Cloth Wipes Question

[sarahwg]

We used cloth wipes with our son and would have a little container that we would fill with warm water for each change. This worked fine but I know that there are wipe solutions out there that you can make and I was wondering if anyone had any advice/experience to share...

If you make your own wipe solution, what do you include in it? Do you make a big batch and then refill a smaller container for each change?

Is it true that some people soak their wipes in the solution?

I've also heard that some people use a spray bottle, anyone heard of or use this method?

Thanks everyone! I think I finally have all the cloth diaper/wipes ready to go and there is a big load in the washer right now with some vinegar as it is a beautiful day I want to hang them all out in the sun. They are looking a bit grungy after their use with my son and then being in storage for the last year or so. Trying to channel some nesting energy...

[nerin]

i had a solution that i would make up in a squirt bottle (like the peri bottle you get pp) and then would saturate a few wipes at a time with in a separate container. it's been a year and a half, but i believe it was simply warm water, a squeeze of baby shampoo/wash, and a couple of drops of tea tree oil. hth!

[goin' green]

When I started using cloth wipes I started making a wipes solution and I hated it. We started just storing the wipes dry and running them under the sink right before we used them. I found this to be the easiest for us.

[beachcomber]

I just kept a thermos of warm water by the change table and dipped a cloth wipe into it. I'll likely do the same again. That said, I have been given a spray bottle of rash solution that I'll use if he gets rashy. It's all natural. I'll see if I can find a link to the product.

Baby Spritz Diaper Rash Spray
Baby Spritz Wipe Alternative

[sonuptosondown]

Typing really fast because I have a dr. appt in a few minutes.

I love the kissluvs diaper potion concentrate from green mountain diapers. Dilute it in a spray bottle with witch hazel--gmd sells the sprayers, too, I think.

Spray it on the wipe or onto baby's bum and then wipe.

This works great on our dd. I didn't do it when she was a newborn, so I don't know if a newborn will be as tolerant of being sprayed, but I'm definitely going to start with this method.

I tried keeping a wipe box with solution in it, but I didn't like having to clean it out, fill it up. The spray bottle is so much easier and seems cleaner to me.

hth!

[erika978]

I had a spray that I bought with my nappy kit. But I was given a solution recipie from a friend:

cammomile tea, a few drops of tea tree oil and a little oilve oil if you wish. You can leave the wipes in to soak though i tended to dip and wipe.

If dd's bum wasn't too bad though, I just used a little warm water.

[vegemamaVA]

plain old water from the tap has always worked fine for us.

[sarahwg]

Thanks for all your input everyone!

I was talking to my husband at lunch and he asked "Why would we use more than just water?" since that worked out just fine last time. I guess in my impatience for this baby to arrive I am just trying to find things to do and prepare...and I liked the idea of something that smelled good... But it is true that I won't know about the baby's sensitivities and water is the safest best for now. Perhaps if we end up with a rash (which never happened last time - but as I must keep reminding myself, different baby this time...) we'll look for something...

[Erinz]

I was going to say just water at first, everything else seemed too harsh. I always stored my wipes in a pile (dry) and when I did start using a solution I just added a few drops of whatever essential oil I wanted in plain water in a peri type bottle. Didn't worry about it being warm, he never seemed to mind!

[stanleymama]

I make both my own disposable wipes and cloth wipes solution and its pretty easy.

I mix:

1-2 c. of warm water
2 tbs of baking soda ( keeps the smell fresh)
2-3 tbs. of fave. baby soap

I have done this for over 2 years now and loved it. I used to just do warm water in a peri bottle, but this method I found, for me, was so easy.

Oh and I like this solution better than just water, because if its a smelly poo, their little bums getting a good cleaning smelling wash.

[OurGift]

Yes, I have been trying to figure out the cloth wipe thing also. I like the idea of a thermos of warm water. I also like the idea of using an alternative very mild recipe after BM's for a fresher smelling bottom like the pp suggested.

