Jul 30, 2010

Homemade Cloth Wipe Solutions

This is post #3 in our cloth wipes series, so here is a quick recap in case you have missed a post. In post #1 we gave you 4 great reasons for using cloth wipes instead of disposables, we even included a link that goes through manufacturing processes and ingredients in those disposable wipes. In post #2 we went through some of the different brands of wipe solutions available from our shops. Today we are going to share with you some info onmaking your own wipes solution. We've collected a few recipes for cloth wipe solutions from our friends for you to try out as well! But first lets take a look at what ingredients go into those solutions.

Common Cloth Wipe Solution Recipe Ingredients:

Most cloth wipe solution recipes contain similar main ingredients, which are used for the same reason in each recipe. These are the common ingredients and why they're included:

  • Oil: Helps the wipe glide across baby's skin and keeps skin soft
  • Soap: Cleanses by removing all traces of urine and feces
  • EO: (Essential Oil) Added for antibacterial and/or aromatherapy purposes.
  • Water: The main ingredient in each recipe, cleanses the diaper area and dilutes the other ingredients

The type and amounts of oil, soap, EO and water that goes into a recipe is what gives each cloth wipe solution its own distinct "personality". Have fun trying different recipes until you find the ones that you like best!

How to Use Cloth Wipe Solutions

When mixing solutions works best to start with water, then oil and finally soap. By starting with water you'll avoid making tons of bubbles, and the oil will coat your measuring tools so the soap slips right off.

There are many different ways to store and apply cloth wipe solutions, try a few of the following ideas to find the one that works best for your family. You may discover that one system works great at home and another works great away from home. Most of the time it's easiest to gently mix the cloth wipe solution in a bottle with a cover, then pour it into the storage container. Here's some ideas to get you started:

  • Use a spray bottle to spritz baby's bottom or the cloth wipes.
  • Use a bottle with a pull-up spout (like your old pericare bottle- a great re-use solution) to dribble solution onto the cloth wipes.
  • Warm solution and place in an insulated container to provide warm wipes for baby.
  • Place cloth wipes into your old disposable wipes container, an old margarine container or any plastic or waterproof tub you might have around the house- pour wipes solution over wipes so you are ready for any changes during the day.

Don't store solutions or wet wipes for longer than a week as they do not contain preservatives.

Cloth Wipe Solution Recipes

Anti-Fungal

Omit vinegar if baby has a raw rash.
1 teaspoon white vinegar
1 tablespoon calendula oil
A few drops lavender oil
A few drops tea tree oil
1/4 cup 100% aloe vera gel
1/2 cup water

Lanolin & Glycerine

Lanolin and glycerine moisturize without oil. Lansinoh can be found in many local stores.
1 tablespoon liquid glycerine
1/4 teaspoon liquid lanolin (100% pure)
1-3 drops EO
4 cups water

Soapless

This recipe relies on the EO to cleanse, instead of using soap.
1-2 drops tea tree oil
1-2 drops lavender oil
1 cup water
Use caution with this recipe as we've been told some children may develop a rash since the essential oils aren't dissolved in a carrier oil

Aloe Vera Recipe
  • 1/4 Cup Aloe Vera Gel
  • 2 Drops Tea Tree Oil
  • 2 Cups Hot Water

    Stir or shake until this recipe is well mixed. Don't use until the mixture cools. Spritz on wipe before using if in spray bottle. Swish solution around over wipes if using a wipes box.

Vitamin E and Essential Oils Recipe

  • 2 Drops Tea Tree Oil
  • 2 Drops Lavender Oil (Please be sure to use only pure essential oils - don't use synthetic oils.)
  • 2 Drops Chamomile Oil
  • 2 Cups Water
  • 1 Vitamin E Cap

    Cut open vitamin E caplet and squeeze into the water, and add essential oil drops.

All of these recipes should be mixed well and then added to your spray bottle, your old pericare bottle or your wipes box. Spritz on, or wet wipe before use if you are using the spray or pericare bottle. You will pour the solution over your wipes if using a wipes box. These solutions do not have preservatives added. Discard any of the solutions left after a week and monitor them for changes in smell throughout use. If your solution begins to develop a musty smell discard right away. Solutions left too long can develop mold and mildew.

Jul 25, 2010

Cloth Diaper Wipes and Wipe Solutions- The Perfect Combination

This is our second post in our cloth wipes series. The first post detailed 4 reasons why you should make the switch to cloth diaper wipes and ditch the disposables.

There are two types of cloth wipe solutions: liquid and cube form.

Liquid solutions come in either concentrated or diluted forms and can be used in foaming or spray bottles. Diluted forms can be purchased ready to use. No muss, no fuss.
When purchasing liquid solutions you run the risk of the product leaking during shipping (if you are purchasing online), and they are also heavier to ship. Also without the addition of preservatives (which we don't want added!) these liquid solutions do not have a very long shelf life. Some great brands you can check out for liquid solutions: bumGenius Bottom Cleaner, Northern Essence Natural Wipe Concentrate, and Happy Heiny's.

