Happy baby butt recipe: make your own baby wipes

Becoming a parent means that your life will never be the same. Having a child comes with bigger financial responsibilities and if you are on a tight budget, means sometimes feeling a little overwhelmed. Finding alternatives to basic baby needs can help a family that might be struggling harder than before the baby came along. That was my case when our first born came along 4 years ago. It was even tougher when we had another child 2 years later. But a personal friend was kind enough to give me a tip on how her sister made her own baby wipes, thus saving quite a bit of money each week. By choosing name brand baby products for your materials, the end result will be quality homemade baby wipes.

The first thing you need is a good roll of paper towel. I use Bounty paper towels because they are soft and gentle. Find a towel you like, get it wet, wash your face with it, and if you are happy with the result, then you now have the paper towel you will use to take care of that little baby butt. Remember, if it doesn't feel good on your face, it sure won't feel good on their bare bottom.

Cut your roll of paper towels in half, using an electric knife. Pull out the cardboard and place a half roll into a round air tight plastic container, or an empty baby wipe box. Sometimes it is hard to get the cardboard out, so I take a large chef knife and work my way around the cardboard, cutting the paper away so that the cardboard easily pulls out. If you are careful and take your time, the paper should not tear.

Ingredients:
1/4 cup baby wash (I use Huggies)
1/4 cup baby oil
1/4 cup baby lotion (scented is ok, unless you have a baby prone to diaper rashes)
1-1/2 to 2 cups hot tap water

Combine all ingredients and mix well. Using hot water ensures that the baby lotion mixes well with the other ingredients. Stir for approximately 2 minutes. Pour over paper towels. After you put the lid on, turn the container over and allow the liquid to saturate the wipes. You now have homemade baby wipes at a fraction of the cost of store bought wipes.

I buy my baby care products at our local dollar store and they are cheaper than if you buy them at the grocery store or even a big chain store. Making my own wipes saved me quite a bit of money when I had 2 baby butts to diaper, and you should find the same results.