Baby Wipes « Back to Group Discussions

[spotty4]

In step w/ the cloth diapering thread, I have a few questions re: baby wipes.

I recall reading in various baby books that newborn skin can be too sensitive for standard baby wipes and to just use cotton rounds (or the like) w/ warm water to wipe the butt clean b/t diaper changings until their skin is more resilient.  I also see many "all natural" baby wipe products out there that claim to be less harsh.

On the cloth diapering thread someone (sorry I can't recall who) mentioned making her own flannel wipes.  I assume these are for baby and not for post-partum lochia?  Assuming they are for baby do you just wet the flannel w/ warm water to clean and tidy up the baby's bum?

Sorry .... thanks so much for entertaining my ignorance!! :-)

[pokeyAC]

I don't know much about wipes yet, but I do know that with the cloth ones people use water or make their own gentle cleaning solution.  The liquid can be sprayed onto the wipe for use or poured over them when you have them stacked in a container or baby wipe warmer.  You could use water and a mild soap like Dr. Bronner's or something like that and maybe some essential oil and/or tea tree oil.

[dayiscoming2006]

I use cloth wipes sometimes. I have some thirsties cloth wipes that I bought years ago. I usually put about the amount I'd think I'd go through in a day under water, ring it out and stick it in a container to keep moist. You wouldn't wanna forget them in there or they mold. Had that happen once. Some people use wipe recipes, but just plain water worked fine for me. They don't mold for a while though. you could leave them in there a couple days just fine.

I used seventh generation disposables wipes since my 3rd child. I had used huggies and stuff before, but became more aware of the chemicals in those wipes. There are a ton. I haven't used any of the mainstream wipes since I read up on that because it's pretty awful. The seventh generation wipes are pretty reasonable off of amazon. 

[pokeyAC]

Thanks for the recommendation, dayiscoming.  I was planning on using the Seventh Generation wipes.  I'm glad to know you like them so much.

[here we are]

I am imagining a big mess on a little baby. does it usually require several wipes to clean up 1 time? is everything wipeable, instead of like standing next to the sink and doing a little mini wash /rinse ? How about wiping techniques? I don't want to over wipe or underwipe , you know?

[BumkinsMum]

This thread cracks me up. But it is so important to know you know?!

My insight on wipes/cloth diaps...hope it helps!

First weeks I use preemie cloth diapers as wipes with just plain warm water.. Keep them in a warmer if you like then avoid having to wet it every time.

After about a month the Seventh Gen wipes come out and that's it from there. I can't stand the fragrance of the other brands let alone the chemicals used...

K, Boys vs, Girls.

Obviously Girls are harder for wiping poops. Wipe down (or towards the bottom).AND wipe thoroughly. Any residue will cause irritation right quick that will need extra cleaning and possibly creams to help heal. Careful with use of powder on girls too, powder can hold in bacteria if there is still moisture and that you don't want down there. Using plain arrow-root powder is a good natural alternative for powder if you want to use it. 

Boys, easy-peasy. Wipe any ole' where and get the job done quick.  Seriously, the wiping is just easier as there are less um...hidden folds to worry about cleaning well. Plus they don't seem to be nearly as sensitive in that area. (until they're older of course then any cheap shots to the groin is of course the end of the world)

Multiple or one wipe?  Well that entirely depends on how big the mess is If it's a little poo then you've got it covered with one (but bring a spare just in case) If it's an elephant-with-gas type of poo that has leaked through the diaper cover, through the onesie and onto the blanket below...well...I'd head for the sink or maybe the garden hose.....

Cloth diapers while wonderful do have more trouble with leakage. It may be due to the gussets in the legs or how the cloth diaper molds to their body unlike the disposables that hang on the baby and catch most of it. Like the wipes, for the first 3-4 months I use cloth then switch to Seventh Gen diapers. BUT only when we go somewhere. When we're at home they're always in cloth (or all-natural) until potty trained.

ALWAYS when cloth diapering on the go remember to bring an extra pair of clothes. You never know when you'll have a blow-out.

(Notice I didn't specify WHO'S spare clothes to bring? That was intended )

[dayiscoming2006]

Originally Posted by BumkinsMum 

Cloth diapers while wonderful do have more trouble with leakage. It may be due to the gussets in the legs or how the cloth diaper molds to their body unlike the disposables that hang on the baby and catch most of it. Like the wipes, for the first 3-4 months I use cloth then switch to Seventh Gen diapers. BUT only when we go somewhere. When we're at home they're always in cloth (or all-natural) until potty trained.

ALWAYS when cloth diapering on the go remember to bring an extra pair of clothes. You never know when you'll have a blow-out.

(Notice I didn't specify WHO'S spare clothes to bring? That was intended )

I actually have less leaks with my cloth diapers than with disposables. It might depend what kind you are using. I can guarantee a fitted diaper and a thirsties cover will contain better than any disposable. But, prefolds may have less success, though thirsties covers will still do a pretty good job, depends how big the poo. I had a poo squirted all over me when I was out with my DD one day. I had to run to goodwill for a cheap change of clothes. Yeah, definitely recommend spare clothes for baby and mommy/daddy - whoever's changing the diaper - those poo squirts can come out of nowhere. It's not a bad idea to have a preemie prefold or something to put over their butt while you are changing them in case they start squiring/peeing. I use toddler prefolds as changing pads in case they start peeing/pooing at random to protect what's under them. Highly recommend getting a small stash of those for changing pads/changing pad covers. That's even if you aren't cloth diapering. Just rinse it off after if it gets dirty and throw it in with the regular baby laundry if you don't have cloth diapers to wash.

[BumkinsMum]

I'm sure it all depend on what kind of poo-tastrophe as to whether or not it is contained within the boundaries of the diaper.

