Cloth Wipes: Simple. Affordable. Good for Baby.

When I first decided to use cloth diapers, I also decided to use cloth wipes. There was never any question not to; it just seemed like the logical thing to do. This is a description of my system, and some other options for you to consider.

I have the Prince Lionheart cloth wipes warmer. I registered for it at Babies R Us and received it as a baby gift. I wish I could send you to a local small business to purchase it, but for now they only sell to big box stores. I still love the warmer, though. I keep mine wet at all times. For a long time I used my own wipe solution: 1 TBS baby soap, 1 TBS olive oil and water. I now use the Clean B cloth wipes solution because it is really easy to use, inexpensive, and smells great. One $6.50 bottle will make 30 , 8 oz batches.

Ways to use cloth wipes at home.

1. Store them wet in a cloth wipes warmer.
2. Store them wet in a plastic container with a lid.
3. Store them dry and use a spray bottle with solution to spray on the wipe or directly on baby.
4. Store them dry and use a peri bottle to pour on wipe.
5. Store them dry, and store a solution in a large container. Dip the dry wipe into the container to moisten each time.

Using water only:

Do not store wipes wet with water only. They will get musty very quickly. However, you can store wipes dry and moisten with water at each diaper change. Water works fine, but a solution really does work better with stuck on poop and to freshen baby's bottom.

How to use cloth wipes on the go.

1. Store them wet in leak proof container or bag such as the Planetwise Wipes Pouch.
2. Store them dry and moisten with water.
3. Store them dry and moisten with a spray such as AppleCheeks wipe solution, bumGenius bottom cleaner, or Thirsties Booty Luster.

I use the AppleCheeks spray and also use it to wipe messy little hands and faces.

Types of Cloth Wipes:

I originally purchased the Prince Lionheart wipes that came with the warmer. I would not recommend these. They shrank considerably and are really too small to work well. My favorites are the Thirsties Fab Wipes. They are large, thick, and soft with cotton velour on one side and microfleece on the other. Kristina loves the terry cloth GroVia wipes. We also carry AppleCheeks, FuzziBunz, Planetwise, and Imse Vimse wipes. All are great brands. You can also use baby washcloths if they are large and thick, or make your own wipes.

Using cloth wipes is a breeze. I throw the dirty wipe in the pail or wet bag with the diapers and wash them all together. If you use disposable wipes, you are either throwing them in a separate trash can, or are picking them out of the clean laundry after they've been needlessly washed. To me, that is an unnecessary added step.

Cost Savings:

How many wipes will you need? I suggest having around 24 wipes or one for each diaper that you have. You will spend $1-$2 per wipe. Disposable wipes will cost around $550 from birth to potty training. That's over $500 in savings!

Health of Baby:

Have you ever had a pediatrican tell you not to use wipes when Baby has a bad rash? That's because disposable wipes burn. Disposable wipes contain preservatives, surfactants, artificial fragrance and parabens. The wipes themselves are made from melted plastic pellets and pressed synthetic materials.

What would you want wiping your bottom? For me, it was an easy decision. I hope you will consider the benefits of using cloth wipes if you are not already using them.