how do you remove the flame retardant from an item such as a pack-and-play?

[PollyC]

Hi!

I need a playpen for my 4-month old baby, so I can do things like wash the dishes and eat.  However, I am reluctant to get one (such as Graco) because I'm sure it's filled with toxic flame retardants.  How can I wash this stuff out?  Just stick the whole rig in the shower and soak it?  Vinegar?

Let me know, thanks!

PC

ps. I am going to cross-post this because I really need a good response and am not sure where I'll get answers.  Hopefully this wont be a problem!  Thanks!

[leighi123]

They make slip covers for pack and play's   

[Minxie]

Have you considered using a blanket on the floor? Babyproof that area and let him/her go. At four months, they won't be going far and it gives them valuable tummy time.

We had a pack-n-play at his godmother's for naps but she was using that for his safety to keep him from being trampled on by the bigger kids. At home, he was all over the floor; it was the cleanest my floors have ever been.

[leighi123]

Originally Posted by Minxie 

Have you considered using a blanket on the floor? Babyproof that area and let him/her go. At four months, they won't be going far and it gives them valuable tummy time.

We had a pack-n-play at his godmother's for naps but she was using that for his safety to keep him from being trampled on by the bigger kids. At home, he was all over the floor; it was the cleanest my floors have ever been.

This is what I did, we had 2 play pens and never used them for anything other than the changing table when he was a newborn, and then a REALLY big laundry basket... 

[Annie Mac]

I don't think you can just wash that stuff out. Are you sure it has it on it? Playpens aren't like pajamas, where they are *required* to be flame retardant. 

I put my LO in a baby carrier (front one until she got too bad & heavy, now I use a backpack) to get housework done. Of course, those might have flame retardants on them too, who knows? 

[MsFortune]

I don't think that you can remove it.  My thinking on this is that it probably offgasses over time, so getting an old / used playpen may have less of it on it.  I don't know if that is true, but I am going with that.  So most of my baby stuff I tried to get used so it is older.

[ElaynesMom]

If you are worried about flame retardants (which are likely on most, if not all playpens as they are used as beds) what about placing a blanket on the floor and using something like this:

http://www.target.com/Summer-Infant-Surround-Sound-Play/dp/B000G1YW98/ref=br_1_12?ie=UTF8&id=Summer%20Infant%20Surround%20Sound%20Play&node=10366001&searchSize=30&searchView=grid3&searchPage=1&sr=1-12&qid=1295120108&rh=&searchBinNameList=target_com_category-bin%2Cstyle_name%2Ctarget_com_brand-bin%2Ctarget_com_primary_color-bin%2Cprice&searchRank=pmrank&frombrowse=1

Or perhaps putting baby in a highchair with some toys?