At the Moms and Bums family of shops we carry 2 varieties of cube brands for our customers. Monkey Doodlez and Knickernappies.
Monkey Doodlez SLS Free Wipe Cubes are made in Ontario. They contain lavender and tea tree oil to aid at keeping bacteria and fungus away, aloe vera for their tender bums and are vegetable based, so also safe for vegans.

Knickernappies Baby Bum Drops. Made with organic calendula blossoms and aloe vera to help soothe the skin and clear skin irritations. A natural glycerin soap base creates a mild cleansing action, and pure essential oils of lavender and mandarin help to create an aromatic calming atmosphere. Also contains anti-bacterial tea tree essential oil to keep your baby wipes fresh and germ-free.

To use them you simply add 2 cups of hot water (we use boiling water, but you need to plan ahead with this as it needs to cool before you can use it) and stir while the cube dissolves. We mix our batches in a Mason Jar and make a litre at a time. Once you have mixed your solution it is good for a week. We pile our wipes high in an old disposable wipes container and pour the solution over the top of them, so they are ready to use when it is "bum change" time. For outings we like to take dry wipes and put the solution in an old pericare bottle (most hospitals give you one free when you deliver), you can wet wipes as needed and having that extra solution is great for cleaning up sticky messes too!

There are advantages and disadvantages to each form of wipe solution, however once they are prepared, both are in liquid form and they will work in the same manner. To use the solutions, simply add to an old pericare bottle, a spritzing bottle, or cube solutions can be added directly to your wipes in an old margarine tub or disposable wipes container. Although some would spray baby, we recommend spraying or wetting your wipes and then using them on baby. Enjoy the relaxing fragrances from these great wipes solutions.

Jul 20, 2010

Cloth Diaper Wipes- 4 Great reasons to make the switch!

Cloth Diaper Wipes are the Perfect Partner to Cloth Diapers

You'll love using cloth diaper wipes for all the reasons you love your cloth diapers! They're softer on your babies skin, chemical free and will save you money! Need more reasons to make the switch to cloth diaper wipes? Keep reading!

Cloth Diaper Wipes are Softer on your babies skin!

Cloth diaper wipes are made out of soft flannel, fuzzy velour, luxurious sherpa and looped terry. Cloth diaper wipes pamper your child's tender skin. Disposable wipes can be rough, and are made from plastic pellets and chemicals!

Cloth diaper wipes are also perfect for cleaning up those messy faces, runny noses and sticky fingers! Nothing is too messy for cloth diaper wipes to clean up!

Cloth diaper wipes come in several sizes: 5X7's are the perfect fit for your wipes warmer or recycled disposables box. The larger 8X8 size just needs to be folded in half to fit, but handles bigger messes! Just fill your old disposables box, wipes warmer or even an old margarine

container with wipes and add some water or wipes solution, and you're ready to go!

Cloth Diaper Wipes are Easy to use

It is easier to use cloth diaper wipes with cloth diapers than to use disposable wipes. Simply wet your cloth wipe with plain water or cloth wipe solution for a comfortable, effective way to clean up. What do you do with them after they are soiled? Just toss them into the diaper pail with the dirty diaper. No more sorting through that dirty diaper to throw disposable wipes in the garbage! Wash your cloth wipes with your cloth diapers. Cloth

diaper wipes will fit in your recycled disposable wipe container, recycled margarine container, or even Tupperware. Cant find a container? No problem! You can also wet your wipes as you need them.

Cloth Diaper Wipes Save you Money

Not only are cloth diaper wipes soft and easy to use, you'll save money by switching from disposable to cloth! When you throw away disposable wipes, you're throwing away your money. Many families spend over $100.00/month on disposables and wipes! Many disposable wipes are so thin that you need to use two or three at a time - more money being thrown away. Cloth diaper wipes are washed and reused to save money, and will usually last through more than one child. Thick enough to handle the messiest of cloth diaper changes, cloth diaper wipes remain soft wash after wash.

Cloth Diaper Wipes are Chemical Free

Cloth diaper wipes are better for your child's delicate skin than disposable wipes! Cloth diaper wipes are made from natural hemp, cotton and bamboo, and only have the ingredients you add to them. Disposable wipes contain chemical ingredients such as preservatives, surfactants, artificial fragrance and parabens. And those cloth like fibres are actually melted plastic pellets! To learn more about the chemicals that go into them and how disposable wipes are made check out e-notes.

