Save Money - Make Your Own Baby Wipes

When one of my friends called me to ask if I had ever heard of a recipe for making baby wipes, I was skeptical. How could you make baby wipes that would stand up to nasty diapers and still save money? After she emailed me the recipe, I left it in my inbox for several weeks. Finally, one day out of budget-necessity, I gave it a try. I was pleasantly surprised by the results.

Here is how I did it:

Take a sturdy paper towel roll (Bounty is suggested, but I use Scott). Cut it in half the long way (so that you can unroll a half sheet at a time). I use a knife with a cerated edge for cutting.

You will need a container that is large enough to hold a half roll of paper towels. I use a Rubber maid lettuce container, but an ice cream bucket could probably work just as well.

In the bucket, combine 1 1/2 cups water, 2 tablespoons baby oil and 1 tablespoon baby shampoo. Stir it and add the half paper towel roll. It is best if you can stand the roll on end so that the water absorbs upwards.

Cover the container and let it sit for 24 hours so that all of the paper towels are equally damp.

I have been using these baby wipes for about three months. There are several advantages:

1. They are less expensive than store bought wipes, by far! If you buy an 8 pack of Scott paper towels for $5.50, you can make 16 batches of baby wipes. Each batch makes 60 wipes, so that's 960 wipes for about $5.50.

2. You know exactly what is in them. I'm always leery of putting something on my child's skin that has "mystery" ingredients. With these you know exactly what you're getting: Water, soap & baby oil.

3. They stand the test. I have never had a wipe fall apart in my hands or crumble while changing a particularly grungy diaper.

4. These wipes are more disposable and even flushable, whereas store wipes are harder on the environment.

There are a couple of disadvantages that I should mention:

1. After a few days, a slight musty smell develops. This should not deter you from making them. instead, add a little orange oil to the liquid before you add the paper towels.

2. They do not travel as conveniently. I use these wipes at home and still take store bought ones with me in the diaper bag.

Give it a try! What do you have to lose?