I have a question though,, where is the best/most $ reasonable place to buy cloth wipes and how many should you have? I organic cloth a must and does some one know of a reasonable vendor for them? I'm not crafty at all so cutting/making my own I don't think will work and I am getting all the things for LO myself so having someone else do it is not an option either. Thanks!

[Erinz]

Originally Posted by OurGift

I have a question though,, where is the best/most $ reasonable place to buy cloth wipes and how many should you have? I organic cloth a must and does some one know of a reasonable vendor for them? I'm not crafty at all so cutting/making my own I don't think will work and I am getting all the things for LO myself so having someone else do it is not an option either. Thanks!

I bought commercial grade wash cloths at Costco and they worked GREAT and are ready to go for baby #2 for super duper cheap. For an organic/green version this mama does a fantastic job with wipes and bibs (LOVE the bibs) and I think they are a killer deal.
http://www.moonbees.com/catalog.php?...Fcategory%3D13

eta: you def want to have a large stack. At least I did, I'd end up using them for all sorts of stuff like spit up, breastmilk leaks, etc etc. A stash for the diaper bag too. It was really handy to have a nice big stack that didn't run out, I want to say at least 40 or so? Maybe more? I'd have to go count them

[akichan]

Don't know about organic cloth wipes. My favorite cloth wipes are actually the Gerber brand washcloths, they come 8 in a pack, and aren't organic, but no edging, smooth on one side, terry on the other, and stays softer than anything else I've tried, including WAHM wipes.

For out and about I use the Kirkland Signature (Costco) disposable, unscented wipes because they are very large and durable and great for sticky faces and hands too. And a decent price when they have coupons.

For OP, I found a spray bottle to be too slow in wetting the wipes, so I used a peri bottle with only water for the first couple of months, then added some baby oil and soap to the solution.

[sarahwg]

We have a collection of random wipes - some are basic terrycloth washcloths, some are organic flannel, but I totally agree there is a type (sounds like the Gerber) that are smooth on one side, terry on the other with no edging and those have stayed the softest. I was taking them all off the line today and remembering that I liked those the best...

We have about 25 but we have a crazy amount of prefolds that we use to wipe up spills or explosions...so our wipes are only used as wipes. Also, with my son we didn't use cloth wipes when out and about but I would like to do that this time around so I might have to stock up on some more of the Gerber-type ones when I am in the states this summer...

My son was born during a very cold winter in 2005 so we started out using warm water for his little newborn toosh but since this is a summer baby I don't think having it warm will be as necessary.

[mommymcnair6]

We have cloth diapered five babies and always just kept a big stack of washcloths next to the diaper pail in the bathroom and wet them in the sink as we needed them and just threw them in the diaper pail with the diapers. Cheap, easy, no fuss and works great! At this point, I am all for simplicity : ) When we are going out, I wet down a couple of washcloths and put them in my wet bag or a ziplock bag I keep in my purse and use those for wipes while we are away from home.

[Kelly1101]

ddc crashing, saw on the main page...

anything other than water seriously irritates my daughter... but we use this pump thermos... http://www.target.com/Thermos-Vacuum...%20pump&page=1

incredibly easy, keeps water warm for 2-3 days. i'm in love with it, and so is emma's butt.

[vegemamaVA]

Originally Posted by sarahwg

Thanks for all your input everyone!

I was talking to my husband at lunch and he asked "Why would we use more than just water?" since that worked out just fine last time. I guess in my impatience for this baby to arrive I am just trying to find things to do and prepare...and I liked the idea of something that smelled good... But it is true that I won't know about the baby's sensitivities and water is the safest best for now. Perhaps if we end up with a rash (which never happened last time - but as I must keep reminding myself, different baby this time...) we'll look for something...

yeah, plus I know at our house, if I kept a bowl or bottle of some preprepared stuff laying around my other two would be sure to get into it and dump/squirt it all over the place on a regular basis. simple is good!

[annettemarie]

Moving to diapering