You may be interested in making homemade baby wipes for a variety of reasons. The biggest reason many moms switch to reusable wipes is to save money. Even the Cadillac of cloth baby wipes will cost less than $60 for a set of 24 that will last you from birth to potty training. If you don't want the posh mod-mom type of wipes you can get that set of 24 for around $9, just the cost of the fabric.

You might be thinking " $50 just for baby wipes? I don't think so!" but imagine what you will be paying over 2.5 - 3 years of diapering with disposable wipes.

• Traditional wipes (Huggies/Pampers) run about $4 for a pack of 80.
• That pack will last my household about a week (less than a week if there is more than 1 poop per day). So just in one year I will spend around $208 !
• Over the course of diapering just one child, using disposable wipes, I will spend $520-$624 on something that will only touch my baby for a few seconds and then be thrown in the trash.

Another reason that people choose to make their own baby wipes is so they know exactly what is in the solution and what is touching their baby's bottom.

• Traditional disposable wipes contain alcohol, perfume, chlorine and dioxin.
• Chemicals in wipes can irritate sensitive skin.
• Disposable wipes can actually make diaper rash worse

Finally, disposable baby wipes are non-biodegradable. They cannot be flushed down the toilet or composted so they all end up in the landfill where they will take hundreds of years to decompose.

 Some of the most common fabrics used are:

• Flannel
• Terry
• Organic cotton
• Organic bamboo velour
• sherpa
• microfleece

There is no wrong or right fabric. The most economical and environmentally friendly fabric you can use for wipes comes from things you already own. You can re-purpose those old flannel bedsheets or finally put those nappy t-shirts to good use.

Something to keep in mind is that your baby has tiny cracks and crevises that need to be cleaned. A lush fluffy wipe might feel very soothing to the touch but won't be very effective for getting in those places that need to be cleaned on baby's bottom.

Sewing your wipes is very easy and cost effective. Simply choose the fabric you would like to use and cut it into 8in by 8in squares, hem the edges and you're done! You can make them single layer, double layer or even use a different fabric or pattern on each side.

If you choose to buy your cloth wipes there are a variety of places online to find them. For handmade goods you can try "Etsy".

Bumgenius, Thirsties and Prince Lionheart are just a few of the big brands that make excellent cloth wipes. Keep in mind that with the big brand wipes you will rarely find them in cute patterns.

 It is extremely easy to make the solution for your cloth wipes. You probably already have everything needed to make a basic solution. The most edited version I have used is:

1. 2 tablespoons of baby wash
2. 2 tablespoons of food-grade oil ( I like to use almond oil )
3. 2 cups of water

You can vary the recipe according to your needs. Adding a few drops of essential oil is a good idea. The most commonly used are Tea Tree Oil and Lavender Oil. Make sure you are using an "Essential" oil not a "Perfume" oil.

If your baby is having a problem with yeast rashes you can use this recipe to prevent and discourage yeast growth:

1. 1 tablespoon of vinegar
2. 1 tablespoon calendula oil
3. 2 drops of chamomile oil
4. 2 drops tea tree oil
5. 1/4 cup Aloe Vera gel
6. 1 cup of water

If your baby already has a yeast rash, omit the vinegar until the skin no longer looks irritated.

• You can store your solution in a spray bottle and spray your wipes and/or your baby's bottom for cleaning.
• Keep your solution in a bottle with a pour spout and pour it on your wipes.
• Or the easiest way is to put your cloth wipes in a wipe warmer and pour your solution over the wipes. This way they are ready for you when you need them. If you choose this method, change the solution/wipes every day or every other day to keep them fresh.