Make Baby Wipes

Wow -- the average person uses 4400 baby wipes a year on his or her baby. Not only can wipes be wasteful to the environment if they are not biodegradable, but they can also often contain such chemicals as fragrance, chlorine, synthetic preservatives, and dioxin. To avoid having to flush or dispose of wipes, and to eliminate the use of chemicals on your baby’s precious skin, you can make your own washable wipes with just a few simple ingredients.

Steps

Reusable Wipes

  1. Decide what wipe solution you want to use. Plain water can be used successfully with some babies. For a better cleaning wipe, use 2 tbsp baby shampoo, 2 tbsp oil, and 2 cups water. Other recipes include ingredients such as aloe vera juice, apple cider vinegar, essential oils, and soap. Feel free to experiment to determine what recipe works best for your baby's skin and your lifestyle.
  2. In a measuring cup or a jar with a lid, combine your wipe ingredients.
  3. Stir until dissolved.
  4. Pour mixture over 15-20 baby facecloths, terrycloth washcloths, or 10”x10” cotton flannel squares, in a wipes dispenser or other container. Or simply put the mixture in a spray bottle and use a two step process of spraying the baby's bottom and then wiping with a clean, dry cloth. Once the container is empty, clean well and repeat!

Disposable Wipes

  1. Take a roll of Bounty or Viva paper towels (other premium or high quality paper towels may work as well) and cut the roll in half with a serrated knife (be careful).
  2. Get an ice cream bucket
  3. Fill about a quarter of the way with warm water (or wipes solution).
  4. Place the paper towel roll half into the bucket. Pull out the cardboard tube after the wipes have absorbed all of the solution.
  5. Cut an 'X' in the lid. Starting from the center of the roll, feed the towels through the 'X'.
  6. You now have your baby wipes!



Tips

  • Making your own wipes keeps unwanted chemicals from being absorbed into baby's skin.
  • Reusable wipes allow you to save money and reduce waste.
  • Launder your used wipes with cloth diapers, or soak separately in a container of water, vinegar and baking soda mixture before washing.

Warnings

  • Some babies are sensitive to essential oils, use Tea Tree Oil with caution. If rashes develop or persist, stop using immediately.
  • Essential oils are potent, and very few should be used on babies. It would be best to avoid them altogether, but just a little lavender or chamomile should be OK. Avoid all artificial scents.

Things You'll Need

  • Baby facecloths, terrycloth washcloths, or flannel squares
  • A container for the wipes OR a spray bottle
  • Ingredients for your wipes solution

For homemade disposable wipes:

  • Bounty paper towels
  • ice cream bucket or other sturdy container

Wipes Solution Recipes

  • 2 tbsp baby shampoo
  • 2 tbsp baby oil
  • 2 cups water
  • ¼ cup warm water
  • ¼ cup aloe vera juice
  • 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar (unless baby has a raw diaper rash)
  • 1 teaspoon grated, unscented soap
  • 2 tablespoons carrier oil (calendula- great for diaper rash, jojoba, apricot kernel); Optional: Add up to 4 drops of either or both of lavender essential oil, tea tree essential oil.

Related Articles

Sources and Citations

  • Homemade Baby
  • The Guide To Making Your Own Baby Care Essentials...The Natural Way!'
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