Anyway. So when we brought Brenna home, we tried the sensitive baby wipes, and they just seemed to irritate her skin...so armed with a recipe from our dermatologist's wife, we set out to make our own.
Three players in this game...
Find yourself a good container that latches and will hold half a paper towel roll. You'll first need to cut a paper towel roll completely in half (so that you have two short rolls, not a long split roll...that really wouldn't get you far.)
Ingredients:
1/2 teaspoon baby shampoo/wash (we use an all-natural one)
1 teaspoon mineral oil or baby oil
1.5 cups of water (a little more if you have a roll that is larger than just the standard size)
Pour all of the ingredients in your container and just swirl them around so they mix - no shaking! That would make the mixture bubble up. No bubbles up in thur, thankyouverymuch.
Then plop your paper towel half roll in, and let magic lead your mixture all the way to the top of the roll (will take probably 10 minutes)
Then just remove the cardboard insert and pull your wipes from the middle!
A lot of people ask about Brenna's diaper area...and are surprised to learn that the skin there is probably the softest, least irritated and most moisturized on her body. As our dermatologist likes to remind us, urine has something in it called urea that is really good for the skin. Urea is even used in some skin products. As disgusting as it sounds, the fact that she pees all over herself is actually really good for her skin.
So be gone, intimidation...not only is it easy to make your own wipes, it's much cheaper. Simple and inexpensive is not something that usually happens with a baby, so seize it!
How do you cut your roll of paper towel in half?
ReplyDeleteuse a large serrated kitchen knife
DeleteYep we use a big ol' kitchen knife. Evan is the expert paper towel cutter. After I'm done cutting it in half, it looks like a battered catnip mouse that a kitty just got through with...
DeleteI was just going to ask the same thing!
DeleteWe used an electric knife and it was great.
DeleteWe too have to make our own wipes for Hanna, and I agree, the diaper area is ironically the best! Although it wasn't always that way in the beginning. I do want to know how you bring the wipes when your out of the house. I hate hauling them around because they take up so much room and are so heavy in the diaper bag. So I'm just wondering what you do to bring them with you-since we can't exactly go out without them ;) p.s. we use viva paper towels. Idk if you've tried them but they hold up extremely well and are super soft for that sensitive area!
ReplyDeleteWe just tear off 5-6 wipes when we're going somewhere and put them in one of those plastic wipes carrying cases. The one that came with our Petunia Picklebottom diaper bag keeps the wipes nice and moist forever! Our cheaper wipes cases dry them out after a week or so.
DeleteJust tear off some and put in a zip lock storage bag or freezer bag.
DeleteI also used Viva Paper towels!! Bc they are so soft I thought they were the best to make wipes out of =)
DeleteThis is awesome and looks super easy! Thanks for sharing, I can't wait to try it out when baby#2 comes :).
ReplyDeleteWe cloth diaper our son. Before he was born I made a bunch of wipes out of flannel. I just use plain water in a peri bottle to wipe his bottom.
ReplyDeleteDo you think it would be ok to use them as flushable wipes? My 2 and 4 yr old go thtough those and they aren't cheap!
ReplyDeleteWow, I wish I had this when our son was born. What a great idea compared to the paper towel/ spray bottle operation we used for his delicate skin. I'm definately going to pass this on to some other mom's who have kids with skin conditions!
ReplyDeleteI would not recommend flushing any paper towel. It definitely could cause sewer or septic tank problems.
ReplyDeleteThis is fantastic! I didn't know you could do that. I just pinned your baby wipe "recipe" to Pinterest.
ReplyDeleteI make my own wipes too :) I use just a little bit of a different recipe... 1 tbl baby oil, 2 tbl baby shampoo, 1 tbl baby lotion, 2 cups of warm water. I love the smell of the baby soaps/lotion :) Isn't making your own wipes the best? I also use my Petunia Picklebottom case for my wipes to-go. I also bring homemade wipes to daycare!!
ReplyDeleteThe only thing I have noticed is that if you let your wipes sit for too long (go on vacation or something) they will get moldy. But otherwise I love them!!!
Awesome Idea! How do you remove the cardboard insert? Does it just come right out or is there a certain way to remove it?
ReplyDeleteIt actually comes out without a problem after sitting about 5 minutes :)
DeleteMineral oil is not meant to go on the skin. Please do some research into this. She would be much better of with an all natural vegetable based oil, one that is actually healing and nourishing to the skin rather than dangerous and moisture depleting (which is what mineral oil is). Please look it up. Baby oil (any brand) is the worst thing for a baby's skin. I never used any of the commercial products you find at a supermarket. I would be using an all natural oil.
ReplyDeleteI'm surprised you haven't thought of this, since it's a very severe skin condition. Doctors have no idea.
The 'lovely smell' coming from baby oil is totally toxic fragrance as well. Don't buy anything with fragrances in it. Any of the major baby brands in the supermarkets I would totally steer clear of.
Shea butter is very healing, as is coconut oil (which has incredible anti-bacterial properties as well).
Thanks for sharing your thoughts, as I was reading through the comments looking for natural modification suggestions to this recipe.
DeleteI made this recipe and my wipes grew mold ??
ReplyDeleteWe have made our wipes for 16 months and never grown mold, so I'm not really sure what to tell you!
DeleteNatural Modifications/Other Uses
ReplyDeleteI made these as Lady wipes/ Make Up remover wipes.
I used 1 tsp. Olive oil and a 1/2 tsp.Tea tree face wash instead of the baby products.
They work great!.
The tea tree oil should inhibit any mould growth.
I have super absorbent paper towels, so I had to use like 2ce the amount. But they are perfect! :)
ReplyDeleteJust so you know urine is not good for your skin. It causes skin breakdown and rashes. You are washing away the urine with the baby shampoo. Please don't say things like urine is good for the skin. I have seen too many rashes and too much breakdown from people not getting changed frequently enough. I would hate to have a mommy read and believe that urine is good for the skin.
ReplyDeleteI didn't say urine is good for the skin. I said urea, which is in urine, is good for the skin...which it is. Urea is used to help many different types of skin conditions and problems. I have seen firsthand with our daughter, whose skin is very sensitive, that the urea in her urine is very beneficial to her skin.
DeleteAlso, I'm obviously not advocating that people don't change their kids when they've peed. The kind of problems you say you've seen is when parents are neglectful and leave their kids in the same diaper all day.
DeleteCan you put these in a wipe warmer After you've made them or will they dry out?
ReplyDeleteHave the same question, as a new mom to be.
DeleteI am actually not sure because I've never tried this. The wipes just need to be in a tightly closed container so they don't dry out, like most wipes. If you try the wipes warmer, let us know how it worked! :)
DeleteThese are great as the kids grow too. My 4 yr old gets messy and they are great. That's who I make mine for :)
ReplyDeleteIs it fine to just use water shampoo and lotion w out any oil?
ReplyDelete