Environmentally friendly - baby wipes

[BecauseImWorthIt]

Doing a project for a client on this at the moment. I wondered what your views here were on baby wipes:

a) do you use them at all or have you found other things that are more environmentally friendly?

b) do you worry about them being environmentally friendly at all?

c) what would you like them to do to make them more environmentally friendly?

It appears that the convenience/versatility of wipes (especially for mothers of very young babies) can outweigh any potential environmental issues - and I wondered what MNetters thought?

a) I don't use them generally. I bought a pack of 10 facecloths from Ikea, cut them into quarters and hemmed them. When I am at home I use them instead of wipes, with some warm water. They go in the wash with the nappies so no need to separate them out from the washable stuff! I do use baby wipes when I am out but if I was more organised I could use washable wipes when out as well - however a travel pack of wipes will last me several months so I'm not too worried.

b) Yes I do worry about the environmentally-unfriendly nature of them - as well as the cost - hence trying not to use them in the main.

c)Don't know. I'd rather people didn't use them tbh. Perhaps if you could buy a pack of washable wipes and a readymade spray containing lavender/tea tree oil or whatever is recommended (only ever use water so not up on the concoctions!) in the shops more people would be prepared to do without them.

a) do use them

b) do worry about them environmentally, dont like using them, but Im not organised enough for washable ones. Get really annoyed when dd1 gets hold of them and uses them uneecasrily

c) like the new biodegradable dustbin bags , surely there's a way of doing the same with these?

oops didnt spell check there !

When I started with reusables, I was using the Nature Babies wipes, though I very quickly realised it would be cheaper and better to use reusables.

I got some reusable fleece wipes and keep a pot of water with the nappies. I wash these in with the nappies.

I do keep a packet of normal NB wipes for when I might need them, but they last me for months and months.

bump to get it onto active convos again!

a) I do use them but they are not enviromentally friednly - I sometimes use cloths instead.
b)yes
c) don't know. they contain alot of chemicals though.

a) I did buy Earth Friendly Baby wipes for a while but they cost a fortune and gave him nappy rash. I reverted to using some small hemmed squares of terry towelling I bought on ebay, with warm water. Much better and they just go in the wash with the nappies.

b) Yes, I felt terrible even using the so-called environmentally friendly ones

c) If they were made of a sustainable, non polluting material and could be composted (If they just had wee on) that would be an improvement, but I still wouldn't buy them

So they may have been Earth Friendly but they weren't baby friendly, then?!

a) I use some 'enviro friendly' ones from the local healthfood shop now we only use them occasionally (in my bag in case of poo accidents when out). Used washable ones when DS was in nappies and more messy tho.

b) Yes. Would only buy the ones I do.

c) Would like them to break down quickly and contain only natural cleansers/moisturisers, etc. Not got a clue how this would work tho.

All of my friends thought I was barmy for using washables. Nobody was tempted to make the extra effort (which is hardly anything other than organisational).

we rarely use baby wipes..use cheapo flannes, they are fab,,and much better for my los bum. Was on holiday lay week and used dispo nappies and wipes for 1 week fenuinely shocked at amount of rubbish (and expense) we created

sorry cant type

a) yes when out and about as it's easier - at home use organic cotton wool and water although reding this thread has given me some good ideas for washable wipes as dp always moaning we don't have any for poo mopping up in ds's room !

b) yes very but i think the earth friendly baby ones i use are biodegradeable ?

c) be re-usable as suggested by someone else or at least bio-degradeable. I also think there's a hell of a lot of chemicals in the commercial ones which can't be good for the environment in making them, never mind babies skin ! anyone tried taking make up off sensitive skin with a pampers wipe ? it stings !!

a) do you use them at all or have you found other things that are more environmentally friendly?
Never used commercial baby wipes of any kind. Started off with cotton wool & water, then got some off-cuts of cotton from a cloth nappy maker & used them with water or a home made solution

b) do you worry about them being environmentally friendly at all?
Yes which is partly why I didn't use them.

c) what would you like them to do to make them more environmentally friendly?
Ban them altogether ...really don't understand why they are needed tbh! All they do is clog up our landfill. There is nothing inconvenient about using cloth wipes. Most nappy changing facilities are in toilets so there is water available to wet a cloth wipe if necessary or you can buy little spray bottles very cheaply as a back-up. Used ones get put in the dirty nappy bag and they all just get bunged into the machine when you get home.

a) only use them when out of the house - just cotton wool and water at home.

b) yes, which is why I only use them when I have to

c) make them fully and quickly biodegradable for a start, and free of nasty chemicals of course

a) assuming you mean disposable wipes- no I don't use them- complete waste of money- use washable cloths, which are still going strong three years after dd abandoned her nappies

b) don't worry about them, as I don't use them, but will evangelise about washable wipes to whoever will listen1

c) for me to consider using them for a hypothetical future child, they would have to be completely biodegradable, and contain the bare minimum of "chemicals" a quick wipe with a mixture of water and lavender /tea tree oil is enough for me. I worry a lot about the impact of these wipes on the baby's skin. we already know that soap/ detergent is a bad thing for a young baby's skin, why should wipes be any less harmful?

We mostly use washables with a squirt of baby lotion which then go in the wash with the nappies.

We do use wipes when out and about- Co-op do degradable wipes and they are no more expensive than other brands.

Still feel guilty about the wastefulness of it though!

flannels.

they're great.

Thank you all for your replies. What interests me in particular is your commitment to an environmentally friendly option.

I wonder if I post this in Chat - i.e. to people who might not gravitate towards 'ethical living' if it would have received the same responses?

.

organic cotton wool and water.

wash and dry baby's bum under tap?

cotton wool and water here too. DSs are 3 and nearly 1.

All of the baby wipes I've looked at, even the environmentally friendly ones, have a long list of nasty, unecessary chemicals - including ALCOHOL