Fabulous Friday- Oh Baby!
Do you have a little one in your life? Taking care of your little bundle of joy doesn’t have to cost a bundle. Diapering a baby can be a large expense. Check out this guest post from The Frugal Baby. Molly
Today, I’m going to give you several recipes and you can choose the one that best fits your needs on making homemade baby wipes.
If you’re going to make your own wipes, you have several options when it comes to using the solution. You can simply pour the solution over the cloth wipes or paper towels (wash cloths, cut up receiving blankets, and paper towels are popular choices for homemade wipes). Alternatively, you can use a squirt or spray bottle to apply the solution directly to your baby’s bottom and then wipe with a dry cloth. You can also use a bottle to apply the solution to the dry cloth first. Personally, I prefer this method. I don’t like the idea of my wipes (particularly cloth wipes) just sitting in the liquid solution and I would rather control how much I use.
Now the only question is, which solution to use. Some of these are designed for particular needs–diaper rash, fungal rash, sensitive skin, etc. The rest are suitable for every day use. Try a few and see which ones you like best.
Very Basic Solution
2 cups warm water
2 tablespoons baby bath/wash/shampoo
2 tablespoons baby oil
Herbal Solution
2 cups warm brewed herbal tea (chamomille works well)
3 tablespoons olive oil or mineral oil
2-3 drops lavender oil (optional)
Soft Solution
2 cups warm water
2 tablespoons baby bath/wash/shampoo
2 tablespoons baby lotion
Apricot Solution
2 cups warm water
1 tablespoon baby bath/wash/shampoo
2 tablespoons apricot oil
Lavender Solution
2 cups warm water
1 tablespoon baby bath/wash/shampoo
1 tablespoon olive oil
5 drops lavender oil
Calendula Oil Solution (soothing for dry or irritated skin)
2 cups very warm water
1/4 cup calendula baby oil
2 tablespoons gentle baby bath/wash/shampoo
Fungal Rash Solution (this recipe works very well on a yeast diaper rash)
1 cup cool water
1 tablespoon white vinegar
4-5 drops tea tree oil
2 tablespoons aloe vera gel (fresh from the plant works best)
Diaper Rash Solution (this is gentle and effective on a basic non-fungal diaper rash)
1 cup cool water
1/4 cup fresh aloe vera gel
Use a blender to mix ingredients together and keep solution refrigerated
Diaper Rash Solution 2 (also effective on non-fungal rashes)
2 cups warm water
2 tablespoons baby bath/wash/shampoo
2 tablespoons olive oil or mineral oil
2 tablespoons baking soda
Sensitive Solution (ideal for babies with very sensitive skin)
2 cups warm water
4 tablespoons mineral oil
Using cloth diapers also helps save money when diapering baby and there’s no better way to dry your cloth diapers than by hanging them out in the sun to dry. Sure, it takes a little more effort than throwing them in the dryer, but the benefits are tremendous:
- You’ll save money on your electricity bill by not running the dryer.
- The sun will whiten and brighten your diapers, eliminating the need for harsh bleach.
- The sun and the fresh air will deodorize your diapers.
- Avoiding the dryer will lengthen the life of your cloth diapers.
And of course, you can dry your diapers outside at any time of the year. But there’s just nothing like a warm sunny day to get your diapers their freshest and brightest.
What are your favorite frugal baby tips? Have you found ways to save money on some of the most expensive baby items?
This is awesome! Love the recipes! I used to make my own baby wipes but now I coupon…and I’ve found I can get pampers and huggies wipes boxes for under a dollar each at places that double the usual 50 cent coupon that comes in the newspaper! Yay right? But I DO plan on trying the diaper rash solutions! Sounds super neat!
Molly says: Anyway you can save money on baby wipes is a bonus, right?
I don’t even use a ‘solution’ anymore, just get a cloth wipe wet with plain water. Even cheaper and less hassle!
For diapering, I use flat diapers and nylon Dappi diaper covers. I bought the diaper covers from cottonbabies.com at 2/$5 with free shipping. The flats are old fashioned diapers, and need to be folded and pinned. They dry super fast either on the line or in the dryer and are very trim. The best tip I found for buying flats is to buy the floursack dish towels from Target — they are very large, the right material, don’t shrink, and are only about $1 per. I buy a 4 pack for $3.99 in Phoenix. The ‘made for diapers’ flats are not only more expensive but smaller and thinner.
Molly says: Great tips, thanks for sharing!
I was just thinking that, although these are for babies and diapers, some of these would be nice to have in the camper or while camping. Less trash and easier on the environment.Thank you for the “recipes”.
Molly says: Even now that my babies have gotten older, we still keep homemade wipes in the car for quick clean-ups (or the occasional case of sticky fingers)!
I think our society and media try to convince young moms that they need lots of gadgets to be good parents. What babies really need are mommies and daddies who love them and are PRESENT for them
I have a brother and sister in law who have raised 14 children and they are all healthy, well adjusted children and young adults. They rarely had more than the minimum basic baby furniture, yet all their babies walked by 9-12 months and grew into smart, active people. We’ve raised 9 kids and discovered that the best way to save is to not buy most of the “stuff” that advertisers tell you that you “need”! Instead, spend TIME with your kids, especially reading and enjoying the great outdoors!
Molly says: What wonderful advice, I have found the same to be true. With a few basic items, parents can go a long way in caring for their little bundle of joy!