With this Homemade Baby Wipes recipe, you can make your own baby wipes at home for less than a dollar a box! These can come in handy if you run out, or are no longer able to purchase at the store.
Homemade Baby Wipes
You know we love the idea of homemade food. Hello! It’s a food blog! But yummy desserts and tasty entrees are not the only things that are better when you make them at home. Baby products, like these homemade baby wipes are another great place to dip into your domestic side.
We have an amazing recipe for Homemade Window Cleaner too, and Homemade Lush Bath Bombs as well as a recipe for How to Make Your Own Produce Wash. There’s so much you can do right at home to save money!
Make More, Spend Less
When it comes to babies, these little bundles of joy tend to be very expensive. All the gear required can leave your budget feeling like its expanding faster than a pregnant woman’s belly. But here is one way we can help. Homemade baby wipes cost less than a dollar a box to make. This is a big savings considering you can spend up to five dollars for a box of wipes, depending on the brand. These wipes are a perfect gift for a new mommy. Make sure you print the recipe and give her some extra supplies so she can continue to make her own.
Ingredients for DIY Baby Wipes
These homemade natural baby wipes smell so good, they are soft, and they don’t contain any harsh chemicals like a lot of the disposables you find at the store. They’re more sanitary than cloth wipes and are perfect for babies with sensitive skin to prevent diaper rash. Here’s all you need:
- Roll of paper towels, cloth-like (I used Bounty brand but you can use Viva paper towels or any other brand you like.)
- Two cups of water (you can use distilled water or tap water)
- Two tablespoons of liquid baby bath soap (any baby shampoo or baby wash will work)
- One tablespoon baby oil (try to avoid using coconut oil, olive oil, almond oil, lavender oil. It needs to be a mineral based oil, and baby oil is safest for your little one)
- For a yummy smell you could add a couple drops of tea tree oil, lavender essential oil, chamomile or aloe vera to your DIY baby wipes solution.
How to Store Homemade Baby Wipes
You’ll need to find a 7 to 8 cup square or round container. The one I used is pictured below with the lid. It is a Better Homes and Gardens 7.5 cup flip-tite square plastic container. I’ve also seen some terrific Rubbermaid options. I simply cut a roll of paper towels in half with a sharp knife to get the size right for my plastic container and saved the other half for the next time I make wipes. I like to get a brand that has select-a-size sheets so I can get the right amount of wipe for the job. Once I found the container I liked, the whole project from start to finish took less than 10 minutes. And they look so pretty in a cute container on the changing table.
If you need some for the diaper bag, you can grab a few of the disposable wipes and place them in a smaller container with a lid for safe keeping. I like to refill a purchased travel size plastic baby wipe container for the diaper bag with my own homemade wipes.
What Readers are Saying About these Disposable Wipes
Still skeptical? Here’s what some of our readers have to say about these wipes:
“I love this recipe! We’ve recently switched to homemade cleaners as a way to save some money, and to be a bit more mindful of what we’re putting into the air. We used the Little Journey Baby Wash and Shampoo from Aldi’s (Hypoallergenic, Paraben free, Phthalate free, Quaternium-15 free, and SUPER AFFORADABLE)! I’ve been using these for the last few months now, and I honestly don’t think I’ll go back to buying wipes, EVER! It’s so much cheaper, and they clean the twins’ bottoms so, so well! THANK YOU for posting this!! <3” -Betty
“This is genius! Why did I never think about making homemade wipes with my son. Will save this for baby#2.” – Sam
“I did it and it works!. I ran out of baby wipes and was in need of some so I looked this to and made in with in 5 mins and it works amazingly! No more having to buy baby wipes.”– Ashley
How To Make Homemade Baby Wipes
Ingredients
- 1 roll of paper towels cloth-like (I used Bounty brand)
- 2 cups water
- 2 tablespoons liquid baby bath soap
- 1 tablespoon baby oil
- 7 to 8 cup square or round container
Instructions
- Cut paper towel roll in half with a serrated knife, a bread knife works great. Place one of the halves in the round or square container. Save the other half for when you are ready to make another batch.
- Boil 2 cups of water for 2 minutes.
- Add liquid bath soap and baby oil to the boiled water.
- Pour mixture evenly over paper towels.
- Pull out the cardboard core of the paper towel roll. It comes out easily once it is wet.
- Place lid on container.
- 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.
- 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. DO NOT FLUSH!
Can I do this recipe for reusable wipes? I was thinking about using washcloths instead of paper towels.
We haven’t tried that specifically, so I’m not sure. Let us know how it goes if you try it!
I was wondering if I could use the whole roll of paper towels instead of cutting them in half? I just did one batch and I would like to have just a bit more wipe for those messy diapers lol. Should I just double the recipe?
Yes! You can double the recipe.
I’m wondering where to buy the jar to store the wipes??
You can find jars at places like Target or Walmart. Craft stores or thrift stores might have good options as well!
Can you use olive oil if you don’t have baby oil?
Sorry but I don’t think that will work! It needs to be a mineral based oil and baby oil is the safest.
Interested to know what you do to pack these for on the go in the nappy bag?
You could store them in an air tight container like a zip top bag or small tupperware!
This is genius! Why did I never think about making homemade wipes with my son. Will save this for baby#2.
