I am having some technical difficulties today, so the weekly yoga pose post is gonna have to wait...so instead, here is a simple tutorial on how to make your own diaper spray!
We have been using this recipe since Miss P was a newborn. While pregnant, I bought one package of 12 hemp wipes. After a few days, I realized I was gonna need more and ordered two more packages. By that time, Bum Genius stopped making the hemp wipes and I bought their flannel ones. I liked the hemp ones better, but the flannel ones still work great. Using cloth wipes is not as easy as disposable wipes, but just like using cloth diapers, its worth the extra time. Not only are you reducing waste and keeping nasty chemicals away from your child, you are saving money!
This picture is of most of the ingredients I use. I say most, because in my foggy mommy haze, that is a constant these days, I forgot to include the organic baby wash we use in the picture.
Soooo, you will need a spray bottle (I got mine at Target, but you can find them lots of places), lavender and tea tree essential oil, baby wash soap (we use California Baby-see the link below) and water.
First, fill the spray bottle up with water (mine holds about 1 cup of water). If you do it after you put the soap in, its no big deal, it will just foam over and take longer to fill up properly. Then put in some soap. The recipe originally called for 1 tablespoon of soap, but I probably use 1 teaspoon and its plenty.
Then I put in several drops of tea tree oil (about 10) and lavender (about 5). The original recipe called for less drops, but I am southern and I like to exaggerate. This is why I am not a good baker. If the recipe calls for a teaspoon of cinnamon, I think, well if a teaspoon would be good, then a tablespoon would be GREAT!
Tea Tree oil has naturally occurring antiseptic, antifungal and antibacterial properties. It is most commonly used in a diluted form. It can cause skin irritation even after dilution so testing for allergies or skin sensitivities is recommended before use. I use it in my homemade all-purpose spray (tute coming soon!) as well.
Then you shake it up and viola! Homemade Diaper Wipe Spray! Ready for use!
Here are what my wipes look like (if you like my diaper pad cover, check it out-I made it!). I leave them in tidy stack near the changing table and I just spray a couple of wipes before I take off P's diaper to change. Then I throw them in the diaper hamper with the rest of diapers and wash it all at the same time. Easy Peasy.
{Full Disclosure: I am apart of Amazon's Affiliate program, so if you buy something from the link below, then I get a few pennies. I'm serious, only a few pennies. But every penny counts right?!}
We bought hemp wipes a long time ago - I don't remember what company made them. I found that buying flannel from joann's and making my own was a lot cheaper and they seem to last longer (the hemp ones fell apart after one year of use).
ReplyDeleteI bought neat little glycerin soap cubes from an Etsy seller for wipe solution. But it was too much of a pain. We just wet a wipe with water before we change the babies. It's easy, it's simple and we don't ever have to worry about soapy residue bothering their skin or the diapers. I do use tea tree oil in our laundry detergent, though. And on bug bites!
I will have to try this! I use cloth wipes too, but I moisten them with solution (water, soap, tea tree oil, and olive oil) and place in wipe warmer. I think the spray bottle will be easier.
ReplyDeleteQuestion for u!?!?! Any recommendations for diaper rash? Have a friend who is battling with one. Her baby girls is 9mos and wears CDs
ReplyDelete@eidolons...didn't know you could use tea tree oil on bug bites, good to know!
ReplyDelete@Tanisha...i will have to try adding some olive oil. I like using a spray bottle, I have heard there can be mold issues by moistening them first and putting in a wipes box. The trick is just to spray a couple of wipes before you even put baby down to change.
about the diaper rash....i don't know too much about them, but in our experience if Penelope ever gets a little red down there, its usually an allergic reaction to something I ate or now she eats. Just the other day I gave her some pineapple and it seemed to give her a rash (who really knows for sure, but that is what my gut thinks). We use Weleda diaper cream on occasion.
I use homemade flannel wipes and really like them, too. I pre-wet them in a wipes container and use a similar recipe but use grapefruit seed extract instead of tea tree oil.
ReplyDeleteYou really shouldn't have any problems with mold because tea tree/GFS can be used to kill mold, actually. I used a tea tree spray in my old house when we had mold on the basement walls. Killed it completely.
Tanashia, I use Burt's Bees or Herbs for Kids salve and they both work pretty well. Tell your friend, however, to look for thrush signs if she is breastfeeding cuz a nagging dipe rash can be a sign of yeast. You can treat that naturally (the nipples, mouth and rash) with grapefruit seed extract. Learn more about that on my blog http://bepresentmama.blogspot.com/2010/06/treating-thrush-naturally.html
@Acacia...First off, HI!! I tried to send you a message the other day through blogger, but I don't think it went through. I LOVE your blog!
ReplyDeleteI have some grapefruit extract on hand, from when we were battling thrush, or what we thought was trush...turned out I just had really fatty milk and it left a "bio-film" on P'
s tongue, so I will have to try that on my next batch.
If you use tea tree oil on bites, just use a teeny drop. Or mix some up with water or witch hazel and spray it on. My middle son, the Imp, is well-loved by the Tally mosquitoes so we hose him down with it on a regular basis.
ReplyDelete