Raising children is expensive. One of the ways that the Duggars cut costs is by making homemade baby wipes. Don't worry, this is not a make-work project; it is quick and simple and is a sure money-saver!
Homemade Baby Wipes
A recipe that the Duggars learned from Gil and Kelly Bates, parents of 18--soon to be 19--children (as of December 2011).
Recipe Rephrased and Reformatted. Original Recipe Source: "The Duggars: 20 and Counting!" by Michelle and Jim Bob Duggar (Howard Books).
For more Duggar recipes, click here.
Homemade Baby Wipes
A recipe that the Duggars learned from Gil and Kelly Bates, parents of 18--soon to be 19--children (as of December 2011).
- Using an electric knife, if available, cut an entire roll of paper towels lengthwise into two separate rolls. Each will be about the size of a toilet paper roll. The Duggars have tried other brands but have found Bounty to work best.
- Combine 2 cups of water, 1 tablespoon of rubbing alcohol, and 2 tablespoons of baby oil in a mixing bowl. For extra softness and a sweet scent, add a tablespoon of infant bubble bath.
- Place one half-roll of paper towel vertically in a clean, 1-gallon container, such as an ice cream bucket.
- Drizzle the liquid mixture over the paper towel roll.
- Cut an X-shaped slit into the lid of the container, and place it securely on top of the bucket.
- After 30 minutes, open the lid and remove the cardboard tube
- To prevent the wipes from drying out, keep the lid on at all times.
- Feed the first wipe, from the inside of the roll, through the X-shaped slit for easy access.
Recipe Rephrased and Reformatted. Original Recipe Source: "The Duggars: 20 and Counting!" by Michelle and Jim Bob Duggar (Howard Books).
For more Duggar recipes, click here.
Why not cloth diapers and cloth wipes? Talk about cost savings! You can diaper all the kids for aprox $300 total!
ReplyDeleteI was thinking the same.
DeleteUsing cloth for just one child saved me a lot, never mind 19 children plus grand children! Cloth wipes are so much nicer too.
Hi, could I add, cut the papertowels LENGTH-WISE! You have a mess the other way...
ReplyDeleteThen, may I suggest that after removing the cardboard tube, grab the towels from the inside of the roll to thread through the X.
Great idea. Thank you!
Yes, isn't it great we have choices!
ReplyDeleteThanks, lindahoyt, for the tip! I will add it to the post. Thanks for reading!
ReplyDeleteYes, I was curious also, as to why they did not start using cloth (diapers & wipes)earlier on...talk about a major cost savings! I was kinda shocked while watching an old episode to see a toddler running around in a sagging sposie! Also wondering if they line dry their clothes when the weather is nice, again, another major cost savings, even if they have a gas dryer (as I do).
ReplyDeleteMy guess is TLC or one of the diaper companies is footing the bill
DeleteVery curious also as to why they don't use cloth, especially as they can be used for multiple children.
ReplyDeleteImagi e though all the extra laundry on top of what is probably already many loads per day, this makes complete and cost effective sense. Energy, electricity costs and cost of laundry detergent if far pricier than a roll of paper towels.
DeleteI agree... would be easier to use cloth!!! Especially they have either 2-3 kids still in diapers.
ReplyDeleteHello!! thanks for the recipe!! I've cloth diapered 2 kids at a time and it is definitely not as convenient as disposables but definitely saves money. It also takes more time. It would be an extra load of laundry a day more than likely. I used baby wash clothes as wipes in a homemade wipe recipe and then washed them with the cloth diapers. Worked well but takes more time for sure.
ReplyDeleteThanks!!! I'll have to try that recipe!! Also, wanted to say I cloth diapered 2 kids at once and it is definitely more time consuming than disposables and obviously not as convenient. It does save a lot of money which is a blessing but its an extra load of laundry every day which makes keeping up on things a little harder. I also used baby wash clothes in a homemade wipe recipe which worked well and then just washed them with the cloth diapers. It definitely saved a lot of money but now that were expecting baby #3 its kind of a lot to keep up on.
