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Reusable Baby Wipes - what liquid do you use?

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Hello all,

I've just been reading the June GC (20 pages already!) and I saw that someone (I think OrkneyStar posted about reusable baby wipes. I had a look at the website and I'm pretty happy I can make some myself from micro fleece or something. But is there an alternative to buying the soap stuff?

My little girl has a really sore bottom just now as she's teething so I was also thinking that these might be better than disposable wipes. Something with tea tree oil maybe? Do you use a drop of baby shampoo or something?:confused:

Many thanks for your help!

Ellie (DFS)
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Comments

  • pinkparrott
    pinkparrott Posts: 340 Forumite
    Hi if she has a sore bottom, try chamomile tea, just make up a cup of tea and let it cool. (or alternativley just a couple of drops of lavender or roman camomile oil) You only really need the moisture and wipe not shampoo or soap as such, as this will proably make it worse. got a book withsome other options will try to dig it out and get back to you.
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  • cakemaker
    cakemaker Posts: 32 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture Combo Breaker
    Hi,

    I made my own wipes from an old towel and zig zagged round edges. Just used warm water with them. Worked a treat and then washed with nappies.
  • joannasmum
    joannasmum Posts: 1,145 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    I used to use camomile tea for sore bums as a pp has said. (I also used to chuck a camomile teabag in her bath when she had a sore bum). The rest of the time I chucked some boiled water and a tablespoon of olive oil over a pile of about 10 cheap facecloths. I must have read that somewhere but its 3.5 years ago. I just have a pile of facecloths in a container now and wet it as and when required for dirty faces, hands etc
    Sorting my life out one day at a time
  • gin
    gin Posts: 260 Forumite
    i second warm water or chamomile tea.
  • lindadykes
    lindadykes Posts: 391 Forumite
    When I had my first child (33 years ago on Monday!) there was no such thing as baby wipes and disposable nappies had just come out and were so expensive they were a luxury item!

    We always used cotton wool and cooled boiled water to clean baby at changing time. If I was out and about I would carry with me some cotton wool and baby oil or lotion for cleansing his bottom and a damp facecloth in a plastic bag for hands and face.

    When I had my daughters 11 years later, baby wipes were common, but I tended to stick with the cotton wool/warm water for use in the house and only used baby wipes when I was out and didn't have access to water. I never used them on hands and face though and still carried the damp facecloth in plastic bag for this.

    I still find it hard to believe that my DD who now has her own daughter seems to regard baby wipes as an essential and will also happily use them on my gradaughters hands and face - surely the chemicals can't be good injested, which they must be when used on hands and face?
  • Thank you very much but Lindy, it's almost seen as an essential to use baby wipes these days. They're advertised so much and always on offer to make you buy them. I do think they are a hundred times better than the wipes that my mum used to take on picnics and car journeys though! I will still be using disposables for travel and when we're out visiting but I will try camomile tea tomorrow. I'd bought some micro fleece before she was born, fully intending to make some reusable nappies but...didn't quite get there and decided that breastfeeding was my environmental contribution!

    Hey, if everything works I will use reusable nappies for the next one hopefully, but to save £2.50 at least per week for wipes will be a big start. Baby steps eh?....

    Thanks for all your help, it is truly appreciated (I am a mature student, training to be a doctor- am I mad?! MSE is the only way we could afford for me to leave work and be a student but hopefully it will be worth it later when I am a rich GP...I don't think so!)
  • Thank you, that would be great if you can find a recipe. Most of us with babies spend a fortune on wipes so an alternative would be wonderful!
  • lil_me
    lil_me Posts: 13,186 Forumite
    10,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    Cooled boiled water, usually all you need, because you're not using loads of chemicals they only usually get sore if they have a tummy upset etc. Emptied water bottle is great for carrying the water in, they can be just as portable. If you're using flannels rather than cotton wool just remember a bag to fasten it in.
    One day I might be more organised...........:confused:
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  • jak
    jak Posts: 2,027 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    This thread is great...I'm planning on using a variety of cut up and hemmed old towels/clothes as wipes and was also wondering about the liquid side of them so thanks DFS!
    The camomile tea sounds like a good idea! I like to drink it too.
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  • Bollards
    Bollards Posts: 161 Forumite
    Hi,
    I use a small spray bottle and fill it with water and a tiny (and I mean tiny) drop of lavender oil and chamomile oil, mixed with about a teaspoon of a carrier oil such as evening primrose, or sweet almond oil. Shake it up before use and spray onto the nether regions, then give it a wipe with a dry reusable wipe. I find it better than storing the wipes wet, because if they are not used up quickly enough, they can go a bit mouldy smelling.
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