A note about home made wipes solutions and recipes:

You need to use caution when home made wipes solutions call for commercial products (like baby wash or shampoo). Shampoo and Baby Wash manufacturers are not required to list every ingredient contained in their product(s). Unfortunately, many commercial products do leave out the fact that their shampoo or baby wash contains phthalates (as surfactants). Which have the potential to cause reproductive problems/cancers and can be quite toxic. It is highly recommended that you check the ingredients list on any product you intend to use on your littles ones delicate skin and research those ingredients.

Stay tuned for our entry on wipe solutions you can buy!

Jul 15, 2010

Aubrey's Undies #1- Happy Heiny's Pocket Trainers

...Training Undies That Is!
At Moms and Bums we make a point of trying to test out each product we carry on our three little Guinea Pigs. Aubrey was our original diaper tester, and has now moved on to the position of trainer tester! Aubrey is a very head strong 2 year old, and has taken longer to learn to use a potty than her older sister Kiera did. Why you might be asking was it so difficult for her to learn? Well the real issue was that she really likes her cloth diapers! She would tell you which one she was going to wear, and she had flower ones, and cow ones and and pink prints... her diapers were fun! In her eyes they were much nicer than the plain under wear Kiera had- even if Kiera's did have Dora on them. So we knew it was time to find her some fancy undies!
We had ordered in trainers for customers before, but didn't really keep them in stock because we hadn't had anyone we could test them on until now.
We started off with some Happy Heiny's Pocket Trainers with snaps.
First a bit of info about Happy Heiny's and what makes them different than other trainers on the market:
First they were redesigned with your busy toddler in mind! Snaps can be added for ease in messy clean ups and to make stuffing easier. Snaps can be added to one side, both sides or the side can be sewn shut for older bed wetters.
Happy Heiny's have an elastic waistband making them easy for your little one to pull up and down on their own. This is also good for older children with bed wetting issues. Quick on and off. Like their diapers, the inner lining is custom milled fleece for a more stay dry feeling and the outer layer is PUL to hold in wetness. The pocket opening allows you to add as much stuffing as you need, so even the heaviest wetter still has protection overnight.
Happy Heinys Trainers have been child tested and last 12+ hours overnight with absolutely no wicking for most children. Happy Heinys® Trainers are available in a variety of solid colors. They have a 100% poly laminated outer layer and work wonderfully for potty learners who still need protection overnight.
I will add a word of caution here- do not buy any trainers that are the same pattern as those they have for diapers- Aubrey's favorite diaper was her Happy Heiny's cow print, her "Cow Diper" (she has since learned how to pronounce diaper), so silly me thought she would also love having undies the same print... boy was I wrong! She took one look at what I thought was going to be her favorite new undies and exclaimed "that's a diper!", and wouldn't even try them on.
My second word of caution: don't buy patterns the same as their siblings diapers! I absolutely love monkey prints, so of course picked a silly monkey print OS for Gabriel and a silly monkey print trainer for Aubrey, only for her to exclaim "That's Gabriel's diper", and again wouldn't even try it on.
So, Aubrey and I took a little walk into our store room and I pulled out all the prints in her size and let her pick the one she wanted. She chose the Pink Hibiscus print. There are some theories on potty learning/training that suggest you even let the child pick out their own seat. We have not taken things that far, but allowing her to choose her own "undies" assured that she would want to wear them. In fact she was quite disappointed when she had to wait for her new undies to be washed first.
Once her new undies had been washed and she was able to wear them, we gave her quite simple instructions "don't pee pee in your new undies". Aubrey was just starting the learning process at this point, she knew when she was wet and wanted a "bum change", but hadn't needed to know before she went until now. About half an hour later, Aubrey shouted out "Oh no, my undies, mommy pee peed, bum change". Aubrey quickly learned that her Happy Heiny's were waterproof and were just like her "dipers", thus we have since reserved them for car trips, overnight and nap time.
We found the fit of the Happy Heiny's to be a bit puffy, which was perfect for adding that extra hemp insert for overnight! Aubrey really didn't notice or care about the puffiness, and her clothes fit over them just as well as her regular cloth diapers. We loved the side snaps in the beginning when there were still poop accidents as it made clean up much easier. Aubrey was able to pull up her new "dipers" herself which made her feel like a big girl- just like her big sister.
Our recommendations for Happy Heiny's Trainers: Overnight protection for older bed wetters, nap time protection and all day protection for the toddlers who are just beginning the learning process and will still require a waterproof layer. For a heavy wetter overnight we recommend a layer of microterry followed by a layer of hemp.
All our Happy Heiny's Trainers are sold with a Happy Heiny's Large MicroTerry insert, so there is no need to purchase anything extra, just wash and start that potty learning process!
Stay tuned for our next edition of Aubrey's Undies... Still to come: Bummis, Little Beetle and Imse Vimse.

Want to win your own Happy Heiny's Trainer? Visit us on Facebook on July 17th to find out how!