Moms that love cloth diapers often use cloth wipes too. If you use disposable diapers, you can still use them. I used disposable diapers and cloth wipes on all my babies. If you are a new mom and are wondering how many cloth wipes do I need? I’ll help you figure that out in this article.
Many moms have found that cloth is more effective at cleaning baby’s poopy bums than disposable wipes. And I can swear to that!
Disposable wipes never seemed to work for me. The cloth fabric can grab the whole mess better and clean it up much easier.
Disposables, on the other hand, are thin, making you more likely to have soiled hands.
First, let’s look at why you need cloth wipes and how to use them.
Do I Need Cloth Wipes?
Eventually, it’s a decision you’ll have to make yourself, but the benefits of using cloth wipes outweigh any drawbacks. They are easier to use, especially if you’re using washable diapers.
Rather than sort between cloth wipes and disposable diapers, all you have to do is pile them all up in a diaper pail.
Much as them come with more laundry work, they also have advantages, including:
Safe for Baby’s Skin
Cloth wipes are perfect for when your baby has sensitive skin. Traditional disposable wipes contain toxic ingredients that can cause rashes, eczema, and skin irritations.
Cost-Effective
You can’t compare the cost of cloth wipes to disposable ones. You only buy them once in a long time. All you have to do is keep washing them.
For disposable wipes, you can go through several of them in a day because they are thin. Therefore, you’ll have to buy more.
Typically, a bulk box of wipes with 624 wipes costs approximately $15.99. That comes down to $0.02 per wipe. You’ll need more than ten wipes per day.
Are cloth wipes worth it? Do your math!
Environmentally Friendly
Cloth wipes have no negative impact on the environment because they are reusable. Disposable baby wipes may feel cool and soft on your baby’s bum, but most of them are about 80% plastic.
Think about how many wipes are used and disposed of every day. They take over 100 years to disappear from landfills. When they start decomposing, the small plastic fragments end up in our food.
Versatile
Cloth wipes are multipurpose and come in handy for several other uses.
Even long after your baby is out of diapers, you can use them for wiping their hands, faces, for spit ups, and when bathing them.
Washable cloth wipes also come in handy for mom’s postpartum care.
How Do I Use Cloth Wipes?
Cloth wipes are dry, unlike the moistened disposable wipes.
Therefore, you might be confused about how to use them. You can either store them dry until you need to use them or store them wet.
Store the Wipes Dry
Like most parents, you can keep the wipes dry until you need to change a diaper. The great thing about keeping them dry is that you can store them almost anywhere.
For example, in a drawer near the baby’s bed or in your bathroom.
You can also recycle a disposable wipes box by stacking the cloth wipes in there.
It’s not set in stone how you should store them. Just make sure you can easily access them when you need to change your baby’s diaper.
Storing the cloth wipes dry means you’ll need to figure out how to wet them before use.
One way is by using water or a solution from a spray bottle or peri bottle.
Peri bottles release water quicker and easier. They also occupy less space on the dresser. Spray some water or solution on the cloth and wipe your baby’s bottom.
Wet the Wipes in Advance
You can do this by wetting wipes that you’ll need for at least two days and storing them in a recycled wet wipe box or in this cute and stylish bag.
Your storage box should be easy to open. A baby with a poopy diaper is usually uncomfortable and fussy, so you need to act fast.
The seal on the box should be tight enough to keep the moisture in so that the wipe is still wet when it’s time for a diaper change. Keep the wipes nearby.
Wipe the baby with a damp or dry cloth if they’ve peed. If they’ve pooped, start by removing as much poo as possible with the diaper, then use some toilet paper if necessary.
Wipe the baby’s bum clean with a wet cloth wipe.
You might also need to shake the cloth wipe into the toilet. Put the used cloth wipes in a wet bag together with your used cloth diapers.
Do your washing at least every two days.
PS: Since you are not using any preservatives, use your stored wet wipes within three days.
What Goes Into A Cloth Wipes Solution?
Remember the spray bottle for wetting the wipes? Let’s look at what goes into the bottle.
Most parents prefer plain water in their bottle or for keeping the wipes wet in the wet wipe box.
That’s what I used when my babies were much younger. However, as they grew older, I started to mix the water with other ingredients.
If you’re new to using cloth wipes, start by using water, then, later on, you can add other things.
Parents will generally add 3-4 drops per cup of the solution. These additions include:
Essential Oils
Lavender is excellent for babies’ delicate skin because of its soothing and gentle properties. It soothes inflamed skin and rashes.
Baby’s skin benefits from chamomile essential oils as it regenerates the skin and relieves any rashes little bubba may have.
Baby Soap
Baby soap helps to keep the baby’s bum clean from poo or pee. Most available baby wash soaps contain harmful chemicals, so if you can find organic baby soap, all the better.
My favorite picks are Earth Mama Angel Baby Soap and Burt’s Bees baby soap.
Olive Oil and Coconut Oil
Olive oil and coconut oil prevent dryness and keep the baby’s skin soft as both contain moisturizing properties.
Grapefruit Seed Extract
The grapefruit seed extract is an antiseptic and anti-fungal that quickly heals scars and wounds.
This addition is soothing for babies with wounds or eczema.
How Many Cloth Wipes Do I Need?
You will need 40 cloth wipes for newborns. For toddlers who poop once or twice a day or moms who do their laundry every two days, 24 cloth wipes will be enough.
Each baby is unique and so are their needs. Newborns will require several diaper changes a day compared to older babies.
However, depending on your baby, style, and needs, you may require more or less.
Traveling with Cloth Wipes
Are you wondering if you can travel and still use cloth diapers comfortably? The answer is yes. Simply apply the same guidelines.
Ensure your wipes fit in the diaper bag, and don’t forget to pack your wet bag for used wipes. You can
You can choose to pack only dry wipes, then wet with plain water at a sink wherever you’ll be.
If you can, travel with a portable spray bottle of wipe solution.
Alternatively, you can pre-moisten the cloth wipes and place them in a container that seals completely.
Keep your used wipes in a wet bag for washing at home.
Conclusion
Your cloth wipes will eventually wear out and fray depending on how long you’ve used them. You will need to replace them as required.
If your baby is constantly getting rash on their bum or yeast infection, it could be a reaction to the chemicals used in disposable wipes.
Try using washable cloth wipes with plain water. Hopefully now you have got the answer to how many cloth wipes do I need and even much more.
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