Having trouble finding baby wipes in stores? Or, looking for a better option for baby’s sensitive skin? Learn how to make baby wipes with items you likely already have.
If you’re having trouble finding baby wipes in stores, seeking a better option for your baby’s sensitive skin, or would like to make a more affordable (or greener) version of baby wipes, here’s how to make your own homemade baby wipes.
Thanks to items you likely already have in your household, you’ll be prepared for baby’s diaper changes even when store-bought wipes aren’t an option.
Homemade Baby Wipes: The Supplies You Need
To make homemade baby wipes, you’ll need these supplies. There are multiple options for most supplies, so don’t worry if you don’t have an exact match.
- A roll of paper towels (Heavier-duty paper towels work best, but any type will do. You could also use reusable cloths that you don’t mind cutting up, if you would like to make more environmentally friendly baby wipes)
- A bread knife, if you’re using paper towels
- Distilled water or boiled water
- Gentle liquid cleanser (Baby shampoo, baby body wash, and castille soap like Dr. Bronner’s are all good options. Opt for an unscented body wash if your baby has eczema or otherwise sensitive skin.)
- A baby-safe oil, like coconut oil, to moisturize baby’s skin (Coconut oil is a safe, effective natural moisturizer for baby eczema. You could also use aloe vera oil, cold-pressed sunflower oil, or another cold-pressed oil. But steer clear of essential oils, as they often have skin-irritating chemicals added in processing.)
- A BPA-free container with a wide mouth, to store your homemade wipes (whether it’s an empty baby wipe container, a Glad-style or Rubbermaid-style food container with a lid, or any other container with a tight lid.)
- Tape and a pen or marker, to record the date on the wipe container
Homemade Disposable Baby Wipes: How To Make Them
Now that you’ve gathered your supplies, follow these steps to make homemade baby wipes.
For a visual of these steps, watch this video from Do It On A Dime:
- Use a bread knife, or another serrated blade, to cut a roll of paper towels halfway down the middle (so you have two halves of a roll still rolled up).
- Place one of the roll halves into the wide-mouthed container.
- Prepare boiled water by boiling two cups of water for at least one minute. Or, warm up two cups of distilled water in the microwave. Using boiled or distilled water helps fight against bacteria growth, and keep the wipes sanitary --- tap water that isn’t boiled is more prone to develop bacteria.
- Measure out two tablespoons of liquid cleanser, and one tablespoon of the baby-safe oil. Mix them with the two cups of water.
- Pour the water-cleanser-oil mixture into the container that holds the paper towels.
- Cover the container with the lid, and let the paper towels soak for a few minutes.
- Reopen the container and take out the cardboard tube from the center of the paper towel roll.
- Pull out a wipe from the middle of the roll, like you would with store-bought wipes. The wipes are ready to use!
- Mark the date on the container with the tape and pen or marker. This is important to record, because the wet homemade wipes could become moldy after a few weeks (a natural consequence of moisture).
- Only make one or two containers of wipes at a time, as you need them. You won’t be able to make several containers at a time and store them for later, because of the risk of mold developing during long-term storage.
Homemade Reusable Baby Wipes: How To Make Them
If you decide to go the greener route, follow these steps to make reusable baby wipes.
- Choose your reusable cloths. Soft, thick fabric is your best bet. For example, you could repurpose receiving blankets from the hospital, or use burp cloths. Or, you could upcycle worn flannel sheets, or old t-shirts.
- Cut the fabric you’ve chosen into 8-inch squares. If they’re available, use pinking shears to stop the fabric from fraying.
- If you don’t have pinking shears, consider sewing the edges of the fabric squares to stop them from fraying. (If neither option is available, that’s okay, but you won’t get as many uses out of your wipes.)
- Place the cloths into a wide-mouthed container.
- Prepare boiled water by boiling two cups of water for at least one minute. Or, warm up two cups of distilled water.
- Measure out two tablespoons of liquid cleanser, and one tablespoon of the baby-safe oil. Mix them with the two cups of water.
- Pour the water-cleanser-oil mixture into the container that holds the cloths
- Cover the container with the lid, and let the cloths soak for a few minutes. After a few minutes, the cloths will be ready to use as wipes.
- Mark the date on the container with the tape and pen or marker.
- Only make one or two containers of wipes at a time, as you need them.
- Wash the wipes after each use. Then, save the washed cloths to make your next batch of homemade wipes.
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All health-related content on this website is for informational purposes only and does not create a doctor-patient relationship. Always seek the advice of your own pediatrician in connection with any questions regarding your baby’s health.
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. Products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. If your infant has severe eczema, check with your infant’s healthcare provider before feeding foods containing ground peanuts.