How to Make Baby Wipes—A Step-by-Step Guide
While you would spare no expense for your child, budgeting your money during the first year of your baby’s life can certainly be challenging. Research on parent spending suggests that it costs over $13,000 to clothe, feed and diaper a newborn. Disposable baby wipes are one of the most common purchases to really add up over the first year. If you’re interested in clever ways to save money on supplies, you can make your own wipes and save up to hundreds of dollars. Plus, since they’re all natural, you’ll have peace of mind you’re not exposing your child to unnecessary chemicals.
Learning how to make baby wipes is easier than you may think! Follow the steps below and you’ll be a DIY pro in no time. With the extra money, you can save for baby’s future, buy other infant supplies or invest in a family vacation!
Making Your Own Disposable Baby Wipes
To make disposable baby wipes at home, you’ll need the following items:
- Heavy-duty paper towels
- A sharp kitchen knife
- A jug of distilled water
- Pure Aloe Vera
- Pure Witch Hazel extract
- Liquid Castile Soap
- Coconut oil or olive oil
- A medium-sized bowl
- Mixing spoons
- Containers of your choice for your finished wipes
Once you’ve gathered the above supplies, find a clean and empty workspace. Since you are working with a knife, extracts and soap, leave the little one with your partner or a family member. Follow the steps below and you’ll have clean and natural wipes in minutes.
Step 1: Cut the Paper Towels
Take the sharp knife and cut a roll of your heavy-duty paper towels in half. You’ll now have two smaller rolls about the size of store-bought wipes. Keep cutting rolls until you feel you have enough for a few days—or weeks!
Step 2: Place the Towels in Containers
Put the towels cut side down in the container. Some parents use a shoebox or a plastic container with a lid. You can also use an old wipes box.
Step 3: Make Your Liquid Mixture
Pour 1-3/4 cups of the distilled water into the bowl. Add a tablespoon of the Aloe Vera and the Witch Hazel. Next, add a teaspoon of the Castile Soap and a teaspoon of the olive oil or coconut oil. Combine the mixture thoroughly with a whisk, fork or spoon.
Step 4: Wet the Wipes
Pour the mixture over the wipes. Let them sit inside the container to absorb the liquid for at least 15 minutes. If you’d like, you can also shake or flip the container to make sure each wipe is moist and saturated.
That’s it! Repeat anytime you’d like to make more wipes. Give yourself a few runs to learn how many you like to make at a time.
Homemade Cloth Baby Wipes
Help save the planet (and even more money!) by ditching the paper towels. It’s just as easy to make DIY cloth wipes. All you need are washcloths, pieces of a cut-up t-shirt or squares of a thin blanket.
Create the same mixture of water, extracts and liquid Castile soap. Then, pour it into a spray bottle to moisten the cloth wipes when it’s time for a diaper change.
Save Your Money and Keep Baby Clean
Now you know how simple and beneficial it is for the entire family to learn how to make your own baby wipes! You can find most (if not all) of the ingredients at your local grocery store. It may also be helpful to try shopping your community’s natural food store for the extracts, soap and oils. Have extras? Use them to wipe your hands and clean dirty faces. You’ll also find that they are great for removing surface stains from kitchen counters, dining room tables and feeding/nursing stations.
Another impactful way to reduce your environmental footprint is to buy organic baby clothes. Gerber baby clothing made with organic cotton are super soft, highly durable and friendly to any parent’s budget. You’ll find everything from Onesies® Brand bodysuits to the comfiest baby pajamas in our collection. Pairing your Earth-smart shopping habits with your new DIY skills—now that’s something to be proud of!
