Homemade Baby Wipe Solution

Redlands Daily Facts Health Section
Staff Writer

Q: I worry about the chemicals in baby products. Do you have any home-grown recipes?

Mimi: Here are some ideas for home made, money saving Baby Wipes.

Your browser may not support display of this image. Making your own homemade baby wipe solution for cloth or disposable wipes is a perfect way to save money and be in charge of exactly what goes on your baby. Commercial brand wipes with all their synthetic ingredients are too harsh for many babies. Make your own! Here are several recipes to try out. The recipes with oil in them are better for disposable wipes as the oils can build up on the cloth wipes (and especially if you wash them with your cloth diapers) which can make them less absorbent.

To make wipes, cut up old tee shirts and other soft fabric into squares. If you plan to wash them, you can zig zag the edges. Just toss them into the laundry.

Don't forget, that the cheapest and most gentle baby wipe solution is plain water. Yes! Plain water is perfect for cloth or disposable wipes. Before a diaper change, simply bring a few cloth wipes to the sink, run water on them to dampen and squeeze out the excess. The water is fresh and you can even use warm water if you like instead of a wipes warmer.

You can bring a small water spray bottle with you in your diaper bag. This water will need to be changed every day or you can put 1-2 drops of tea tree oil in it to keep it fresh for longer. Using distilled water will also last longer. With tea tree oil it will last up to one week. To use, simply spray a cloth wipe or spray directly onto the baby and wipe off.

However, some people prefer wipes with a scent or with more cleaning power than plain water. For those times, here are a few recipes to try out. As with all baby products, please discontinue use (and use plain water!) if any irritation occurs.

Baby wipes solution recipes for cloth wipes:

Lavender & Tea Tree Oil Wipes
1 cup water
3 drops lavender oil (optional, for scent)
2 drops tea tree oil

Vinegar Anti-Fungal Wipes
1 cup water
1 tablespoon white vinegar
1/4 cup aloe vera oil
2 drops tea tree oil

Baby wipe solution recipes for disposable wipes:

Baby Shampoo Wipes
1 cup water
1 teaspoon baby shampoo
1/2 teaspoon baby oil

Calendula Wipes
1 cup water
1 teaspoon calendula oil
2 drops tea tree oil
1 teaspoons baby shampoo
1 teaspoon baby oil or mineral oil

If you plan to use paper towels as your disposable wipes, try Viva brand. They are the most "fabric like" and have a flannel feel and are quite strong. You can make a double batch of any of the above baby wipe solution recipes and simply pour over a roll and store in an airtight container. Most people cut the roll in half and remove the inner cardboard tube. Or you can unroll and tear off each one, then cut in half. Store the stack of cut paper towels in an airtight box.

Mimi Barre is the owner of International Day Spa, 325 Cajon St., Redlands. Send your skin care questions to her at MimiB@INTLdayspa.com. She and her estheticians are available for personal consultations, (909) 793-9080.