By Natalie Clausen | (updated )
Homemade Baby Wipe Solution is such an easy way to save money and to simplify your baby care routine. This is particularly true if you are cloth diapering already.
When I was pregnant with my little guy and getting ready to start cloth diapering for the first time, the baby wipe solution was the one thing that I didn’t get ready before his arrival. I knew I wanted to make my own wipe solution since I would be using cloth wipes, but of course, I had no way to test different recipes until he was here.
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Once he arrived and after trying a lot of different combinations of natural ingredients, I settled on the baby wipe solution recipe that I’m sharing with you in this post.
I used this recipe from the newborn stage all the way through potty-learning, so I can tell you without question: it works! It’s simple, inexpensive,soothing, moisturizing, smells great, and cleans up baby’s diaper messes easily. And, it’s SO much more effective than using disposable wipes.
Homemade Baby Wipe Solution & Cloth Wipes vs. Commercial Wipes: Which is Better?
Using your own homemade baby wipe solution with cloth wipes has numerous advantages over using storebought wipes. Since I didn’t discover cloth wipes until my last baby, I was amazed at how much better homemade wipe solution works compared to store-bought disposables. Cloth wipes are just so much thicker and more substantial, allowing you to clean baby up way more easily. I definitely wish I had known about cloth wipes earlier!
Another huge advantage homemade wipe solution and cloth wipes have over disposables is the money savings. Instead of buying disposable wipes over and over for several years, you need only invest in an initial supply of cloth wipes. This can cost you as little as $0 if you use cut up flannel blankets or other repurposed, upcycled fabric. The ingredients used to make the wipe solution go a very far way since so little is used in each batch.
Perhaps the biggest benefit of making your own baby wipe solution is that you have total control over what ingredients you put into it. Many mainstream disposable baby wipes have a lot of added ingredients and chemicals in them, in order to preserve the wipes for an extended period of time.
Think about it for a second. Disposable wipes need to be shelf-stable without going bad from the time they are manufactured until the time you decide to pull them out and use them.
Now, consider how long a package of wipes lasts. Not very, right? There’s really no need for all those added chemicals and preservatives that are also potentially toxic for baby and for you.
So, DIY Baby Wipe Solution…
- works better than disposables
- costs less than disposables
- is toxin-free for baby
DIY Baby Wipe Solution for the win!
The Ingredients
There are just a few ingredients that you’ll need for this recipe.
Water
You can absolutely use tap water for this recipe–that’s what I use–but you need to bring it to a near boil first. If you try to skip this, your wipes will get musty-smelling after a few days.
Coconut Oil
Oil adds the incredible moisturizing factor to this recipe. Coconut oil is not only deeply hydrating but it also helps the wipes glide across baby’s delicate skin smoothly and easily. It also has antibacterial qualities that add to the wipe solution’s cleaning ability.
Baby Wash
The baby wash serves two purposes in this wipe solution. First, and probably most obviously, it cleanses baby’s skin. Secondly, it acts as an emulsifier to allow the oil and the water in this recipe to combine nicely.
You can use any gentle baby wash that you like. I use California Baby. I also recommend Dr. Bronner’s Liquid Castile Soap in Baby’s Unscented as another good option.
Melaleuca (Tea Tree) Essential Oil
Melaleuca is renowned for its cleansing effect on the skin.* I only recommend using high-quality essential oils like dōTERRA. Low quality, cheap oils can have added (and unwanted) ingredients.
Lavender Essential Oil
Lavender is commonly used for its relaxing and calming qualities. It also soothes occasional skin irritations.*
*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent disease.
How To Make Homemade Baby Wipe Solution
When I get down to the last few wipes in my warmer, it’s my cue to make a new batch which only takes about 5 minutes. Here’s how to do it!
Yield: 1 batch
DIY Baby Wipe Solution
This recipe makes one large batch of baby wipe solution that works best when used with cloth baby wipes.
Prep Time5 minutes
Cook Time5 minutes
Total Time10 minutes
Ingredients
- 3 cups distilled water or boiled tap water
- 3-4 tablespoons organic coconut oil
- 1 teaspoon baby wash
- 3 drops lavender essential oil
- 2 drops melaleuca (tea tree) essential oil
Instructions
- Heat about 3 cups of tap water in the microwave until it is close to boiling. You MUST first heat the tap water-Do not skip this step. (If using distilled, there's no need to heat it first.)
- While waiting for the water to heat, fold the wipes in half and stack them inside the warmer/container until it's full. I find it just takes a few moments, and you can fit more in when they are folded in half.
- When your water is heated, drop in a couple scoops of coconut oil. If I were to measure, it would be 3-4 tablespoons. But I don't measure. The heat of the water helps the coconut oil melt and dissolve.
- Squeeze about 1 tsp. (no need to measure) of baby wash into the solution. I like California Baby, but use whatever you like. Add 2-3 drops of lavender oil and 2 drops of melaleuca (tea tree) oil. The lavender is soothing and the melaleuca is cleansing, and both make the whole thing smell amazing! Now, give it a stir.
- Very carefully (it’s hot!) pour it over your wipes in your warmer. Plug the whole thing back in, and just remember that they are pretty hot at first, so if baby needs changing soon, be sure to let the wipe cool down before touching baby's skin with it!
To learn more about essential oils or to buy the ones I use in this recipe, you can go to my dōTERRA site. I use essential oils every day for my family in many ways besides little O’s baby wipes.
You might also want to check out these posts.
- Cloth Diapering: Dispelling The Myths
- The Beginner’s Guide To Using Cloth Baby Wipes
- 20 Tasks Your 2-Year-Old Should Do On His Own
