A baby shower registry always comes in handy. Before you arrive to the mother’s house to celebrate the upcoming bundle of joy, you know that your gift won’t be a duplicate of another guest’s gift. And some gifts instigate “oohs” and “aahs” from everybody. The problem with that is some of the most adorable baby gifts, mainly clothes, will be spilled on, stained and outgrown fairly quickly. So, is this an effective use of your money? Maybe, maybe not. But could tackling a do-it-yourself gift that a mother can use for her baby the entire time be appreciated? Yes. And this is why you should learn how to make homemade baby wipes.

How to Make Homemade Baby Wipes That Are Reusable

Materials

• Soft, absorbent fabrics (ex. cotton flannel, terry cloth, old baby blankets, pre-cut cloth wipes)
• Airtight container or a wipes warmer
• 2 cups of distilled or boiled and cooled water
• 1-2 tablespoons of gentle, tear-free baby soap
• 1 tablespoon of baby oil or fractionated coconut oil
• (optional) 5-6 drops of lavender or chamomile essential oil for fragrance

Instructions

1. Cut the cloth material into squares, approximately 8×8 inches.
2. In a bowl, combine the water, baby soap and baby oil. Stir well.
3. Add a few drops of essential oil to the mixture and stir.
4. Place the cloth wipes in the container.
5. Pour the solution over the wipes, ensuring they are fully saturated.
6. Close the container tightly to keep the wipes from drying out.

If you would like to prevent fraying, sew the square edges before moving on to step two.

How to Make Homemade Baby Wipes That Are Disposable

Materials

• High-quality roll of thick paper towels
• 2 large, airtight containers or wipes dispenser
• 4 cups of distilled or boiled and cooled water
• 3-4 tablespoons of gentle, tear-free baby shampoo
• 2 tablespoons of baby oil or fractionated coconut oil
• (optional) 10-12 drops of lavender or chamomile essential oil for fragrance
• Sharp knife

Instructions

1. Positioning a roll of paper towels horizontally, cut them into two short rolls.
2. Remove the cardboard tube from the center.
3. In a bowl, combine two cups of the water, two tablespoons of baby shampoo and one tablespoon of baby oil. Stir well.
4. Add a few drops to the mixture and stir.
5. Put one of the half-rolls of paper towels in your container, cut side down.
6. Slowly pour the liquid mixture over the paper towels, ensuring the liquid is evenly distributed and the paper towels are fully soaked.
7. Close the container tightly with its lid to keep the wipes from drying out.
8. Allow the paper towels to absorb the solution for at least 10 minutes.
9. Repeat steps 3-8 in a second container. (Skip this step if you’re worried about the wipes not being used regularly. Small batches avoid the risk of mold.)
10. Once the solution is fully absorbed, you can pull the wipes from the center.

Tips for Keeping Homemade Baby Wipes Moist

If you’re concerned about the wipes drying out too quickly, a few drops of water should moisten them again before the shower. Or, only prepare one-half of the paper towels. Deliver the second half of the homemade baby wipes to the expectant mother when she’s low on supplies.

If the gift is for active parents who may want to use the baby wipes in outdoor spaces, include a reusable container (preferably personalized with their father’s, mother’s and baby’s name on it) so the parents can moisten homemade baby wipes. This container can easily be used as a travel cup too. One cup of water should make the wipes moist again without dripping.

Why Homemade Baby Wipes Are Better than Commercial Versions

Like food allergies, skin allergies and even seasonal allergies, expectant mothers (or their friends) can’t predict what ingredients will be harmful on a baby’s sensitive skin. Some common ingredients that parents may want to be aware of include fragrances (with hidden chemicals), parabens (used to extend the shelf life and prevent bacteria and mold growth), phenoxyethanol, methylisothiazolinone (MIT), formaldehyde-releasing agents, alcohol and essential oils.  If you’re nervous about the essential oils mentioned in the reusable or disposable homemade baby wipes above, skip them and synthetic fragrances. To make the homemade baby wipes into hypoallergenic wipes, choose aloe vera instead.

Best Practices for Baby Wipe Warmers

Just like bathwater may be too hot for some while it’s just right for others, temperature can usually be considered a matter of opinion. But when it comes to baby bottle temperatures (ideally 98°F) and baby wipes (68-72°F), these are safe temperatures.

But if you want to include a wipe warmer with homemade baby wipes, you can add that as an additional store-bought gift. Or, you can DIY this option too.

Additional Materials

• Small, low-wattage heating pad (no automatic shut-off feature)
• Small towel or cloth to line the bottom of the container

Instructions

1. Inside the homemade baby wipes container, line the bottom of the container with the towel or cloth.
2. Dampen the towel with water so it’s moist, but make sure it’s not soaking wet.
3. Insert the heating pad under the container.
4. Place the baby wipes on top of the damp towel inside of the container.
5. Close the lid of the container to keep the warmth and moisture inside.
6. When needed, turn on the heating pad to warm the wipes. (Make sure the heating pad is always on a low setting to avoid overheating the wipes and the container.)

Best Container to Use for Homemade Baby Wipes

Whether a homemade baby wipes warmer is used or not, these four types of containers are all safe to use. Plastic may be the most obvious option, but choose a BPA-free and phthalate-free plastic to ensure safety. If you’re eco-friendly and want to ditch plastic, a silicone or stainless steel container can also be durable and easy to clean. Stainless steel, which is less common for baby wipes, doesn’t retain odors. Silicone, which is non-toxic, may be more flexible for traveling with a baby.

The fourth option, an organic cotton or cloth bag, is reusable and eco-friendly, but because the paper towels, cotton or microfiber towels, and cloth wipes will already be wet with essential oils, shampoo and water, a fabric cloth may not be the best to keep the outside surface wet. A fabric or cloth cover can also become a nuisance for traveling.

Frequently Asked Questions

What can I use if I don’t have baby wipes?

To avoid remnants from remaining on the baby’s bottom, avoid flimsy facial tissue, toilet tissue or paper towels. Durable paper towels, facial cotton cloth or microfiber cloth are also cleaning options.

What is the best fabric for homemade baby wipes?

Cotton flannel, terry cloth, organic cotton, bamboo and microfiber are all soft and effective material for cleaning.

How do you keep homemade baby wipes from molding?

It is imperative that wipes are kept in airtight containers to prevent moisture from the baby wipes entering. Wipes should also never be soaking wet, just damp. Press the moisture out like tofu if the towel or the wipes are drenched. If the baby is not sensitive to tea tree oil or grapefruit seed extract, these antimicrobial properties also help with mold prevention.