Homemade Baby Wipes

[OurLittleNest]

Anyone use cloth baby wipes and make their own baby wipe solution? I would love to hear what recipe you use, what works for you and any other tips.

Thanks!

[Katie T]

I use cloth wipes that I made myself and are just 2 layers of flannel. I just use tap water to wet them.

If you go to the diapering forum on this site you will get lots of responses. Or do a search of the diapering forum and lots will come up.

Welcome to MDC!

[demetria]

I used wash clothes when I used cloth wipes. I got a case of clothes from a bulk store.
I just used water. It seemed the most natural solution and it was the easiest.

[ziggy28028]

I made my own wipes out of flannel & bought a small spray bottle for a buck. I fill it 3/4 full with warm water & add a little bit of baby wash to it. I just give it a shake & spray my son's bottom & wipe him off with a wipe. We have been doing it for a couple months & I LOVE it! Smells good too!

[swd12422]

Wipes = baby washcloths + water

[canadianhippie]

I use a washcloth for pee and baby wipes from costco for poop, i dont do poop very well, i just want it gone, but most of the time im able to catch him and he goes on the potty

[4Blessings]

We use cut up receiving blankets, old wash clothes, etc for the wipes and keep water in a peri bottle. Squirt wipe with water as needed.

[MaryMarg]

Also using flannel wipes and water. We keep a Thermos brand coffee dispenser (called vacuum-insulated with pump dispenser) on the changing table with water in it. When I use a regular wipe, I find I have a to use a few to get the job done vs. just one with water only! We take flannel wipes in the diaper bag and someone always has a klean kanteen with water in it. Here's a neat site with TONS of different ideas for making your own wipes or wipes solution if you want a solution other than water.

http://parents.berkeley.edu/recommen...wipes.html#alt

[mojobin]

I too use a spray bottle. (I think I found it at Target for a buck. I like this particular one b/c it is small. I had a large one and it was too bulky and I didn't like the water sitting in there for so many days.) I fill it with warm water a tablespoon of liquid bath soap and a tablespoon of olive oil (approximate amounts, really I just splash the soap and oil in there). I spray it on baby wash cloths and wipe. So easy. I use disposable wipes when we're out (many disposable wipes end up in the wash with the diapers and come out in one piece so I reuse those in with our wash rags). I try to catch poops in the toilet too. So much less messy. I switched to using a spray bottle instead of just wetting cloths in the sink, because I just needed everything in one area where I keep the diapers.

Oh and I love the idea of using a peri bottle. I might just have to switch.

[Nicole730]

Two layers of flannel and water here.

[OurLittleNest]

Thanks for your comments everyone. When I was Googling this topic, I came across so many recommendations about what to mix with the water and I was getting confused. It hadn't occurred to me that just plain water would work until I read your comments! I think this will be an easy transition ... and much less wasteful.

Has anyone ever added tea tree oil to the water? What is purpose of that?

[Comtessa]

I use tea tree oil! My recipe is this: in a small bottle mix 1 cup olive oil with 3 drops tea trea oil. Then, in an old sposie-wipes container, I mix 1 cup water, 1 tbsp. natural baby wash, and 1 tbsp. olive/tea tree oil. Then I put a stack of wipes right into that solution. I've found it easier to have them already wet and on hand than trying to wet them in the sink or with a spray bottle.

As for the tea tree oil, it has three purposes:
1) It's naturally antibacterial, so it keeps yucky germies from multiplying in the wipe solution
2) The antibacterial qualities also seem to help prevent and treat diaper rash
3) It makes the wipe solution smell pretty!

If you use tea tree oil, I highly recommend diluting it BEFORE adding to your wipes -- you want a very very tiny amount. If the concentration is too high, it will burn your baby's sensitive parts. When I was trying to work out the right solution, I would wet a wipe and dab it on my own genitals. If it burned, I cut back on the essential oil.

Oh, as far as wipes go, we have a stack of squares of fleece that were left over from some crafty project of my mom's. I like them because the ends don't fray when you cut them, so you don't need to hem them. Small cotton baby washcloths make far superior wipes, though, if you can get your hands on some.

When I wash my diapers, the wipes just go into the laundry with everything else, then when I hang the diapers up to dry, I just take the wet wipes and put them back into the wipes box. It took me longer than I'd like to admit before it occurred to me that I didn't need to dry the wipes.