What's your oppinion on baby wipes?

[chaplain2b]

I heard you could make baby wipes out of old receiving blankets and use a more natural solution. Any suggestions? I don't have money to throw away!

A case of wipes averages 10.00 a month, that's 120.00 a year for one little item. I thought about cutting down my disposable shop towels for out in town and using the cloth ones at one. Don't know much about botanicals any suggestions, or recipes for baby wipe
solution?

[Forest_Nymph]

My daughter made her own baby wipes ...
She used a particular brand of paper towels cut/sawed in half; removed the inner cardboard core; inserted it into a previously purchased empty dispenser (round, log size, with top dispenser); then poured her liquid concoction to fill, making sure the toweling is completely absorbed; insert the inner sheet of the toweling through the dispenser and voile!
I believe she searched the web for the recipe for make-your-own cleaners etc. Toward the end of the "need", she just used plain water instead of other options.
I hope this helps you in your search for alternative money saving projects

[Shamrock1121]

I made homemade baby wipes by cutting up soft fabrics from clothes in the "rag bag". I realize people don't have "rag bags" anymore, but a 1/2-1 yard of soft jersey (t-shirt type) material (new) should make more than enough. I would suggest white material, if possible, because you'll need fabric that can be washed in hot water and bleached.

Choose a material that won't unraval when cut or else you'll need to hem them. I cut mine about 6-inches square from things like white t-shirts.

I made a mild solution of water and a few drops of baby shampoo or baby bath soap in a plastic margarine tub. If you have an empty baby wipe box, it should work just fine. It only takes a few drops of some kind of very mild soap.

After using the "rag" wipes, I tossed them in the diaper pail with a solution of Borax and water in it and laundered them with the diapers.

You could also use a bunch of baby washcloths. You can often find them at the Dollar Stores (several in a package for $1).

-Karen

[gratitude]

I'm on baby #4, and I've learned that just a simple washcloth with plain water is easiest. I tried all the cutting paper towel rolls, mixing solutions, etc. (Yikes, not worth it IMO; do you have any idea how hard it is to cut through a roll of paper towels? :o ) Like PP said, you can buy a stack of simple terry washcloths for next to nothing. Or use any absorbent cloth you cut and sew to keep the edges from fraying. For instance, I have a pair of pants that are worn threadbear beyond repair that I am going to cut into sections and fold over then hem and use as wipeys. A 'second life' for the pants vs. throwing them away.

I'll also add that for big messes (think: more than pee) I will just give a bath or somewhat quick splash- or spraydown in the sink or tub vs. bothering with endless wipeys. HTH!!

[RangerRick]

Back in my daugthers day we had old wash cloths and just washed them along with our cloth diapers. Cost = $0.

Rick

[granolaeeter]

Ditto here on the washcloths. My daughter just had a baby and she was asking me about baby wipes. We didn't have those when my two children were born. Even if we did I would not have considered spending money on them - I didn't have it to spend. As far as I knew you washed with wash cloths.

[Blacksmithswyf]

I just use washcloths or other diapers depending on the size of the mess. If you change the baby in a room with no sink just put a bottle of water in there with the diapers. :) I am uncomfortable with all of the things in baby wipes and their strange ability to stay wet when they should be dry.

[kirby-magoo]

I work at a large car dealer. We get Costco Baby wipes for the techs to use to clean their hands. Takes grease right off! The guys in parts use them to keep the counters clean! They take ink off shirts. I don't think I would want to use these things on a baby butt.

[exodus]

Since they didn't have baby wipes when my children were little, I made my own. I use old flannel that I hemmed. Added a little soap I made and added aloe. It worked just fine. I didn't think It was ecology I was saving. I thought it was my purse I was saving. As a matter of fact, I made our washcloths from old terry cloth I used to make DH his robe. In those days sewing was a necessity. I even made my husband snowmobile suit as well as the kids leggings and jacket. Knit the kids their mitten and scarves as well as my own. Actually I spun the wool for those mittens and felted them so they were waterproof. I make extra money for Christmas by sewing for others. I enjoyed it.


Pat

[homesteaderbelle]

I make baby wipes out of old flannel pajamas and old flannel shirts. Recieving blankets should work pretty good. If you would like to see picture of mine, go to my. http://homesteaderbelle.blogspot.com
For a solution, what about just water?
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *Belle

[dreams_in_color]

They did not have baby wipes when my kids were little. Or if they did I did not buy them because of the additives. With my oldest I made his diapers out of flannel and cut into an hourglass shape. He never had diaper rash. My kids have come to my house and discovered they were out of wipes. They panic and I tell them to use a washcloth... They have set in their mind that they have to use them.

