Green & Clean

If you are pregnant or a new parent and living a green lifestyle, you may want to consider making your own cloth baby wipes.  Making homemade baby wipes is even easier than making your own cloth diapers. If you can cut a straight line and run a zig zag stitch you can make organic eco-friendly baby wipes with the cloth that is left over from diaper making.

Flannel works especially well for this and it is a great way to use up old baby blankets, worn flannel sheets, and other items.

Making Baby Wipes

You are going to need a few supplies:

* You will need a container to keep your cloth baby wipes and solution in.  You can reuse old plastic containers from commercial baby wipes work well, as does almost any other container with a tight fitting lid.

* You will need flannel, terry, fleece, or other soft fabric that is durable.

* Fleece does not ravel so it will not need to be hemmed. For any other fabric you will need access to a sewing machine with a zig zag stitch.

* Baby wipe solution (recipe follows)

* Two waterproof zippered bags. One for storing the unused baby wipes when you are away from home and one to store the used baby wipes.

How to Make Homemade Baby Wipes

* To make your baby wipes cut an equal number of 6 inch by 6 inch squares from your chosen fabric. You can adjust the size of the wipes to fit in your container.

* Place two squares together, wrong sides facing each otherr, and zig zag stitch around the entire square. That is it. You have a baby wipe. You will probably want at least two dozen if you have a new baby and about one dozen for an older baby.

* Fold the baby wipe so that it fits in your container and add the baby wipe solution. After use, toss the wipe into the diaper pail with the soiled cloth diaper and wash. Hang in the sun to line dry and then put it back into the container for the next time.

Baby Wipe Solution

While commercial wipe solution may have any number of chemicals in it homemade baby wipe solution is gentle and healthy. It helps keep your baby’s skin moisturized so that it can defend itself against diaper rash.

Baby Wipe Solution Recipe

* 2 cups purified or distilled water

* 2 drops organic essential Lavender oil

* 2 drops organic Tea Tree Oil

* 1 vitamin E capsule

* 1 tablespoon organic cider vinegar

Squeeze the contents of the vitamin E capsule into the remaining ingredients. Shake well and pour over homemade baby wipes.

These DIY baby wipes are not only cheaper and better for the environment, they are also better for your baby.  I have made the mistake of purchasing traditional baby wipes and they have caused my children to break out in rashes.  Its worth the extra effort it takes to make your own, and your baby will love you for it.

Subscribe to Green & Clean by Email by Feb 21st  and win an Eco-Me Body Care Box Set

We all have extra craft supplies lying around, whether they’re from your brief flirtation with cross-stitch kits or a more in-depth foray into quilting. If your stash includes extra embroidery hoops, try using them as the basis for a fun custom mobile that’s just right as your next baby shower gift.

The tutorials at Creative Jewish Mom show you how to hang hoops of different sizes inside each other for a spinning finished product, and includes inspirational photos of felt adornments for spring (bluebirds and bright leaves) and fall (yellow and orange trees and turkeys). Once you get the basic idea, though, it would be simple to decorate your mobile for winter with snowflakes or summer with bright flowers; you could also take your cues from the baby’s nursery, favorite childhood storybooks, letters and numbers, or classic kids’ characters.

And if you aren’t in the market for baby gifts, try making some as seasonal decorations for inside your home, or with paper and graphic prints as party or wedding decorations. It’s a quick and easy project—and a perfect way to trim your extra craft stocks.