Alternative To Baby Wipes

In the UK, we are advised to use cotton wool and water when the babies are newborn. This it to protect their skin more than anything else. Personally I use both the cotton wool and baby wipes. They can become expensive along with the disposable nappies I agree, and I would imagine cotton wool is a chepaer alternative, however you would have to use quite a bit and it could get messy whereas a wipe is so easy.

Hey. When my children were babies, one being born in 1993 and the other being born in 1996, I never ever used the baby wipes, I always used a soft soapy flannel and warm water, and when I have my baby nieces or nephews around, I still use this method, I find baby wipes to be cold on the baby and causes them discomfort...

Unfortunately, i haven't got an alternative. My daughter has sensitive skin so i have to use the extra sensitive ones for her but still, i didn't think they were all that dear - you just have to keep folding the 1 wipe to get as much use out of it as you can. Here in Australia, i usually pay about $10 AUD for 160 wipes, that works out to only about 6 cents a wipe - it's not really all that expensive, more so if you can get away with using just the 1 wipe per nappy change. Those are for the Huggies ones, there are other brands you can use that are cheaper & work just as well - i just don't recommend using the real cheap ones (cheap/dollar shop ones) coz i was given a pack of them - they were rough & the top ones were dry coz all the juicy stuff sank to the bottom of the pack :( I didn't even try using those ones coz they smelt funny too! I dunno what else you could do to be honest - but honestly, usless you're using heaps at a time, they're really not that bad cost wise, the disposables are more expensive no matter which way you look at it! Oh & just so you know, they did some research on disposable & cloth nappies/diapers & the only difference is that the disposables are not environmentally friendly - they do end up costing the same in the long run coz the cloth ones need to be soaked, washed & then there's the water usage - so yeah! Just do whatever you think is right but for me, 6 cents a wipe really isn't breaking the budget - the pack of 160 will last about 4 weeks - give or take so it is only about 36 cents a day, about $2.50 a week - it's really not a huge expense!

there is no better way and the most inexpensive than water and a mild soap, and a hand dry, clean cotton cloth diaper for ur wipe. that makes her even smell cleaner, than the commercial baby wipes, which often times are laced with some harsh chemicals that would be harmful for ur baby's delicate skin.

If you're worried about the price, try off-brand wipes. They work just as well and the Target (I think) also tends to be a lot softer and gentler on my baby's butt. Walgreens has a sale on wipes every other week and Dollar General has seriously cheap wipes all the time. Sometimes, for the heavy duty messes, I use a damp paper towel to get most of the sticky crap off. Cotton balls dipped in warm water work for itty bitty ones; they also work so much better for applying diaper rash cream. It controls the amount you put on and prevents your fingers from getting gunked up. If you want to go uber eco-conscious, try reusable organic cotton pads or cloths. They're soft, non-irritating, and earth-friendly, though a little on the pricy side. Blessed Be

I had a friend whose son was allergic to baby wipes. So she took a container and filled it with cut up paper towels the size of a baby wipe and added water with a few drops of soap. Don't know if it is economical, but it is different.

I noticed yo uhad mentioned using a washcloth/ facewasher when you were at home, but were concerned because you felt like it wasn't practical when you go out. An option would be to obtain an old plastic baby wipe container (Huggies has them here in Australia) or find a suitable alternative plastic container (tupperware, or something) that you fill with soapy water before going out and pop a washcloth in. It can be rinsed out, and you could take a spare container to pop the washcloth in after its been used. Thats one option. Alternatively yo ucould use baby wipes only when you go out. Cotton wool balls has already been suggested, and I'm not sure if someone suggested using tissues or paper toweling (wet of course lol) as well. Even wet toilet paper works well if you get desperate (I've done this before LOL) Wow, three bucks for a packet? I'm moving over to the states. A single packet here is almost six dollars, and a box of 5 packets is $25 or there abouts.

