Homemade Baby Wipes Recipes

HOMEMADE BABY WIPES

Steps:

• NOTE: I purchased my Rubbermaid cylindrical containers 8 years ago, and they're now discontinued. A round container like this is nearly impossible to find now. I've done extensive research (I even called Rubbermaid) because I like to give these wipes as baby shower gifts, and I've found that these 4-quart, square containers from Wal-Mart are an inexpensive alternative. They cost around $3 for a pack of 2. They aren't as easy to open and close, but they have more head space, which makes adding the liquids much easier.
• To make the wipes: Cut paper towels in half horizontally (so they look like toilet paper rolls).
• Place towels in container, cut side down. Mix oil and bath with hot water. Pour over towels
• Cover, flip upside down. Wait 5 minutes. Remove cardboard tube. Start wipes from center, by pulling a towel up out of the center.
• Because these wipes have no chemical additives or preservatives, mold is a possibility, especially in warm weather. Be sure to keep the wipes tightly closed, and store in a cool area, away from direct sunlight. Adding 4 drops of tea tree oil (a natural antiseptic) to the liquid mixture helps deter mold. Interestingly enough, I only had a problem with mold when I was using Huggies unscented baby bath. When I switched back to generic, scented baby bath, my problem went away. I suspect that the small amount of alcohol in perfumed baby bath helps to inhibit mold growth. For travel, you can just unravel some wipes, fold them up, and put them in your travel container. I'm more inclined to just stuff a big wad of them in a Ziploc bag, because I'm lazy. Also, please remember that these wipes must be thrown away, not flushed, or you'll have an expensive plumber's bill, which will completely negate your savings from making them. It had been a while since I priced Bounty Select-A-Size paper towels so, in the interest of giving you the most accurate information, I checked prices when I was at Wal-Mart yesterday. A 6-pack currently costs $11.64 here, or $1.94 per roll. When you factor in the minimal amount of oil and baby bath, the cost of these wipes is around $1.15 per container. Remember that prices vary by geographic area, so your cost may be more or less than this. I estimate that these homemade wipes save me about $12 per month over the cheapest generic wipes on the market (Parent's Choice - total crap, in my opinion. Unless you like your baby's butt to be covered in lint). Give this recipe a try. You'll never go back to store-bought.
• Important to know, that I got this recipe and pic at: http://wantingwhatyouhave.com/2010/03/frugal-strategy-4-make-your-own-baby.html Which oodles and oodles of great stuff. You WANT to visit this website.

HOMEMADE BABY WIPES

Steps:

• Saw the paper towels in half lengthwise with a serrated kitchen knife (not your best one ... this can't be "good" for it). Mix the hot water and following ingredients:
• Put the half roll in a plastic container that has a lid, Tupperware-type, empty roll-type baby wipe container, etc.
• Shredded side down -- I pick as much of the shredded paper off as I can -- otherwise you leave "lint balls" on your baby's bum.
• Pour the water solution over the roll.
• (Don't worry about the cardboard tube.) Let sit about 5 minutes, then turn upside down for 5 more minutes to saturate the roll.
• Now the cardboard tube will pull out easily.
• Pull a "wipe" from the center.
• I make one roll at a time and wash the container well between uses. (Note: Mold can be an issue. Suggestions include using Johnson & Johnson soap or 4 drops of tea tree oil to inhibit mold.)