The Best DIY Baby Wipes: Quick, Cheap and Safe for Baby

This DIY baby wipe recipe will put you 100% in control of the ingredients (you likely already have them in your kitchen), save you dollars, and are gentle one skin.

If your baby has sensitive skin and you’re in need of a solution, these wipes are definitely what you’re looking for!

We’ve tried the “natural” and organic brands of baby wipe ourselves, and there’s something in them that still causes skin irritation on my boys’ bums and a definite irritation on their faces.

It’s precisely why we have been making these DIY wipes for four years now!

As a mom, I know you have a lot to do, so let’s get to it.

Benefits of DIY Baby Wipes

• You can wipe their faces, mouth, eyes, and hands with no worry of irritation
• Safe for them to put in their mouth – if they do, and babies put everything in their mouths so one less worry for you
• They are super easy and quick to make – the hubby, grandma, or caretaker can do it too
• Incredibly cost-effective = roughly $.03 per wipe (dependant on the paper towel brand you choose)
• They’re made with 5 safe ingredients also found in the kitchen
• They last so much longer than store-bought wipes
• Have natural antibacterial properties and are soothing to the skin

Pair these wipes with our DIY Baby Powder found here!

The Supply List

Aside from the paper towels, most of the supplies will be purchased every few months or when you run out.

For 1 batch of wipes you’ll need the following:

• 1 roll Heavy Duty paper towel (Target’s Up & Up brand and Costco are our go to’s) don’t use the big size – make sure to grab make your size, or regular size sheets!
• 64oz pitcher to hold the water mixture (or a 32oz mason jar used 2x)
• container for preparing and storage – we’ve used this from the start
• 1 tsp Dr. Bronner’s Baby Mild Unscented Soap
• 2 TB organic coconut oil (Big Lots has the best deal on non-GMO coconut oil)
• *4 drops organic Lavender essential oil
• 4 drops organic Melaleuca essential oil
• warm water

*optional: can use 2 drops Organic Roman Chamomile in addition to or in place of Lavender essential oil

DIRECTIONS

• Unroll the paper towel by fanning it on top of itself like you would pull out Post-it notes from a dispenser – so that when you place them in your wipe container they are fanned.
• Once the whole roll it stacked, use a sharp pair of scissors and cut them in half down the middle, folding them overhead as you go.

Now you have two big stacks of paper towel. Place one-half of the stack in the prep container. Set the second stack aside for now.

• In the pitcher or mason jar add 1 tsp of Dr. Bronner’s, 4 drops of each essential oil you’re using, and the coconut oil. fill the rest of the way up with warm water so that it melts the coconut oil. Stir it well to blend.

As you pour the water mixture over the paper towels, you want to make sure you fan them open and get the mixture throughout the stack (pictured below).

• Pour about half of the water into the first stack. Leave the rest of the water mix for the last stack.

Try and distribute the coconut oil mixture all around and in through the paper towels. This ensures your wipes will all be nice and soft.

• Squish them down to get the whole stack wet with any remaining water. If there’s too much water left, dump some out, but leave a little in the container so they don’t dry out.

• Repeat the process with the second stack of dry paper towels.
  • If you run out of water mix just add a little coconut oil to some warm water and then to the dry area of paper towels.

STORAGE

Add some fresh wipes to your OXO Wipes Warmer (our favorite kind as it has a weighted plate to keep wipes down), and the rest in a dry BPA-free container, glass container, or a gallon baggy if you’re traveling.

Make sure to store the extra wipes in a cool place. Any heat will build up moisture and create a water mold.

Note: wipes should be stored in a BPA-free plastic container as the essential oils will pull out toxins.

That’s it!

You now have safe, non-toxic, and DIY Natural Baby Wipes any time you need them! We use this travel container. Since paper towel wipes don’t quite pull out like commercial wipes, the girth of these containers works great without being too bulky.

If you decided to give these wipes a try please let us know your thoughts! We hope you end up loving these as much as we do.

ALSO, if you’re not sure what essential oils to use we just switched to using Revive that’s processed in America and we really love it. It’s VERY comparable to two top brands out there and you can get $10 off your first order HERE.

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Make your own DIY Baby Powder too!!

Like wipes, baby powders shouldn’t be overloaded with complicated ingredients. Our DIY baby butt powder is so simple it’s made with three ingredients – also found in your kitchen!

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How long does one batch of DIY baby wipes last?

We have a three-year-old and a one-year-old. One batch equals one paper towel roll and currently lasts us anywhere between 2-3 weeks. During the 3-6 month stage with Abie, one roll still lasted us about 2 weeks.

How should they be stored?

Away from sun and vents that put out heat. The heat will cause extra moisture which can cause the wipes to create a little water mold.

What if my baby puts a wipe in his/her mouth?

It’s safe, but it’s still a paper towel, so “not in your mouth” still applies of course. Our youngest makes this a game!

It’s also why I love these wipes so much. I know what’s in them and they’re all products that do no harm to the system. But still… don’t eat them 🙂

Can I use any essential oils?

Yes and no. It’s important to use antibacterial essential oils that are not hurtful to the skin. Especially since they will be used on sensitive parts.

Oils to use: Roman Chamomile, Frankincense, Lavender, and Melaleuca.

Oils to avoid: anything with cinnamon, lemon, orange, peppermint, minty oils such as eucalyptus, rosemary, and oils considered hot that cause intense sensations to the skin. These oils are especially painful to the face, lips, eyes, and private areas. We never recommend using any of these oils in wipes.

Let us know if you have any additional questions or concerns.