Any caring mother wants to use products on her baby’s skin that are gentle, that won’t irritate or cause any adverse reactions. Commercial baby wipes are advertised as being gentle on a baby’s delicate skin, but are they? Many of them contain artificial fragrances, parabens, preservatives and surfactants. What are the possible side effects of these ingredients?

Parabens are preservatives. They penetrate the skin and mimic estrogen. They could have possible adverse effects on the male reproductive functions, including the production of sperm. The five parabens are methylparaben, ethylparaben, propylparaben, isoparaben, and butylparaben. Surfactants and fragrances can irritate the skin, especially if there is a small scratch on it, and possibly lead to eczema.

Neither are commercial baby wipes cheap. Why spend money on something that has a good possibility of damaging your little one’s skin or reproductive system? Save money and ensure your baby’s delicate skin and health are protected by making your own baby wipes, either out of cloth (washable and reusable) or good strong paper towels.

Remember, our ancestors didn’t have the option of buying commercial baby wipes. They had to make their own. They probably made them close to the way I describe below.

If you want to make wipes using paper towels, first you need a good, strong brand of paper towels. I would recommend Viva since they are soft and feel almost like cloth. Combine 2 tablespoons of Dr. Bronner’s soap, any variety you desire, with 2 cups of water. I recommend Dr. Bronner’s because it is all natural and is made with several different oils. This soap is sure to be gentle on your baby’s skin.

Instead of Dr. Bronner’s magic soap, you can combine 2 tablespoons of a natural baby wash and 2 tablespoons of olive oil or coconut oil in 2 cups of water. The baby wash is to clean and the oil is to moisturize the skin.

Bring your 2 cups of water to a boil before adding the soap and oil. Store the wipes in a cool place to discourage molding, which is a possibility after long periods of storage. Remember, this solution has no preservatives!

You have a few different options when it comes to how you use the mixture. The solution can be kept in a spray bottle and each towel sprayed with it before use. Or you can stack you towels in a container, such as an empty baby wipe container or a plastic storage tub, and pour the solution over the towels.

I have seen some sites that say to cut the roll of paper towels in half and pour the solution over each half of the roll, removing the cardboard center after the solution has soaked through the towels. It would take a bit more time, but I would separate each towel, then stack them and cut them in half before soaking them in the solution.

Wipes made using cloth can be made the same way. If you are soaking your wipes in the solution and storing them in a container, you may find that they begin to smell a bit musty after a day or so. So, if using cloth, I would recommend spraying each one with the solution before use.

Would it be better to use cloth or paper towels? Either one would be fine. The money you would save by using cloth is probably spent on the electricity and water you use to wash them. But whichever way you go, know that you are pampering your baby’s delicate skin.

Below I have included links for you to buy Dr. Bronner's Baby Mild Castile Soap and Viva paper towels from Amazon, should you choose to do so.

Dr. Bronner's Magic Soaps Pure-Castile Soap, 18-in-1 Hemp Unscented Baby Mild, 32-Ounce Bottles (Pack of 2)

Kleenex Viva Towels, Regular Roll, Case Pack, Four 8 Roll Packs (32 Rolls)