Educate me on Cloth Wipes

[springbride]

So I have my cloth diapers, I am very excited to use them! DH is fully on board :

Now I have been stewing over wipes... How many do you need, what's the benefit of cloth over sposie wipes? Do you use cloth wipes exclusively? Or just at home? Do they get stained and gross really fast?

Convince me!

ETA: Do you make them or where can you buy them?

[Equuskia]

I found that around 24 is enough. I can clean a messy butt in one or two wipes, as opposed to 5 or 6 sposie ones. I bought mine used and they are on my second kid. they really aren't stained, and I just hang them in the sun from time to time. I use wipes exclusively.

[inky leeuhhh]

it took me a while to make the switch from sposie wipes to cloth back when i was cding dd1. once i did though i realized it was way easier than trying to keep the disposable wipes separate from the diapers. some how i have aquired a giant mass of wipes, but really i think three doz would be good for us. they get used both for wiping dd1's butt after she poos on the potty, and for dd2s diaper changes. you use way less cloth wipes than disposables, which is awesome. some are stained, but they are used for wiping up poop so i dont really care, lol. they do sun out well though!

[Ifluffedthree]

24-36 is a good number per child.
over time they might get staining
benefits far outweigh sposies -- no chemicals, no replacement, reduced resources used for manufacturing, less disposal waste.
imo -- cleaner bums
less rashes

easy to make from natural fibers. cotton, flannel cotton, hemp, bamboo, reclaimed natural fabrics.

I have bought them and I have made them for diapering, family un-tp, and for business.

[Michigan Mama]

It took me a little bit to make the switch, too, as someone else mentioned, but truly - it is so much easier. When you wipe a poo, it just goes in the wash with the diaper, rather than dumping a poopy wipe in the trash. That always seemed icky to me! I tend to use sposie wipes when I'm out, mostly because I forget to pack cloth and so sposie wipes are my back up. But it's the same issue. So I've got the cd w/ poo...where do I stick the wipe? In the trash can of the public restroom? That's sort of gross. Back in my diaper? That's gross, too, cuz I have to fish it out when I get home. Not my favorite pasttime.

I make mine from two layers of flannel. Plenty of people just use cotton washcloths. There's even luxurious bamboo velour ones available. Whatever you want, really. I have about 20 right now and that's plenty for my 2 y.o., but we'll need more for new baby coming in Aug. They poop a lot more! I do have some that are pretty stained, but I've been using them for quite a while now. One of these days I'll just pitch them and make some more. No biggie.

[AKislandgirl]

It did not occur to me to not use cloth wipes since I was doing cloth diapers. You will wash them with your diapers so its no big deal. They are soft and chemical free and not going into the landfill. (this is why I cloth diaper too!) It really is easy. I wet a bunch under the sink, ring out and keep in a wipes warmer. They work great. We have 3 dozen which we bought at GMD.

[hippiemama76]

Cloth wipes are so much easier when you are using cloth diapers. You pop them both into the diaper pail and walk away. I had to use disposable wipes for one or two changes, and it's weird to me. You pop the diaper in the pail/wet bag and then have to walk around looking for a trash can for a wet, dirty wipe. Yuck.

I am quite possibly the worst seamstress ever and I made all of our cloth wipes. I have probably 50, and it was so cheap. I got remnants of flannel from Jo-Anns and they were very inexpensive and very easy to make.

[OTMomma]

Actually, when I had my first, the nurse at my childbirth class recommended using baby washclothes wet with just water instead of disposible baby wipes on newborns to prevent diaper rash in those early days- so my first had cloth wipes for a while, and sposie diapers (I later switched to cloth diapers).

My personal preference for a newborn is to have 2-3 dozen baby washclothes, just the regular ones from Walmart or whatever- as the bum is so tiny and breastmilk poos clean up pretty easy. Once baby is a bit older, I like 2 layer wipes of either flannel, or flannel and velour- I make my own of both of those, about 8" square. But recently I got some that are sherpa on one side, and those ROCK for changing a toddler- its nice and thick and big to deal with the toddler poo- I got those through hyena cart.

They sell fancy cleaners to add to your wipes, but personally, I generally prefer just water from the tap.

[Birdie B.]

I am very lazy - I just cut up some flannel pillowcases (from thrift stores) into squares, and keep them in a disposable wipes case. I make a solution with Dr. Bronner's and tea tree oil and pour it over the wipes. It works really well so far; some of the wipes are a little frayed around the edges, but still work fine.

[BeanyMama]

We use cloth wipes when when DD is in a cloth diap- which is about 75% of the time; and disposable wipes when she's in a sposie, for the same reason as a pp, it's just way easier to throw a cloth wipes in the pail with the diaper than to have to throw it in the trash. Grossy!

I've got a little basket of them with a small spray bottle of water that I spray her booty or wipe with. We have a tea tree wipe solution, but I've found water usually covers it.

ITA, the best ones are thin and flannel!

[frontierpsych]

I just use baby washcloths-- I've got about a dozen, and I use them mainly for poopy dipes, and freshening up every few pee dipes.

[OTMomma]

Just wanted to add- none of my wipes are stained or gross- they come clean just like the diapers.

[Twinklefae]

We've always used a peri bottle of plain water (anything else gave DS a rash) and baby washcloths. We got about 25 during my shower and I bought a few packs as well.

Now that DS has icky toddler poo I do use a disposible wipe here and there to get rid of the worst of the sticky poo. :

[luv-my-boys]

Originally Posted by Twinklefae

Now that DS has icky toddler poo I do use a disposible wipe here and there to get rid of the worst of the sticky poo. :

I did that as well once DS had toddler poop...I just couldnt stand wiping up (sorry tmi) chunky poop. So I'd use a sposie first and then do the follow up with a cloth.

[Twinklefae]

That's exactly what I do. (He's still prone to rash if not washed with just water. :