Green Parenting + DIY Baby Wipes

Being sustainable, and making greener choices can seem overwhelming, even in the best of times. 

The pressure to be zero-waste, to make perfect choices and never falter can be too much... add in the stress of parenting and we may just give up completely. The truth is, for most of us, being completely zero-waste is an unattainable goal. That doesn’t mean we should stop trying — instead by making small changes that can be sustained over time we can make tremendous impacts.

Start Small

There are many things parents can incorporate into their daily routine that will help strike the perfect balance between convenience and sustainability which most parents require. These things can be as simple as bringing your own water bottle and using reusable packaging instead of single use plastic. 

Here are a few other accessible ideas to get started:

• Buying, accepting and passing along used clothing instead of buying new
• Borrowing items which will only be used for a short time (bouncy chairs, swings, travel cribs etc.)
• Using reusable products whenever possible (baby food containers, cloth diapers etc.) 
• Supporting local childrens’ shops and businesses
• Purchasing sustainably/ethically made items whenever possible

Reusable Wipes

Another great way to start becoming greener is by making your own baby wipes! Parents will use more than one thousand wipes before their child turns one year old. Magnify that by the number of babies out there, and you can see how this simple switch can greatly reduce your landfill footprint.

Bonus: these wipes are multi-purpose and great for sticky hands, sanitizing when out and about or even removing your own makeup! We’ve included a simple recipe and easy to follow directions at the end!  

What You’ll Need

• Small baby washcloths or 1 roll of recycled paper towels (paper towels may be placed in the green bin or organics disposal, check with your municipality)
• 2 cups water — you can add a few drops of calendula extract for extra healing properties 
• 2 tablespoons of our suphate free Baby Body Foam
• 1 tablespoon Herbal Hug Baby Oil with healing calendula and lavender
• Plastic container with lid
• Essential oil of choice (if baby has sensitive skin leave out essential oils) my preference for the skin is tea tree oil or lavender — are both antibacterial and safe to use directly on the skin.  

These wipes can be premade in batches ahead of time and are a healthier alternative to commercial wipes which contain a laundry list of irritants and hazardous ingredients.

Instructions

1. Cut washcloths or paper towel roll in half with a serrated knife. 
2. Place one of the halves in the round or square container. Save the other half for when you are ready to make another batch.
3. Boil 2 cups of water for 2 minutes.
4. Add liquid bath soap and baby oil to the boiled water.
5. Add a few drops of essential oil  (I recommend 2-5 drops)
6. Pour mixture evenly over paper towels.
7. Pull out the cardboard core of the paper towel roll. It comes out easily once it is wet.
8. Place lid on container.
9. Keep the lid securely on the container until ready to use, start by pulling the wipes from the center of the roll, and then replace lid after each use.
10. The wipes should stay wet and fresh for up to a week. If you haven't used all of the wipes and they start to dry out, simply add some boiled water to refresh the roll.

Enjoy!