You know, it does make one wonder how women cleaned babies before the wipes and disposable diapers came about! My children are grown now, so it has been a while since I did diaper duty...but they all had the disposable diapers and the wipes. Looking back, it is frightning how many dollars I likely spent on those products for 4 children! I had a friend who swore by this product, but I can't say myself because I have not used it! http://www.mominventors.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=153&osCsid=3d53ef11ffd7adc10

No, I dont think that there is any, unless you go back to the old times and use a damp cloth. I had done that in an emergency, but I used the wipes for no2 and the damp cloth just for the urine..

I know that I have always bought wipes. My youngest one is 5 and still uses them so that she can get clean.

I use disposable baby wipes and just made the switch to cloth diapers. They really aren't as hard to do as you would think. Though we do putone disposable on her a day because she won't poop in a cloth. The only thing is washing them separate from the clothes. My husband even said that cloth was easier for him. I was shocked. I am pretty good with a sewing machine so I am thinking of making some cloth wipes myself. I just wonder if everyone just wets them? Use a tiny bit of soap?

When I had my first child I used wipes. Ended up giving her the worst case of diaper rash in history. She has very sensitive skin even now almost 12 years later. I would use toilet paper to wipe up as much as possible and use wet toilet paper for the rest. If available I would rinse their bottoms right under the sink. I did that with my other two children too though there skin is not sensitive. I look at it as a waste of money and not really needed. Once I stopped using baby wipes my children never ever got another diaper rash.

yeah same with them the only alternative i know is the use of cotton and slightly wet them with water.

that the only way... nothing else to use......

When my son was born 5 years ago I used cotton balls in hospital and then started using baby wipes when we got home. When my daughter was born 3 years ago we used face cloths in hospital and then used the baby wipes when we got home. Whenever the kids got a little bit of nappy rash I would stop using the baby wipes and just use a warm face cloth to clean them.

ok i have responded a lot in this discussion to everyone elses suggestions. i really don't have much else to add. i love using my cloth wipes. i make them out of a soft flannel and a soft yet textured sherpa on the other side. these wipes will clean up any messes very thoroughly without roughing up the little ones skin. when going out i use a zip lock bag and put a couple of wet cloth wipes in it. i do know people who keep the wipes dry and carry a spray bottle and spritz the water onto the wipes when they use them. for urine changes i will rinse the wipe with hot water and baby soap and use it several times in one day. for soiled diaper changes i will only use the wipe the one time.

I use baby wipes too but sometimes when I do run out, I use Bounty and water. You do have to pre-tear them before changing so that it's easier. They don't tear easily when wet too. I buy the type where you can choose to use 1 square sheet or half of it. But if you want to save more, you can just choose the regular one (where the sheets are all square) and just use scissors to pre-cut the sheets into halves or quarters.

It has been a little time since I really had to worry about baby wipes and a baby's bum, 5 years now. However, I am also into trying to keep things from landing in our landfills yet still be practical with the products we use. I think a soft washcloth or cotton flannel as mentioned would be great. However, I would use witch hazel for the liquid. My face is very sensitive to chemicals and I have found that witch hazel is the gentlest cleanser for my face. The redness is finally starting to subside. Plus, it is an astringent so it would be good to soothe those red areas of the bum. For out of the home usage, you can be as eco-safe as you want. Plastic baggies for disposal and a plastic squirt bottle for the liquid. Wax paper for the disposal or wax paper bags. You can use pre-cut cotton cloths so if you really wanted or needed to, you can toss them in the trash and know they will degrade. Viva brand paper towels seem the softest to me, Bounty is too harsh. Even plain kleenex would work. Gauze sheets. Old socks! Old bed sheets cut up and if you really want, sew the edges. Really, there are lots of alternatives. Like another said, disposable wipes and diapers have only been around for a few decades. Think about the prim and proper Victorian women who had to use cloth for everything. Everyone got intimate with someone else's baby bottom and poo. We can surely find a way to be green and convenient.

I used to use cotton balls with water. didnt use wipes cause it cause irritation/rashes. but always have wipes in my bag when we go out (just in case). Now thatt he's older. I wash his bum in the sink. :)