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Baby wipes were introduced in the mid 1950’s to enable parents with children to travel comfortably. Baby wipes are made of soft fibers in the form of a napkin, which helps in keeping the baby’s skin free from irritation and bruising. Although baby wipes are medicated and hygienically packed, there are instances where they can cause irritation of the skin and other conditions such as nappy rash and eczema. Babies have sensitive and tender skin, and the least bit of irritation could cause them much discomfort. Baby wipes are of different kinds – basic wipes, perfumed wipes, dry wipes, moist wipes and medicated wipes. Most baby wipes come with fresheners and moisturizers that could lead to allergies that cause a rash. Of all these, however, the basic baby wipe is the most effective and rarely causes any skin irritation, rash or eczema. Hypoallergenic and perfume free wipes are the best recommended for use on a baby’s skin. Baby wipes are expensive, and though more convenient, may not always be the best option for the comfort of your child.  

Terri wash cloths are safer, reusable, less expensive, and are soft on your baby’s skin. The use of flannel cloth with warm water to wipe your baby keeps the skin free from damage and irritation. Most people are under the impression that lotions and moisturizers help to soften the skin. However, in the case of a baby, it could have an adverse effect, leading to rashes and inflammation of the skin. If your child is prone to rashes, using a mixture of baby wash, baby oil and baby lotion containing aloe vera in equal proportions in warm water, on a good quality soft paper towel is recommended, as it has a soothing effect on the skin. A quarter cup of aloe gel with a few drops of tea tree oil mixed in two cups of warm water is another effective mixture for cleaning a baby. Tea tree oil is an excellent disinfectant which leaves a fresh smell, however it may be too harsh for some skin types. Storing your mixture in a spray bottle is recommended as it can be conveniently sprayed onto paper napkins to instantly prepare your home made wipes. Washing your baby’s bottom with warm water helps to clean well, while babies enjoy the feel of running water on their skin. As soon as your baby is clean, just pat him dry with a cotton towel. This avoids abrasions and breaking of the skin which later leads to irritable diaper rashes.

answered by G M

You can easily make your own natural wipes by using either cloth or soft paper towels with a mixture of aloe vera, baby oil, and green tea. Just keep the mixture near your changing table and dip your wipes into it as you are ready to use them.

Commercial baby wipes are known to cause skin allergies in babies with sensitive skin. And most contain chemicals that could harm your baby, as much as the companies try to make them safe...natural alternatives are always better.

If you use cloth wipes, you can easily use flannel or other very soft and absorbent cloth and keep them wet in a plastic container, much as you would regular baby wipes. To clean them, just toss them in the washing machine on hot and reuse. This also saves the environment since you are not throwing everything away. If you have your baby in cloth diapers, it is very easy just to wash diapers and wipes together in the same load.

If you want to use wipes for their hands and faces, you can use the same mix...just replace baby oil with a tiny bit of witch hazel or tea tree oil and keep them separate from the wipes for other areas. Tea tree oil and witch hazel can be irritating to the sensitive areas that are diapered.

answered by R P

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