Q: We have cloth wipes and the Prince Lionheart wipes warmer (and a baby girl due any day now!). I was curious as to your thoughts on the warmer.
A: I love the wipes warmer. Cloth wipes are a lot wetter than disposable wipes. And the more wetness, the colder the wipe is! Especially in our cold Midwestern winters in our drafty old house.
It also helps to keep the wipes fresh because of the anti-microbial additive in the plastic itself, and also the pad that goes in the bottom of the warmer. Now, I am completely ignorant of anti-microbial additives. I tell myself they’re using tea tree oil. But if anyone knows better, I guess I’m willing to take my fingers out of my ears for the health of my baby butts.
Q: Also, do you take your wipes out of the washer (ie, damp) and put them in the warmer or dry them first?
A: Before we had a dryer, yes, I would put them in the warmer wet from the wash. I would pick them out as I hung up the diapers to dry. But now we have a dryer. And it’s winter. So we use it. And it’s just too easy to throw them all in the dryer with the diapers.
Q: Are you using the same wipes solution as you posted long ago?
A: Nope! Reason 1) I’m lazy. Reason 2) I read that lavender and tea tree oil can have negative effects on little boys. Reason 3) I’m lazy. Reason 4) We were having rash issues and I just kept eliminating ingredients in our wipe solution to see if that would help. When I got down to just water, I kept it there. Even though the rash issues were more likely connected to detergent use. So now I just use water!
Q: Do you do that fold technique so that they pop up like disposable wipes?
A: No. See above. I’m lazy.
Q: How did the kids react when you don’t have access to the warmed wipes (like when you are on the go)?
A: When I use a cloth wipe that hasn’t been warmed… it’s just painful. They scream, they claw, they whine… Painful for everyone involved. I try not to do that to them. Squeezing as much water as possible out of the wipe helps, but then it doesn’t clean as well.
Q: How do you store them in your wipes travel pouch (wet, with solution, or dry, water added right before using?)?
A: I don’t take cloth wipes when we travel anymore. I used to. I would put them, wet, in one of those red-lidded plastic Glad containers. But I would forget them in my purse for days/weeks and they would just get nasty. And I’d find myself trying to get out the door, running around, packing my purse, collecting children and jackets and shoes, running five minutes late already, wishing I didn’t have to pack fresh, wet wipes every. single. time. So I use disposable wipes on the go. As we don’t go places very often (Read: Having three kids has made me a homebody), they last forever.
How do YOU use YOUR cloth wipes? Do you have a favorite solution? Travel technique? Do tell!
So helpful, thanks!
What do you use as your wipes? I got a bunch of babies wash clothes to use, but I also have a bunch of flannel that I am contemplating cutting up to add to the collection.
I use cloth diapers because of you and love ’em! For my wipes, I take 3 small wee essentials soap cubes and dissolve them in a bowl of hot water. I then add hot water to two small tubs and split the soap solution – makes it easier for dunking. I wet enough wipes to fill the warmer then place the rest of the solution in the fridge for the next use. We usually use all the solution in a few days. I use the wipes to wipe him down sometimes too! We have some wipes we bought off of Andrea at little squigglers called bottom bumpers and we have some flannel ones a gal made us. The flannel ones are our favorite! On the go, we grab a few from the warmer and put them in our mini wipe wet bag that muggbug ( found on Facebook) and go!
we use purely disposable wipes. our 2nd broke out in rashes every time we tried to use cloth wipes even with just water. I have no clue why. it was just flannel squares. so yah, we spend $8 get a huge box and they last 2-3 months. I keep meaning to try the cloth wipes again with the spray bottle technique, but a good friend has all my cloth wipes (she uses disposable diapers but is allergic to wipes, so I gave her my cloth ones to try.) so yah.. we’re bad. 🙂
Your blog is an inspiration for me to be more frugal and cook and clean more the way I want to but sometimes just too lazy. Thank you:))
Thank you for your kind words!
I just grab a cloth wipe on the way to the bedroom and wet it under the sink, with warm water.
And if I’m going out I either use disposable wipes, or have dry cloth wipes in the wet bag, and wet it if I’m able to, ie change room, or at a friends.
In NZ, I have never seen a wipes warmer for sale. I think its an American thing.
Your hot water must heat up quickly! I have to run my water for a full minute at least to get warm water. :-/ Not the greenest! And also, I’m too impatient for that when I have a baby that needs changing. 😛 So I just put cold water in the wipes warmer. Of course, running a warmer 24/7 also uses electricity… I can’t win! 🙂
Nothing bad about doing what works for your family, Jes! 🙂 You’re a good momma. Don’t worry.