I've had to make the thrift store run myself for emergency changes and I second the extra  prefolds just for back up cleaning and containing messes and just figure you're going to go through laundry like crazy for a while.

The covers I had the most trouble with leakage were my ancient  wool Bio-Bottoms. I'm sure the  leg  gussets were not the tightest anymore but we we're broke and couldn't afford better at the time.  I've had better luck with my pre-folds and Thirsties covers but still there are those few surprising blow-outs that seem to happen when you are least prepared.

Isn't poo discussion grand?   My toddler seems to think so anyway.....
 

[BabySmurf]

I must be lucky, I had leakage issues with both cloth and disposables .  I think it's all in how the dipes fit the babe - that's why cloth is cool, you can get a few different styles and then go with what works best.  I also recommend bringing a change of clothes (maybe two or more if you have a super pooper like i did) for both you and the baby.  Those early BM poos are epic, and DS would poo through his clothes and onto mine, never mind the surprise squirts while changing (yes, one time the poop did hit the wall a few feet behind me...okay more than once it happened...way funner looking back at it now than it was at 3am).

As for the cloth wipes, it's almost just as easy to just do that if you are cloth diapering anyway.  And be sure to check the ingredients in your wipes, even the "natural wipes" out there have a LOT of crud in them, and still shouldn't be used in the early days/weeks.  For cloth wipes, I would just cut up some old t shirts or blankets, or use small wash clothes.  I've heard a lot of people that have success with just water, and others that add oils, soap, etc. some people just keep a spray bottle nearby, others use a wipes warmer and wet the wipes all at once.  I'll likely just use water - I feel like anything else leaves a residue behind.  And the size of the mess will determine the number of wipes needed...boys are definitely easy to clean up, I am way nervous about excavating the poo out on a girl. 

[BumkinsMum]

Originally Posted by BabySmurf 

I must be lucky, I had leakage issues with both cloth and disposables .  I think it's all in how the dipes fit the babe - that's why cloth is cool, you can get a few different styles and then go with what works best.

Originally Posted by BabySmurf  Those early BM poos are epic, and DS would poo through his clothes and onto mine, never mind the surprise squirts while changing (yes, one time the poop did hit the wall a few feet behind me...okay more than once it happened...way funner looking back at it now than it was at 3am).

Are you sure our children aren't members of the same poo club?! Something with a slogan like "who can make the most memorable mess"  or

"Ready...Aim......"

Epic indeed.

[pokeyAC]

Thank you for sharing your poo-tastrophe stories!    I thoroughly enjoyed them.  I may not enjoy it when it happens in the future, but I'm glad I got the scoop on poop.  

[BumkinsMum]

Hey, IT happens!  Gotta be prepared.
 

[bearandotter]

We use cloth wipes. So much easier than disposables - everything goes into the bag so no travelling to a room with a garbage. I do use disposable wipes when out of the house.

Terry cloth doesn't fray since it is a knit not woven. You can just chop up an old or cheap towel (with shed a bit in the first wash). I serged a bunch of to layer flannel at one point too.

I used to use a peri-bottle (the one they give you at the hospital) and wet the wipe just before use. Now I have a snap lid container that gets about a cup of solution and a huge handful of wipes shoved in it for use when ready (works for 4ish days without getting yucky).

I like using wipe cubes - little bits of glycerin and essential oils that dissolve in warm water to make a wipe solution. I used to have monkey cubes, but now have some off etsy.

Bonus is that using either a homemade solution or (most) wipe cubes is no pthalates, parabens, glycol, or other yucky chemicals on your baby's little bum.

[holidaymama]

I'm the one that made the cloth wipes...I just cut up 8x8 squares (lots are imperfect ;-) ) and zig zag stitched around them. There will be plenty of poops that you need 5-8 wipes and some you can do it in one...had plenty of poop tastrophies and guess what I used disposables...TONS of blow outs so I am not scared of the blow out possibility with cloth. I'm going to make a solution like this:

• 1 TBSP of Baby-mild Dr. Bronners Castile Soap
• 5-7 drops Tea Tree Oil and/or Lavender Oil
• 1 cup water
• 1 TBSP oil (I will probably use olive or coconut)

I made about 40 wipes...I had searched how many others made and that sounded about right although I have plenty of fabric to make more. I like the idea of having old prefolds to use too for the huge messes. I've only had boys, and they are super easy to clean. I hear girls are harder.

[zjande]

We too use only cloth wipes. I do it the most no-nonsense sort of unfancy way possible. :p

I cut up extra receiving blankets (they can be had for very little money at thrift stores). I don't measure, just sit with scissors and chop them up. I have an old plastic Huggies baby wipes tub. I stick a big hand full of dry wipes in the tub, then wet them under the sink and squish the water into them until they feel wet enough.

As someone mentioned, they last about 4ish days before I notice a smell like a pond. Then I just toss them into the wash and start with a fresh hand full of dry wipes. I keep a small basket of dry wipes on the dresser.

This is what I do for our newborns all the way up, at home and away. I made the switch a few babies back after reading about the chemicals in disposable wipes. Many of them are called "endocrine disrupters" which means they can interfere with reproduction, and they are absorbed through the skin. And there I was wiping them all over my childrens' reproductive parts. Bleh.

Cloth wipes = easy peasy. :)

[Voondrop]

We cloth diaper & w/ 3rd baby, switched to cloth wipes. We had received so many baby washcloths that that is what I use, just fold them in half & keep in a wipes container. I wet them individually (or more, depending on the mess) to use one at a time as the sink is right there. Everything pooey gets dunked in the toilet & tossed in the pail.

I also had a ton of blow outs w/ my first cloth diapered baby using prefolds until I started using snappi's w/ my second & third. They keep the diaper conformed to baby so the wraps can do their job better.