Recipes for Homemade Diapering Supplies
by Victoria Barnes

What Do I Use for Wipes?
Basic and easy - Homemade Baby Wipes
Herbal Solutions
Herbal Baby Wipes Recipe
Rash Treatment and Prevention
Baby Salve © Millie Fodor
Fragrant Baby Powder

Before you stock up on baby wipes and diaper rash ointment at the grocery store, put some other ingredients on your shopping list. Then follow the recipes below to make your own diapering supplies. Your baby's bottom and your wallet will thank you for it.

Expensive and harsh for sensitive skin grocery store bought wipes and creams can get to be pretty expensive, and they do not necessarily contain the best ingredients for your baby's sensitive skin. Below you will find several recipes you can easily make at home:

What do I use for wipes?
Inexpensive wash clothes or a roll of paper towels cut in half.
For Seamstresses: Remnant flannel pieces cut into wipe sizes. Sew around the edges to keep it from fraying.

Wipe solutions
You can store these solutions in a spray bottle and spray it onto the wipe at the time of the diaper changing. An alternative is to store the wipes and the solution in the same leak proof container.

Basic and easy -- Homemade Baby Wipes
1/2 roll of paper towels (cut in half to make short rolls)
1/8-1/4 c. baby shampoo
1/8-1/4 c. baby oil
2 cups lukewarm water
1 plastic container that the rolls fit in
Cut roll in half and remove center cardboard. In Baby Wipe Container, mix liquid ingredients. Place paper towel roll in container. Close the lid and tip upside down. To use, pull towels out from center opening.

Herbal solutions
The basic recipe for wipe solution will do good job of cleaning your baby's bottom, but you may want to use a herbal solution to add some extra soothing and diaper rash treatment properties.

The herbal ingredients that may be added to the solution have different properties that help protect your baby's sensitive skin and/or promote healing of diaper rashes.

Calendula -- This herb commonly used to soothe the skin and reduce inflammation. The herb is helpful for people who suffer from skin rashes and sunburn. Calendula helps to soothe inflamed tissues, reduce pain and aids in quick healing of cuts and abrasions.
Aloe Vera -- The gel from the Aloe Vera leaf is great for healing and relieving burns and rashes.
Tea Tree Oil -- This oil readily penetrates the skin and is useful for treating burns, scrapes, bites, stings, and various skin irritations. It may also help to prevent or treat yeast infections. Very effective fungicide, antibacterial and antiseptic.
Lavender -- Lavender added to salves and creams promotes healing and as an aroma additive eases tension, tiredness and feelings of depression.
St. John's Wort -- Helps promote healing and has anti-viral and anti-inflammatory properties.
Comfrey -- Helps relieve inflammation and promotes healing.

Herbal baby wipes recipe
1 1/2 - 2 cups distilled water
1/4 cup Aloe Vera gel
1 tbsp Calendula oil
2 tsp. Baby Shampoo
2-3 drops tea tree oil
2-3 drops lavender oil
Mix solution together, use to wet wipes.
Anti-fungal baby wipes
1/2 c. distilled water
1 tbsp. vinegar (helps discourage yeast)
1/4 c. aloe vera gel
1 tbsp. calendula oil
1 drop lavender essential
1 drop tea tree essential oil

To prepare, use a glass jar with a tight fitting lid. Pour all your ingredients in, cover the jar and shake to blend the ingredients. Place your wipes in a container and pour on enough solution to moisten them. Store any extra solution in the fridge. It should stay fresh for a long time especially if you used distilled water.

Rash treatment and prevention
Natural rash treatment -- Extra virgin olive oil that has been steeped with fresh calendula. You can apply this oil at diaper changing time to help soothe and heal the rash.

To infuse calendula -- Pour the desired amount of Olive Oil or whatever oil you choose into a glass jar and put calendula into jar and shake. Place in dark place for 3-4 weeks shaking the jar every day or so.

You can also place the jar in a water bath (pan with water in stove) and bring water to a boil. Reduce heat to a very gentle simmer and cook for 1-2 hours. After infusion is complete, strain calendula out of oil. A simple way of straining the calendula out of the oil is to use a strainer lined with cheese cloth. When all the oil has strained through, be sure to squeeze the cheese cloth to get all the oil out of the calendula.

Baby Salve © Millie Fodor
1 part St. John's Wort
2 part Calendula
1 part Comfrey leaf
1 part Comfrey root
1 part Plantain Olive Oil Beeswax .
Vitamin E

For full instructions on how to create this salve visit: http://www.wildroots.com/salves.htm

Fragrant baby powder
½ pound cornstarch
¼ teaspoon lavender essential oil

Place cornstarch in a self-sealing plastic bag and add the essential oil drop by drop. Tightly close the bag and shake it to distribute the oil, breaking up any clumps through the bag. Let stand 4 days to distribute the essential oil. Use with every diaper change, or as needed. Potato starch or arrowroot powder can be used instead of cornstarch.

Spice or salt shakers with large perforations in their lids make good powder containers.

You can find all-natural Health & Wellness supplies for homemade baby solutions at MotherNature.com

Where to find herbal supplies for homemade baby solutions.