Hi everyone! I have a question – I am a FTM due in July and trying to prepare. I’m assuming these can’t be made in advance, correct? With that being said, any ideas on a schedule for making them while I’m sleep deprived and have little time??
Thanks!
You should be able to make them a little bit ahead of time. Just refresh them with some boiled water when you are ready to use!
So can I use regular liquid soap or dove liquid soap instead of The Johnson Gentle baby soap?
Yes, you can use a regular liquid soap, but be careful if your baby has sensitive skin. The baby liquid soap is very mild and won’t irritate sensitive skin. Thanks for asking!
I love this recipe! We’ve recently switched to homemade cleaners as a way to save some money, and to be a bit more mindful of what we’re putting into the air. We used the Little Journey Baby Wash and Shampoo from Aldi’s (Hypoallergenic, Paraben free, Phthalate free, Quaternium-15 free, and SUPER AFFORADABLE)! I’ve been using these for the last few months now, and I honestly don’t think I’ll go back to buying wipes, EVER! It’s so much cheaper, and they clean the twins’ bottoms so, so well! THANK YOU for posting this!! <3
So glad it was helpful to you!!
Is it safe to use this for baby girl? Thanks!
Yes! We’ve used these with our kids!
Do you know if Johnson’s head-to-toe wash & shampoo would work in place of the head-to-toe baby wash?
I’m not sure, I haven’t tried it that way before. I don’t see why it wouldn’t work. Let me know if you try it!
Do you need to use distilled water?
You don’t need to use distilled water. Just as long as it’s filtered.
thank you for the recipe for making homemade baby wipes. No more babies but the adults use the wipes to ensure we’re feeling clean after using the toilet. Thank you for reminding us NOT to FLUSH.
All wipes including Cottonelle and other brands that say they are flushable, will clog the sewer pipes. DO NOT toss anything in the toilet except toilet paper,it will clog the pipes and that’s a costly venture to have a plumber come out to unclog the sewer line.
*will you have a recipe for disinfecting wipes coming out soon? Thanks. Love your recipes.
That’s a good idea! We will have to test some things out!
Can these be put in a wipe warmer?
Yes, they could, but you would probably want to fold the paper towels so they are flat and not in a roll. Thanks for asking!
I did it and it works i ran out of baby wipes and was in need of some so I looked this to and made in with in 5 mins and it works amazingly no more having to buy anymore baby wipes
What did you use for a lid on your container to pull the wipes out!?
My container came with a regular tupperware lid – and i just removed the lid to pull the wipes out.
My sister in law recently changed to using Wotnot baby wipes. Have seen a huge difference, anyone else have any other brand recommendations?
I made these when my babies were little. The youngest is 19 now. Viva paper towels are the most durable and still very soft on the bum. Not once did I boil the water and they still worked great. I love the way they smell. I still make them to use on the adults in the house now.
Okay, this just rocks!! I had no idea one could make their own wipes. I learned something new today.
So easy, right? I always make these when I run out and can’t make it to the store. Great for emergencies!
I made foe my grandson. They are great.
Since hand sanitizer can’t currently be found on store shelves, I’m wondering if alcohol (unboiled) could be substituted for part or all of the water to make a cleaner that would be gentle on hands.
I’m so happy you like the baby wipes! I have not tested adding alcohol to this recipe, so I’m not sure. Fox News published an article on making your own hand sanitizer recently. I haven’t made it yet, so I can’t endorse it, but here is the link if you are interested: https://www.foxnews.com/media/how-to-make-your-own-hand-sanitizer
I’ve made these for 22 years! Learned how with my oldest and used them with cloth diapers as well. Now, at the store there’s not toilet paper or wipes. So, this is a complete bum saver!
Hey
I wanted to try the recepie but i prefer to stay away from petrol based ingredients such as baby oil, could shea butter be a good replacement?
We haven’t tried it with shea butter before, so I don’t know for sure if that will work. Let us know how it turns out if you do try it!
That is a really good idea – I don’t see why you couldn’t. At work we are saving the old juice from cleaning products and putting paper towels in them. You could also make your own lysol wipes similarly by soaking paper towels in clorox or lysol!
I love this recipe I have been making them for months just for bathroom use and everyone that tries them out loves them. I’m due with my first today and plan on using them on baby too. Thank you for the great ideas.
don’t these need to washed off the baby’s bum; is that what the baby wipes contain originally? is this the same as the Cottonelle wipes that are sold in stores? I love your HOME recipes and have used the formulas often. thank you.
Great question! Thanks for asking. These homemade wipes are similar to wipes you buy in the store in that your baby’s bum does not need to be rinsed after using the wipe. These are not the same as Cottonelle wipes that can be flushed. If you are interested in knowing more about the ingredients in baby wipes, this is a great article: https://ireadlabelsforyou.com/huggies-baby-wipes-safe-or-toxic/
At this very weird time in history when wipes are difficult to obtain your sharing of this wonderful and easy recipe is graciously appreciated. Thank you so very much from the bottom of my heart. ♡♡♡
You are so welcome! Thank you for taking the time to comment.
I have been making homemade wipes since my son was a wee tot.. 7 years ago. Now my daughter just turned one, and I am still making homemade wipes and cloth diapering. 🙂 Especially, since it is extremely hard to go down the baby section and it is wiped cleaned.. thank you for your recipe!