Wipes

[nomorechoc]

Just wondering if you use wipes every nappy change or just when DC have done a poo?

• I used to use cotton wool and water when just a wet nappy but that seems like too much of a pain now -i'm not sure if its really important to use a wipe after wees or not - seem to get thru so many wipes which i think is not good in terms of money and all the chemicals..

urine can cause irritation, ie burning and rashes, if left and not wiped off, not to mention the smell, which is actually bacteria growing and multiplying on the skin
IMO it would be unhygenic not to freshen up at each nappy change

Depends on the child.

I often whip off a nappy and pop a clean one on for ds, to no ill effects. My friend's little girl gets terrible red and soreness if she doesn't have a proper wash and dry every couple of hours.

Depends on the nappies too. I always wash when dc in washable nappies. Disposables doesn;t seem as urgent.

If you're worried about cost and chemicals how about a lock n lock box, stuff full of cheap flannels, add enough water to make damp, fling flannels in wash when wiped.

Admittedly I use cloth nappies so this is "easier" but it's not exactly difficult! I find they're much better for getting yucky stuff off anyway. And then have a packet of wipes in changing bag for out and about.

Plus - if the kids get hold of your wipes and do the whole "ooh, let's get ALL the wipes out of the packet" game then you just bung them back in the box (This is also why I suggest having them damp rather than soaking wet....)

I worry about the chemicals from baby wipes and disposables too but I'm pretty sure DD would get sore if I didn't clean her between each change. I use washable wipes (AKA cheap flannels) and plain water at each change. They just go in the wash with the nappies.

If your using disposable nappies I can see using washable wipes for poo wouldn't really be an option. How about sticking with cotton wool and water for poo and getting some cheap flannels between 'clean' changes?

I buy pampers wipes or similar and then wash and reuse about a million times - amazing what they withstand. I keep the washed ones in a little box and then use with warm, soapy water, or just plain water. I hardly ever have to buy them. No idea what they're made of - it seems a terrible waste to throw away since they are so strong.

Thanks for these ideas - will def use either flannels or re-use wipes.. So how does it work - you just use 1 flannel per nappy change and put them all in the machine at the end of the day? And just need a fresh bowl of water each nappy change?
whats a lock n lock box?
thanks!!

I brought some fleece ones off ebay... they're FAB

Store them in an old sandwich box with a little lavender and tea tree oil and warm water.
Put them in the wet bag which came with changing bag when they've been used and pop em in the washing machine.

Cheap as chips

I wet and ring out a load of wipes each morning, less faff that way. If you're just using them for 'clean' changes one is fine, I usually need two or three for a pooey change.

I wash mine with the nappies every other day.

I use some cotton and fleece wipes on my little one. I keep them dry in a bag and just wet them with water when she is due a change.

We do tend to use cotton wool and water at night though.

my eyes nearly popped out their sockets in public baby change room the other day - a mum pulled out half the pack of wet wipes to change a tiny little baby...there's me folding and refolding my one cotton wipe and putting it all in a wet bag to take home. didn't stick around long enough to see what she actually did when about a dozen wet wipes but am sure baby smelt lovely afterwards. now i'm no saint and don't wish to judge but even when i use wetwipes for poo i can make do with one or two of them.

I wipe them at every change otherwise they get sore and smelly, i use cloth nappies and wipes, yesterday i went to tesco and bought 20 of their value white flannels for £1.90 which has topped my wipes back up again. It save so much money and if using just plain water it is so much kinder to their bums.