[sioux-pepper]

I am on baby #2. I made my own wipes with the paper towels – they gave by firstborn a rash, even though I only used a little baby wash in them. Tried different ratios too. Just use water now.
*I have to agree with a previous poster - baby wipes take anything off! Have a pen mark on you or the wall :P, use a baby wipe, works fantastically.
Anyway, I use cloth diapers and wipes, but I would not have if the new kinds weren’t so easy to use. I would never dream of using the old fashioned, pin-on, have to fold and use with rubber pants kind (kudos to those of you – including my mother – that HAD to).
If any of you are interested in seeing the “new and improved” cloth diapers and wipes –
Go to
www.bumgenius.com
let me know what you think
Misty

[MotherCharlotte]

With my first two babies, I used disposable diapers and wipes, and I feel sick when I realize that we literally spent thousands on those things over the years, if you add it all up. (Not to mention the quantity of garbage produced.)

I am having another baby this July, and this time I am determined to be more frugal. So I bought some cloth diapers--the old fashioned kind with pins and covers, they are so much cheaper than anything else out there--and I have made my own cloth wipes.

All I did was cut up some old cotton knit clothing that was too worn to give to charity - old stretched out of shape sweatshirts, t-shirts, etc - into smallish rectangles. I folded the pieces up and put them in one of those plastic tubs that the disposable wipes come in. When baby arrives I'll just do something to keep them moist--I'll probably just use water, maybe with a few drops of olive oil for moisturization.

My mom told me about the kind where you cut the roll of paper towels in half - she read it on the Internet and thought it was a great idea - but since I will be doing loads of cloth diapers in the washer all the time I might as well be throwing in some cloth wipes too. It doesn't make sense to me to be using paper towels, which might be harsh on baby's bottom as well, seeing as how they have a rough texture and are bleached.

The covers I bought for the diapers were the most expensive item. All told, I think I spent around $300 for all my diapering supplies, and now I will not need anything else. I think I calculated once before how much we had spent on diapers for my middle child by the time he turned 3 (yes he was resistant to potty training!) and the figure was well over a thousand dollars.

[Jamie]

We have 8 children and we too have discovered the harm in both disposable diapers and wipes. We have used cloth diapers on some of the kids out of neccessity but we now use them and cloth wipes for the sake of our childrens health. The westonaprice site has alot on this topic.
As for what to put in the solution for wipes I just use water and if I do need some kind of soap I use Arbonne baby care bath and body wash. It is expensive but I use it very sparingly. I use alot of their products( I pay wholesale) since they are botanically based. I also really like the Jason brand at the grocery store in the health food section. The appricot scented body wash is wonderful and not harmful.

I hope that helps.

Jamie

[anna]

They are a total waste of $'s. I used wash cloths. For #1 I used purchased "baby" wash cloths. For #2 I used our older thinner wash cloths. For #3, #4, #5, #6 I used our older thinner wash cloths and when I needed more I took an old baby towel and zigzagged the outline of wash cloth then cut it out over and over until I used the whole towel.

I think wipes are okay in the diaper bag but I used a wash cloth myself. A wet wash cloth (or 3) in a plastic bag. When we went on a picnic I would take a gallon plastic jug and fill it with warm soapy water and toss in a half dozen wash cloths for hands and faces as well as bottoms.

[bookwormom]

I raised three kids without them. Kleenex for the big mess, then a soft wash cloth and warm water.

[Av8rTx]

Slightly off topic. I used to do allot of long distance bicycling, Ultra Marathons, 24 hour rides, cross states etc, I loved baby wipes for quick baths, cleaning hands after repairs etc. I probably wouldn't use them on a baby if I were to have kids again but I remember always carrying them in my jersey.

[JENNIFER_IN_AL]

I bought a 18 pack of wash clothes to use. They work wonderfully. Besides, all the compaines are raising prices and lowering the amount. You can't get what you pay for anymore. :-[

[honeydee]

I think they are pointless.


I cloth diaper my little one and I just used some old flannel cut up with pinking shears. I have some baby washcloths I got at HellMart a little while ago. I just run the wipe under some tap water and use that.

[MYellowRose]

We buy the refill packs of 80 at Wal-Mart and just get whatever is cheapest. None of the granddaughters is in diapers but they sure come in handy cleaning hands and faces when we're out somewhere. I keep them in a zip-lock bag in my tote bag and in another I keep some Puffs tissues. We don't use enough to worry about the cost as I bought this pack month before last and I've still got more than half of it left. Oh yes, they are good for wiping spills such as maple syrup off kids clothes also, do better than a dry paper napkin.

[cinok]

If your asking about around the house make your own but you can't beat the conveince when your out.They are also great for1001 uses amust in a diaper bag or a BOB

[8kids4me]

Old wash cloths here, and I never bothered with any solutions...I just kept them near the sink in the bathroom, and wet one in warm water before using. Then into the diaper pail with the diapers.

[StephiLou]

I work at a large car dealer. We get Costco Baby wipes for the techs to use to clean their hands. Takes grease right off! The guys in parts use them to keep the counters clean! They take ink off shirts. I don't think I would want to use these things on a baby butt.

:-X :-X :-X :o :o :o

You might if you had ever seen my kid poop! LOL!

Seriously, we ended up using them, still do. Just because DS has so many GI issues, blowout is not a term taken lightly around here. :) I was doing so much laundry, it ended up being cheaper just spending the $10 s month for the case of wipes.

Steph