A.D. asks from South Bend, IN on February 20, 2008
Homemade Baby Wipes
Hi. I was just wondering if anyone out there has ever tried making their own baby wipes? If so, was the money you saved worth the effort? In other words, would you recommend it? And if so, what is your tried & true recipe that you used?
So What Happened?™
WOW! I can't believe the amount of great responses I got to my question about homemade baby wipes! This was my first time posting a request on Mamasource. I didn't know if I would get any responses, but I am so pleased to find all these great ideas in my inbox in only a matter of 12 hours! Amazing. Thank you to all who replied!! I still have a bunch of store bought baby wipes that were given to us, but I want to try one or two of these ideas for when those run out. I never even thought of making cloth wipes (& we are using cloth diapers, so that is a good idea). I had seen a recipe for making them with paper towels, but wanted to ask others who have actually tried it. Thanks again to each of you! I really appreciate your help.
Featured Answers
H.S. answers from Dayton on February 21, 2008
Recipe
cut a roll of paper towels in half and pull out the core(Bounty works best)
1 1/4- 1 1/2 c water
1/8 c olive oil or sweet almond oil
2 T castille soap
10 drops tea tree essential oil
10 drops lavendar oil (optional-for scent)
container to put them in
I bought a tupperware type container that was tall enough to fit a half roll of paper towels and cut a hole in the top to pull the wipes up from the middle of the role.
More Answers
W.M. answers from Cleveland on February 21, 2008
H.S. answers from Dayton on February 21, 2008
Recipe
cut a roll of paper towels in half and pull out the core(Bounty works best)
1 1/4- 1 1/2 c water
1/8 c olive oil or sweet almond oil
2 T castille soap
10 drops tea tree essential oil
10 drops lavendar oil (optional-for scent)
container to put them in
I bought a tupperware type container that was tall enough to fit a half roll of paper towels and cut a hole in the top to pull the wipes up from the middle of the role.
A.H. answers from Toledo on February 20, 2008
I love making my own wipes. This way I know exactly what is in them. I choose to use Melaleuca products. They have a very easy way to make your own wipes. Feel free to contact me for more information. ____@____.com
S.D. answers from Indianapolis on February 21, 2008
I made baby wipes and I love them! I made them flannel on one side and fleece on the other. They are bright and colorful. I do think it's easier if you have a surger, but you can use a regular sewing machine if you have to.
As for the solution I use...
1 pt baby oil
1 pt baby shampoo or head-to-toe wash
4 pts water
You can put it in a spray bottle or I put it in a soap suds pump (PM me for info). Also, you can add a few drops of smelly oils if you want.
Good Luck!
A.K. answers from Raleigh on February 20, 2008
A soft wash cloth with gentle soap and warm water is what I used with my newborns. Kinda messy and lots of laundry,but I am sure you could do that longer if you wanted. I'm pretty sure it's what my mom and grandmother used before there were 'wipes'.
A.S. answers from Indianapolis on February 20, 2008
changing diapers every day is bad enough. especially if you use cloth diapers. trust me when i say you do not want to have to make your own wipes.
Y.M. answers from Cleveland on February 21, 2008
Use non-printed, and if you can find it, non-bleached papertowels, use an electric knife to cut the roll in half.
Take out the cardboard middle. Find a Tupperware or otherwise sealable container that fits your now about toilepapersized roll. Mix about a cup of water with a couple of tablespoons of your favorite tear-free baby bath, pour ofer the papertowels in said container. Now you have non-irritating safe to use babywipes. I have never figured out if they are cheaper, but after I used Babywipes to remove make -up and I had my skin burning on my face, I figured that would be cruel and unusual punishment to use that on the diaper area. It hurts!!!
Hope this helps.
J.H. answers from Columbus on February 21, 2008
We purchased wash cloths (cheaper ones from Meijer or Kmart) and cut them down to wipe size (my mom surged the edge so they won't fray). We purchased a wipe warmer for under $20 and simply wet the wipes and store them in the container. The wipe warmer sits near her changing table and are nice and warm when ready to use. We use cloth diapers, so just throw it all in the diaper pail (but even if you don't use cloth, you could still throw them in the wash with other laundry- just wash on hottest setting to make sterile). It's initially a little bit of work, but once you make the wipes, you never have to make them again. We're still using ours after 16 months. And throwing them in the laundry with other wash is so easy & it's cheaper, better for the environment, and works GREAT. I've never felt the need to use soap or anything- plain old water works fine and the terry cloth cleans up even the worse messes so well but is still gentle on baby's skin. When we're on the go, I just put a handful of wipes in a plastic ziploc baggie and pack a plastic grocery sack to put the soiled wipes in! It really is easy, and saves so much expense. As with anything, once you get use to doing it, it's not hard or "extra work". You just have to choose your priorities. After doing research about what is actually in wipes, I couldn't conceive of using them on our daughter. Some of the ingredients very toxic in larger amounts and while the wipes only have small amounts, what is the accumulative effect? I'd rather be safe than sorry! Good luck.
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