Living Frugal on Cape Cod

Frugal Baby Wipes

February 16, 2009

I get great ideas for frugal moms while watching TV and browsing online. I recently came across an article online that had directions for making your own baby wipes at home. While I am not so sure that it will save a whole lot of money, it will keep chemicals off of your baby’s bum. If you have ever had the chance to read what chemicals are in baby wipes, you would probably not want to use then anymore. They have chemicals such as: butyl alcohol and polyethylene glycol. These chemicals can be damaging to your baby. Below please find two great recipes for making you own baby wipes, give it a try and save your baby’s bum and some money.

Recipe 1
You will need:

10 cup container (ex: rubbermaid, w/lid)
1/2 roll of Bounty paper towels
2 tbls of baby oil
2 tbls of baby bath
2 cups of water

Cut roll of paper towels in half, remove center cardboard, mix liquid ingredients, pour on top of paper towels, pull first towel up. Each roll of towels makes 2 containers of wipes, which lasts approx. 3 weeks.

I have found that if I let them sit for about 1 hour all the liquid has enough time to absorb the entire 1/2 roll. I also have tried several brands of heavy duty paper towels, and have found that Bounty expands when wet and the others seem to shrivel up. Remember do not shake the liquid, it will foam up.

Recipe 2
No more expensive baby wipes! Here is a great recipe.

1-roll of Bounty papertowels cut in half & cardboard removed
2-cups water
2-Tablespoons each baby bath and lotion
1-plastic bowl (about 6 cup capacity-with lid)

Bring water to boil and add baby bath and lotion. place one half of paper towel roll into plastic container, and pour solution over paper towels. Once cool, pull your “wipes” from the center of the roll. keep sealed when not in use to prevent evaporation.

These are so important to use because of chemicals found in regular wipes.

Recipes are from: www.make-stuff.com

Another great way to save your babies bum is to use cloth wipes. This is what I use in my home. All it cost me was $1.25 per wipe, I purchased 25 and they have lasted me 3 years now an counting. They still feel and look new and all I do is spray them with a water/baby shampoo mixture, wipe and throw in my hamper. I just wash with my laundry and viola a new clean wipe each time. I use my cloth wipes for wiping my baby’s bum, giving my kids a bath, wiping my kids face and hands and more. I purchased my cloth wipes from Cotton babies online and they are fabulous.