Compared to other baby expenses, wipes may not seem like such a big deal. When you add up how many you actually use, though, the cost for this “convenience” is really rather high. Check out the chart below to find out just how much you are spending and just how much you could be saving on baby wipes.

As you can see, you won’t save a whole lot by making your own disposable wipes and you will end up expending more energy. That being said, it’s important to note that even if you are not saving money by making disposable wipes, you are controlling the chemicals that go on your baby’s sensitive skin.

In my opinion, though, the best option is to make your own reusable wipes. They are cheap, gentle on your baby’s skin, and are small enough that you can toss them in with another load of laundry and they take up very little room.

No matter which homemade baby wipe you prefer, they can all use the following cleansing solution recipe:

Ingredients

2 cups water

2 tablespoons baby bath/wash/shampoo

1-2 tablespoons baby oil*

*Note: if you find that the baby oil is leaving a film or a residue in the water when you wash the wipes, consider using apricot oil or lavendar oil instead of a mineral based oil.

Directions

Bring water to a boil in a clean saucepan. Remove water from heat. Add baby wash and oil to the water while still hot and mix well. Allow mixture to cool some before pouring it onto your wipes (to prevent plastic containers from melting!). Alternatively, you can pour the mixture into a spray bottle and spray it onto a soft cloth or directly onto your baby’s bottom.

Finally, don’t underestimate the cleansing power of plain old water. Cleaning your baby’s bottom with water is as pure and natural as it gets. You can wet a few wipes before each diaper change or wet a day’s worth in a container.

Disposable Baby Wipes #1

What You Will Need

1. Package of cotton squares (available on the cosmetic aisles of most stores)
2. Prepared cleansing solution or water (see above)
3. Empty baby wipe box or other square or rectangular box with lid

Instructions

1. Stack cotton squares in the baby wipe box.
2. Pour the cleansing solution over the squares.

Disposable Baby Wipes #2

What You Will Need

1. Roll of good quality paper towels
2. Prepared cleansing solution or water (see above)
3. Empty baby wipe cylinder or other similarly shaped container with lid

Instructions

1. Cut the roll of paper towels in half so that you now have two short rolls. An electric carving knife or hacksaw works best but any serrated knife will do.
2. Pull cardboard tube out of the middle of one roll.
3. Place the now-flexible roll into the cylinder and pull the innermost sheet up from the middle.
4. Pour the cleansing solution over the paper towels.

Reusable Baby Wipes (Super Frugal!)

What You Will Need

1. Approximately 50 squares or rectangles cut from old receiving blankets, t-shirts, cloth diapers, thin towels, etc. or just use old baby washcloths or diaper liners.
2. Prepared cleansing solution or water (see above)
3. Empty baby wipe box or other square or rectangular box with lid

Instructions

1. Stack fabric in the baby wipe box.
2. Pour the cleansing solution over the cloth wipes.