cloth wipes confusion...

[crunchierbytheday]

So, we are in the process of switching from disposable diapers to cloth.. (By in the process I mean that we have made the decision to switch and are currently researching because we know nothing.) And along with that, I would really like to start using cloth wipes as well. DS is 7 mo, but I figure better late than never, right? He has been having bad diaper rashes and we have tried everything else.. Anyway, I am a little perplexed on the how to's of using cloth wipes. Is plain water okay? Or do you need to use some form of soap? Also, and this may be a dumb question, but do you wet the wipe or do you rinse the tushy directly? I know that when it comes to this there really is not a right way or wrong way, but what works best for you??

[moondiapers]

Originally Posted by crunchierbytheday

So, we are in the process of switching from disposable diapers to cloth.. (By in the process I mean that we have made the decision to switch and are currently researching because we know nothing.) And along with that, I would really like to start using cloth wipes as well. DS is 7 mo, but I figure better late than never, right? He has been having bad diaper rashes and we have tried everything else.. Anyway, I am a little perplexed on the how to's of using cloth wipes. Is plain water okay? Or do you need to use some form of soap? Also, and this may be a dumb question, but do you wet the wipe or do you rinse the tushy directly? I know that when it comes to this there really is not a right way or wrong way, but what works best for you??

If you prefer to use plain water,just wet the cloth right before you use it. If you let them sit in plain water they will mildew. That said...I have a wipe warmer...and I mix about 1 1/2 cups of water with a couple of drops of lavendar oil, and a drop or two of my favorite baby wash. Then I drizzle it over the dry wipes in the wipe container. This is enough to keep the mildew away.

[mama2004]

When DS was teeny, I used a thermal press pot (think self serve brewed coffee) on the changing table that I put warm water in every day to wet the wipes as I needed them. Worked marvelously, just don't do as DH tended to do and try to get the thing dripping wet. Warm and damp is lovely.

Now that DS is running all over the place, I have plenty of time and free hands to use the faucet to get warm water from the tap, and DS appreciates the heads up. "DS, I'm getting a warm cloth for your bottom now," pretty well equates to, "There is about a minute before this diaper change thing is going to happen."

I have a friend whose child we sometimes care for, who, bless her heart, has washed and rewashed her disposable wipes and makes her own solution to soak them in, and they're awful. Cold and tiny and ineffective and awful. I'll take a warm washcloth any day.

Good luck!

[broodymama]

Originally Posted by moondiapers

That said...I have a wipe warmer...and I mix about 1 1/2 cups of water with a couple of drops of lavendar oil, and a drop or two of my favorite baby wash. Then I drizzle it over the dry wipes in the wipe container.

This is what we do too. Most of my wipes are 8" x 8", and folded in half they fit great in the wipes warmer. (Whatever the weird little pillow/insert thing was that came with the wipes warmer got tossed.)

[PatchChild]

I took to keeping the wipes next to the sink. I'd wet a couple on our way to change the diaper. Just water for us. IT worked out well.

[SeekingJoy]

I just wet the wipe in the bathroom. I also keep a peri bottle of homemade solution (water, lavendar eo, 1/4 ts of apricot oil and a tiny squirt of baby soap) with diaper supplies just in case.

Just a heads up that most diaper rash creams can mess with cloth diapers. You probably won't even need anything, but in case you do get something like California baby.

[Juliacat]

I keep a spray bottle of distilled water above the changing table. It doesn't matter if I wet the wipe or the tushy. If I had room for a changing table in the bathroom I would just run a wipe under the tap, but I don't.

[Stuckmama]

I got some small spray bottles when I was buying my cloth diapers, they were about $.75 each. I filled each spray bottle with about a tablespoon of Dr. Bronner's Castille Soap with Lavender. For cloth wipes I just took cheap flannel materiel from the craft store and cut it into decent sized squares. I just spray my baby's bottom with the spray and wipe (or dab if needed) the mess away. My son did have a bit of diaper rash and we cleared it up using Burt's Bee's Diaper cream. That particular brand also doesn't affect the absorption of the cloth diaper.

[LionessMom]

i just wet the flannel wipe with warm tap water. i used to use a squirt bottle but DD didnt like the cold in the winter. so in the cold weather i use warm water. in the summer i just wet it. it only takes a minute or two for the tap to warm up and DD2 doesnt get so mad. i have some larger wipes too. 8x8 i think. i am going to make more out of some flannel i have.

[octobermom]

warm water and baby wash cloths here. I did have a bottle of some special diaper spray (lotion potion from kissalus) and every so often I'd add a few little spritz from that onto a tap water wet wipe. Overall though I figured the less chemicals the better.

deanna

[crunchierbytheday]

Thanks mamas!! With winter approaching, I suppose DS would appreciate it if I figured out a way to keep things warm! I hadn't really thought about that part..

[Ifluffedthree]

Originally Posted by Juliacat

I keep a spray bottle of distilled water above the changing table. It doesn't matter if I wet the wipe or the tushy.

This was pretty much the routine here too. I also did the run under water at the bathroom sink on the way to the changing table. And at some point I just started using a changing mat where every I felt like changing.

Might I suggest starting with the wipes as your first change in routine. It will help you with the transition to cloth diapers. Shifting to cloth wipes is the easiest way to remove a bunch of chemicals out of the diapering routine as well as putting bucks back into the wallet and saving lots of resources from going to a disposable product.

Good luck.

[AKislandgirl]

We use a wipes warmer with just water and have no problems with mildew. Works great. I have some of the diaper lotion potion from kissaluvs in a spray bottle. I use about 1/4 of the amount suggested on the bottle when making the solution up and spray her bottom directly and wipe with the warm washcloth. We are really happy with this system.

[Ruthie's momma]

I would just dampen a cloth wipe (Thirsties Fab Wipes were my fave) in the sink, on the way to a dipe change. For a short while, I would spritz some California Baby Non-Burning and Calming Diaper Area Wash on DD's tush. Even diluted, it seemed to cause some irritation. So, I went back to plain tap water.

[Logan]

Originally Posted by AKislandgirl

We use a wipes warmer with just water and have no problems with mildew. Works great. I have some of the diaper lotion potion from kissaluvs in a spray bottle. I use about 1/4 of the amount suggested on the bottle when making the solution up and spray her bottom directly and wipe with the warm washcloth. We are really happy with this system.

Those of you who use a wipes warmer, do you have to buy those replacement things that go into them (Im guessing to prevent mildew?)??? I really wanted to get one for when DD was a newborn, but didnt bother because I heard you had to keep buying refills of those things...If this isnt true Im going out to get one ASAP .....