are wipes really that bad?

[missytequila]

I am a new mom...Midwifes keep telling me to use just cotton wool and water. At night or on the go, the fragrance free, sensitive johnson's wipes just seem so much easier especially for a big poo.

Are they really that bad for the skin? I am confused, I thought everyone used baby wipes....

Why not try re-usable wipes? They really aren't any more difficult than the disposable ones (IMHO running to the bin or having a stinky one in the bedroom is far worse than having a small mesh bag to put in with my next wash (see this site)
And they're easier to use and less of a hassle than cotton wool.
p.s.: if you're in an area with very hard water like we are (London), then bamboo is far better than cotton.

I bought loads of asda value facecloths (4 for £1) and at home always use these to clean the botty, and also to dry it. I find (cos I rarely use the wipes) that they leave a sticky residue and dd's bot is a bit damp going into her nappy. We use Motherease nappies too so everything just goes in the wash together and no smelly bons full of dirty cotton wool and nappies. Works for us!