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) No I don't use them, I hate the smell, the list of chemicals on the pack and they don't work very well. I use small squares of white fleece that I run under the tap (or use a bottle of water) and then wash with the nappies - easier with washable as I don't have to separate the poo-covered nappy remains into stuff to throw and stuff to wash, so they're actually more convenient.

b) Yes, that's mainly why I looked into alternatives

c) They would need to be biodegradable, smell nicer and have a list of ingredients I understand, then I'd buy some for travelling or wiping sticky fingers

I didn't use them

I just used dampened flannels and loo-roll

I think they are a bit of hype

a) used to use them for ds1 (now 10) and disposables too, but since using washable nappies for ds2 and now dd have used flannels damapened for wiping. use the odd nature baby wipe if got an extrmeley nasty nappy situation when out and about.

b) yes hence not using wipes, not sure i would go back to regularly using wipes even if were environmentally friendly. have same issues with cotton wool though as it still generates waste.

c)don't think you can. maybe as someone said a pack of washable wipes and a handy spray of natural products with no preservatives?

Yes, I do use babywipes for wiping bottoms only, and I try to use as few as possible (for ecological reasons as much as for economy).

I don't worry about their unecologicalness but if someone gave me an alternative to babywipes that was as efficient and that was more ecological and the same price I would happily use it.

I never use any other sort of wipes for any purpose - make up removing or cleaning.

a) I use damp flannels dipped in water for nappy changing (mostly cloth) at home, wipes when out. I don't use wipes for any other purpose. I wipe my 3 yr old's face with a damp flannel, but a different sort of flannel of which I have a pile in the kitchen drawer.

b) Yes, a bit, but my main reason for avoiding wipes is the cost and the chemicals that go into them! Also, I hate the smell and always buy the unscented ones as I thkink they must be less harmful. The flannels are washed with the nappies.

c) Just don't buy them, I suppose!

Hope this helps.