Your experience of using environmentally friendly and non-chemical alternatives

[Chickpea1983]

Hi All

My DH is Captain Planet in human form, and has been researching a lot on more environmentally friendly alternatives for our baby. He has researched the nappy side a lot, but having seen an interesting thread on use of bubble bath (or rather not using it), has started me thinking about alternatives to talc, wet wipes, creams and lotions. Are they just as effective, and any home-made recipes you can share?? Also, could our baby get sensitive skin through lack of exposure early on?

BTW, my DH will be stay-at-home dad, so also responsible for executing his plan

Thanks for any replies

Hi Chickpea. Glad to hear he is going to be executing the plan!

The obvious thing is to stock up on loads of cheap flannels instead of using wipes. I did this. Just bung them all in the dirty nappies and liners bin and then wash daily.

I used head to toe wash with the least ingredients for DD, but at the end of the day warm water will do the job until they start getting mucky.

Have to admit I am slightly rolling my eyes at your DP. He'll soon find I easier to be out and about with a packet of wipes

I used to put a damp flannel in a zip-lock bag for out and about. Suggest you or Capt Planet start a blog on how it goes .

Talc and bubble bath certainly not needed in early days, just sun cream and nappy rash cream when needed.

We used cheeky wipes but after a while I stopped taking them out as disposable wipes seemed so much easier. DD is now 2 and only really gets her hands washed with soap in the bath, warm water does the trick with cleaning the rest if her.

Washable nappies - if you have it in your area, get a lending kit after your DC arrives (we have this through the county council). That's the best way to find out what really works for you. Once you're doing washable nappies, then washable wipes are logical. We use cheeky wipes because they come with a handy kit, but you can almost certianly do it cheeper as they are essentially flannels.
After that I investigated washable STs (which is up to you not your DH, naturally) and tend to use hankies not tissues.

When out and about we typically take one washable nappy in a wet bag, plus some disposables (lack of space in the change mag for more than that). We use wet wipes in the change bag; my DH is a SAHD also so that's his call. If we're eating out the washable wipes go for wiping face and hands.

talc: don't use it - we've never found a need. IIRC the advice is not to as the powder can get into the lungs.
creams and lotions: we use what works as I'm not esp. environmental on this front. Just nappy cream and occasionally an emolluient on dry skin.

I'm fully invested in disposable nappies/wipes and standard cleaning products so not very hippy BUT, I've found that DS's (3 years old) skin really suffers from being washed every day, no matter what I use (well, unless I'm going to then cover him in something to stop the dry patches)

So, he gets a shower or a bath every few days, in plain water, with the dirty bits soaped (normal soap rather than shower gel) and rinsed. I don't use shampoo unless he's got something stuck in his hair that water only won't get out (I only use shampoo myself once a week - and would use bicarb if we lived in soft water because no-poo really has sorted out my greasy hair). He's got lovely soft skin, and shiny hair, and he doesn't smell (aside from nappies) - there's no need for all the baby bath stuff at all.

I don't use suncream unless he'll be out all day without me (hats, sleeves, keep him out of the direct sun as appropriate), I change his nappy frequently so he has rarely needed any kind of bum cream

I also think that white vinegar does a really good job softening towels, and a microfibre cloth works as well as anything else for most cleaning purposes (although a bit of bleach/some thing else is a good idea for worktops/toilets/places that need to be actually clean rather than just look clean)

We use reusable nappies and wipes. I bought cheeky wipes for bums and Ikea flannels for hands and faces and for after meals.

We use soap nuts on all their clothes and nappies and no fabric softener. Lavender oil gives clothes a lovely scent and tea tree oil is a good antiseptic for wipes and nappies.

We used no baby products at all until our twins were 5 months old (I personally think water is all their lovely soft skin needs). From 5 months old we started using organic bath wash for their bodies and hair (Little Me is what we use and a very small amount).

We use Organic Children sun screen and toothpaste.

We use all organic products free from SLS and parabens.