The Task: To switch from disposable baby wipes to cloth ones.
The Why: It's cheaper, it's better for the environment, and it isn't wiping my kids butt with god-knows-what. Besides, once we made the switch to cloth diapers, disposable wipes kinda become a real annoyance. Wipes that can get tossed in the wet bag with the diapers make way more sense than little poopy cloths than need to be carted to the outdoor garbage can.
The How: I'm using some old receiving blankets cut into squares and some inexpensive baby wash cloths. You can buy cloth wipes from most cloth diaper companies, but this seems to be working fine for us. I make my own wipe solution and keep it in a spray bottle. I labelled it "bum spray" but really we spritz it on the cloth before using it, not directly on the baby. Used wipes just go in the wet bag and get washed with the diapers.
Homemade Bum Spray (a.k.a Baby Wipes Solution)
The ratios are approximate, I just eyeball it. In a small spray bottle combine:
- 1 part Dr. Bronner's Castile soap
- 1 part olive oil
- 3 parts water
- a few drops of lavender essential oil
The Verdict: I like this so much better than disposable wipes. It works better, smells great, and avoids the whole wasted-pack-of-disposable-wipes-because-they-were-left-open-and-dried-out problem. The fact that it saves money and is better for the environment is pretty awesome too.
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We loved our cloth wipes. I put a stack in a disposable wipes container and filled it with the 'bum cleaner'. I added a little bit of vinegar and baby lotion to it as well, just to ward off yeast and to help make baby tushes soft. It's so great knowing what's going on a sensitive area :)
ReplyDeleteI used cloth wipes, too! We kept a stack in the nursery and wet one in warm water for every diaper change. It was very comfortable for baby, but she did get irritated skin once in a while. I found that fresh breast milk (straight from the "cow") was the best thing for diaper rashes. It doesn't get cheaper than that!
ReplyDeleteWe also used cloth wipes (although my youngest is now 5) and just this week I dug the last of our wipes out of his closet. They moved on to the dust rag bin. For awhile, I kept his cloth wipes, pre-moistened, in a diaper warmer (one of those plug in guys- so not really your thing) but they were so nice being warm on his tush. When we traveled, I pack pre-moistened cloth wipes in a little baggie. Worked great,.
ReplyDeleteI cut up an old receiving blanket to make wipes, too. And used cheap baby wash cloths. Been using them for over a year now. It really doesn't make sense to use disposable wipes with cloth diapers! I don't use a special wipe solution though. I use plain water. Works great! ( :
ReplyDeleteGlad you addressed this. I've been thinking about it, since I think the chemicals on the disposable wipes are giving my boy a rash. Also, it *is* annoying to have to throw the wipes into the garbage can or end up with washed wipes after a load of laundry. I might try tea-tree oil instead of lavender (antibiotic properties, am I right?) but I think I'm on-board with this.
ReplyDeleteWe use cloth wipes too, and we used to use a wipe spray. But at one point I ran out and realized straight water works just as well and is even cheaper! I just keep the wipes in the bathroom and wet it on the way to the changing table. I figure since I'm changing as soon as I smell it, it's pretty fresh and thus doesn't need much help to come clean.
ReplyDeleteDid you sew up the edges of the wipes, or just cut and go? My serger just bit the dust and my greatly pregnant brain can't handle the thought of dragging out the sewing machine to make a half effort to fake serge the edges with the machine.
ReplyDeleteI didn't bother to sew up the edges. I meant to, but it just never happened. so far they are holding up okay, but I've only washed them a few times.
DeleteThanks! I did just read a post somewhere and the lady uses old tshirts just cut up. Might try that too. Love that it would not get all in the velcro tabs of half my diapers!
DeleteWe cut up blankets too! I blanket edged them and I fold them into the wipes container just like disposables do they come out one by one and we dump bum solution over them. . . Works pretty great!I actually detailed out our distort station over at my blog. .
ReplyDeleteStephie N
SimplyBEEcause.blogspot.com
Diaper station . . . My predictive text had not working do great today
DeleteI just made a whole bunch for my DIL.
ReplyDeleteI serged a few but mostly sewed and turned them. All pink and flannely with brown skulls on it.
Two yards will make bunches....at 8.5" square you get 20 to 22.5 double sided wipes with almost no waste.
http://thedistracteddomestic.blogspot.com/2012/10/flannel-baby-wipesthe-next-big-thing.html
My oldest got a BAD rash from the store wipes. We used baby wash cloths with warm water and the rash cleared up fast. We always followed with Burt's Bees Apricot baby oil.
ReplyDeleteMy aunt was awesome and sewed up several flannel cloth wipes for me over the summer (I can't sew to save my life). We use a spray of chamomile tea and almond oil. I love it! I make a small batch and refill it every 7 days. Not a big deal :) I actually found it off this page (thought I'd share!):
ReplyDeletehttp://www.zany-zebra.com/cloth-wipe-solution.shtml
I used cloth wipes too! Couldn't seem to make a go of the cloth diapers (although I didn't try too hard) but at least I never used wipes!
ReplyDeleteI also used olive oil on newborn and small infant bums (on advice of my midwives) and then graduated to Vaseline, which probably wasn't the best idea considering its an oil product. I never had a problem with the cloth wipes, none at all.
hi there, I'm loving your blog. I also use cloth for everything and make my own wipes solution. Check out my post of http://www.nzecochick.com/2012/10/baby-wipes-solution-revisited.html M xx
ReplyDeleteI've cloth diapered both my children (now age 9 and 3) and can't help but wonder if the olive oil and lavender oil will cause (water resistant) build up on your diapers? I would encourage you to try it without any oils and see if it still works. Less is more, right?
ReplyDeleteSweet post. We've been doing this same for a few years now and can't believe how much we spent on wipes and diapers before!! As for not sewing your edges.....the only time I found that to be s problem was with Velcro diapers as the lint would get stuck from the wipes into the Velcro. Once we converted to snaps it is never a problem. We've used melaleuca (tee tree oil) and water as our solution and love it, never had build up and I like that it's naturally anti bacterial.
ReplyDeleteI cut regular wash clothes in quarters and zigzagged the edges. I like the smaller wipes bc there's no folding required. I just use more of them. I keep them in a disposable wipes box with water. I always put the clean ones on the bottom and it's never gotten nasty.
ReplyDeleteI just discovered your blog and it's amazing! I'm particularly enjoying your posts on clothed diapers and wipes. Thanks! - Irene
ReplyDelete