playpen’s mat. While keeping the playpen underwater, open it up as far as feasible.

Simply using a vinegar and baking soda solution is another option if you don’t want to use commercial detergent.

Soak the playpen for about 30 minutes, then flip it over and soak for a further 30 minutes.

2. Agitate

Swirling the playpen around in your bathtub is the next step in cleaning it. Agitating the playpen will aid in flushing the wash water through the fabric, removing the filth.

3: Rinse

To clean your playpen, run the water from your bathtub out the drain. Warm water is best for rinsing your playpen and mat.

The playpen may be rinsed with a flexible shower head. By filling your bathtub with pure water and agitating the playpen, you can eliminate all detergent residue. Repeat until all the suds are gone.

4. Dry

It’s time for the final step: drying the playpen.

Try to set up your playpen on a clean area in direct sunlight if you can. If that isn’t an option, find a bright spot in your house with an open window.

To dry your playpen, all you need to do is keep the mat flat. When drying your playpen mat, you can stand it up on the edges, but we like to use a level drying rack, like this one, to avoid warping.

Here are 8 different ways you can use your pack and play

You can use that pack and play in eight different ways after a lot of practice and investigation (there may be more than you think)!

Be sure to get the most out of this amazing mothering tool… Take a look at these eight creative ways to put your travel crib to work.

To get you started, I have added a list of the top 5 most popular pack and plays available:

• With over 3,000 favorable reviews, Portable Playard A sturdy play yard with a comfortable mattress and a changing table is a necessary for every mother. It has a lovely blue and green color scheme and is surprisingly affordable!
• This pack and play’s name, Nursery Center, does it no honor. The Baby Trend Pack and Play is a best-seller on Amazon, and it has features like a removable organizer for baby essentials and a one-hand locking mechanism.
• There are nearly 3,000 excellent reviews for this Sturdy Play Yard with Mattress and Toys. It’s also very easy to transport and store.
• In addition to the bassinet, the Pack & Play comes with a push-button compact fold, making it easy to store.
• Reviewers love this Travel Playard, giving it five stars out of five! It’s so easy to set up and take down that it’s one of my favorite features!

1. The Pack and Play is Good for Napping

In certain cases, having children snooze together is simply inconvenient. An exception to this rule is a young child who shares a home with an older sibling.

Pack and play is an excellent solution in this case. When your child is napping, you can offer them a break in any room in the house.

Additionally, you can teach your youngster to snooze in an unfamiliar area. If your child is going to be staying with family, a sitter, or in a hotel away from home, you should consider having him or her nap in a different room or area.

2. Independent Play Time

We’re big fans of allowing our children to play on their own for a while! With tiny children, I’ve been able to achieve this with a pack and play. Set up a few toys and let your toddler have some fun while you supervise from a safe distance.

As you might expect, a pack and play is a safe method for newborns and young toddlers to play. They may safely roam around, jump around, and play with their toys in the pack and play.

In addition, there are mesh sides on all of the packs and plays! In order to keep an eye on things, you need to have this open.

Having tummy time there might be a big benefit for the baby.

3. Corralling with a Pack and Play

Corralling is a great strategy for women who have multiple babies close in age. This is how you keep your child out of mischief while you take care of business as an adult.

Sometimes… someone comes to the door, you get a phone call, or need to cook dinner. If you have a child who likes to climb, a play yard is a must.

4. Beach Trips

Sometimes… someone comes to the door, you get a phone call, or need to cook dinner. If you have a child who likes to climb, a play yard is a must.

Sometimes… You’re interrupted by a knock on the door, a phone call, or the urge to prepare dinner. With a toddler who is prone to climbing, a play yard is a must.

Others may disagree, but holding a baby all day at the beach is not relaxing at all.

For me, it’s exhausting to be at the beach for eight hours when either myself or my husband are holding the infant. It’s much more important if your child is walking already!

5. Use the Pack and Play at Your Family’s Homes

My younger siblings can take a nap or sleep in my mother’s pack and play when they visit. With a spare room, the bed is too big and tall for the little ones to stay on, therefore they can’t be relied on for safety.

Always put your own safety first. Do not let a toddler share a room with a baby without taking the following precautions:

There’s a space for the infant to nap if we have unexpected visitors. A crib that is difficult to dismantle or erect is less versatile than one that can be dismantled and erected in a matter of minutes.

6. Places with Big Drop-Offs (A huge help with separation anxiety…)

If your child is used to napping in their pack and play, going to the sitters will be less stressful for them.

For children with “drop-off anxiety,” having a little bit of their familiar surroundings with them can be comforting.

You may think of it as bringing your own pillow while you’re staying at a hotel. Your child may benefit from the familiarity of the pack and play.

It’s important that they feel safe and secure when in the care of a babysitter or other family member for the day.

7. When You Need “a Minute”

If we’re being honest, let’s face it: Every now and then, a mommy just needs a break.

Even if your baby is a hip-hugger or particularly demanding today, this is especially true. Having a pack and play on hand allows you to take a moment to de-stress and stop being furious. Mommies can utilize a break to pee, phone a buddy or mom or whatever.

Using a pack and play can ensure that everyone is safe, allowing you a brief moment of alone.

Using a pack and play while you have a crawler or pre-toddler is a great way to get some peace and quiet. For the most part, you don’t have to feel bad about this if you don’t do it for lengthy periods of time.

8. Use Pack and Play as a Newborn Sleeper in Your Room

For the first few months of a baby’s life, we always keep them in our room. There is a sense of protection and security when a mother is close to her baby.

If I have to walk to their room and feed them sitting up, it makes it difficult for me to sleep.

I’m awake and raring to go by the time I return to my room.

By keeping a pack and play in our room, I can feed the baby…even without totally waking up fully. How about that! Plus, he is there so I can check on him. Here are thoughts on letting the baby sleep in your room. When they are sleeping through the night with no feeds, then they go to their more permanent sleep situation.

9. Hotels and VRBO’s

I can nurse the baby even if I’m still asleep because I have a pack and play in our room. That’s a great idea! In addition, he is present, so I can keep tabs on him. How to go about letting your baby sleep in your room With no nighttime feedings, they go into their more permanent sleep environment.

I’m able to feed the baby while still asleep because to the convenience of a pack and play. That’s a good idea, right? I can also keep an eye on him while he is there. Here are some suggestions for letting your infant sleep in your room. In order to get a better long-term sleeping arrangement for them, they must sleep through the night without being fed.

Good Ages to Keep a Baby in a Playpen

Several factors lead parents to utilize playpens regularly. Keeping the baby out of harm’s way is the first step in protecting the child. The second option is to keep the baby occupied in a confined area.

Another common application for playpens is to keep children safe while they sleep. When traveling, it’s common to utilize a playpen as a makeshift crib.