Cloth Wipes

If you are using cloth nappies, you will probably find that cloth wipes are easier to use than disposable wipes, as it will save you making an extra trip to the rubbish bin to dispose of the wipe. Cloth wipes are effective for cleaning little bottoms, whilst being kind to baby’s skin. Just pop the used wipes into the nappy bucket and wash with the nappies as normal. You are washing anyway, so what is a couple of extra items to hang out?

There are many different ways you can wet your wipes, and you can use either plain water, a bought wipes solution such as foamy wipes wash, or a homemade wipes solution (for some basic “recipes’ see below). To wet your wipes you can:
put the solution in a foamy bottle and pump onto baby’s bottom ;
put the solution in a squirt bottle (such as a cheap sauce bottle) or bottle with a pull-up spout (like bottled water bottle) and squirt/dribble onto wipe;
wet the wipe under a tap ;
put the solution into a container (such as a lunch box or old commercial wipes container) and dip wipe into solution;
keep the wipes and solution in a container .

Cloth wipes are also a breeze when out and about. Either take pre-moistened wipes in a waterproof container such as a small wet-bag or a zip-lock sandwich bag, or take them dry and wet as required. Pop the used wipe into your wet bag with your used nappy and straight into your bucket when you get home.

The wipes themselves can be as basic or as fancy you like. Your can purchase wipes from most cloth nappy stores and they come in many different fabrics and combinations of fabrics including polar/micro fleece, bamboo fleece, flannelette, sherpa, velour, and hemp cotton. For a cheaper alternative you can make your own wipes or buy cheap face washers or chux wash-cloths and either cut them smaller or use them as they come. The most typical size for wipes is 20cm X 20cm.

There are a numerous different home-made wipes solutions. Below are just a few.

Tea-please!
1 chamomile tea bag
1 cup of boiling water
Allow the tea to draw, then remove the teabag and let the solution cool to room temperature.

Basic wipes solution
½ cup baby massage oil
½ cup baby shampoo
2 cups water
a few drops of essential oil e.g. lavender, tea tree oil (optional).

Sorbolene cream
A couple of squirts of sorbolene cream
1 cup of boiling water
Mix together and allow the solution to cool to room temperature.

Essential-oil
1-2 drops lavender oil
and/or
1-2 drops tea tree oil
1 cup water