ReplyDeleteI have cloth diapered one of my children and used disposable for the other two. I used a separate water proof cover on the 100% organic cotton cloth fitted diapers I used. I skipped the small size, and just used the larger size to save money. The water proof cover does not need to be washed with every change, just with bad poop, and I only had three and they worked great! I did get the water proof covers in a variety of sizes to use as my son aged, and the organic cotton diapers, which where very easy on the skin, had snaps in two rows and fit from infanthood (even though a smaller size was available) until potty training. I hugely recommend cloth diapering! I tried hemp, regular cotton etc, but organic cotton was most absorbent, washed the best, and was very gentle on the skin and easy to wear. They where not much more work than disposable diapers and saved us at least a $1000, probably more like 2. Once you get used to them, they are negligibly more work when out -- take a zippered waterproof washable container and add the diapers and wash cloth wipes to it. It is one extra load per two kids per day, maybe even one extra load per 3 kids and it is possible to skip days and only do them every second day if you purchase enough. They require no extra preparation than their own container, chunky poo dumped in the toilet and flushed away, and the sanitary wash cycle on your machine. So easy it's embarrassing! Try it and you will be over joyed with the results. We also tried diapers with their own built in water proof cover - took too long to dry, too bulky, not comfortable to wear, and did not seem as sanitary as the completely sanitary separate system. Also tried flat diapers that we folded instead of preformed diapers, and they where fine, but not our preference. We preferred the shaped diapers. Also tried flat fitted. They where okay too. Easy $1500 - $2000 +++ savings per child! $3000 with wipes even? +++
ReplyDeleteSoak the poopy diapers in the toilet- it works!!!
Deletehi again. could you exchange the tablespoon of rubbing alcohol with 1 tbls of witch hazel?
ReplyDeleteI have before and also onstead of bubble bath I used baby shampoo or bath soap
DeleteI cloth diaper, it would have saved this family THOUSANDS of dollars. She could even learn to sew them! there are easy patterns online such as quick sew pattern. I would love to see her try cloth diapers and wipes with any future children they have
ReplyDeleteDo 40 loads of laundry in the same week... then say that.
Deletewhen I found out I was having twins I bought slowly through my pregnancy gdiapers in all sizes and about 50 cloth wipes when i lived in an appartment it was costing me $10 a week for diapers now I do laundry every other day and never have to worry about the cost of diapers and wipes, though the few times I got them for my mother to use I bought the seventh generation biodigadeable and chlorine free diapers and wipes but never use them only she does lol
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing your recipe!
ReplyDeleteWe have disposables: good at home, but prefer disposables on the go. We buy wipes at Costco & get 1000 for about $25 (Huggies sensitive brand) & ea. box comes with a travel container & a home container (good for crayons, ect. later.). We get Kirkland brand diapers (Costco's brand) and they're seriously the best! They're about $35/box & range from 280ish/box for small sizes to like 180/box for big sizes. We all use the wipes & can go about 4-6 mos/box. The diapers are once/mo. for my son (size 5) & once every 2 mos.for my daughter (size1/2). Watch for coupons/sales too! The Lowe's, San Diego
ReplyDeleteI cloth diapered my children until potty training when I sswitched to cloth training pants. It was easy to purchase both on line, the best diapers and trainers I purchased ultra soft n absorbent terry cloth from Ireland along with soft diaper covers. Since these items were purchased for a child there was not duty subcharge or taxes to get them mailed to me. I also purchased baby wash cloths from this Irish company. They suggested using toilet tissue for soiled bottoms followed by a clean wet wash cloth with a bit of baby wash bath soap followed by a clean water only wash cloth. I prepared my "wipes" every morning and my diaper pail solution (dreft detergent n hot water. I dumped soil into toilet n flushed holding the diaper firmly...my mom's tried n true method for 7 babies!) And simply placed the diapers in the covered pail...my diapering area was in my laundry room, very covenient with a sink & toilet and of course washer and dryer. I hung out my diapers "wipes" & training pants outside weather permitting. I purchased 4 dozen nappies as they are called in. England n Ireland, 11 dozen nappy covers (adjustable) and later 1 dozen training pants also adjustable plus the baby cloths for about $350.00 US. They gave me lots of tips and hints about their products, how to soak to prevent stains and control bacteria growth. I alsowas given a full size jar of bottom cream to use after BM's to keep babys bottom rash free. For the life of me I cannot remember the name but it was light, wiped off easily and unlike our fishy smelling hard to remove salve in a tube here in the US, it did not stain the diapers, which by the way I've used on my 3 babies & toddlers...they still r thick n absorbent and white as snow...ready for my next baby, God willing. Extra work? No way! When I was on the go, I used those green eco food scrap bags which r biodegradeable. Since I have 4 dozen diapers, I washed them every other day...sometimes every 3 days. None of my babies,ever got diaper rash or yeast infection. I washed in hot water and cup of clorox n dreft detergent rinsed twice with the final rinse being my regular fabric softener. Try it, mother earth will appreciate it and you will save thousands of dollars! Sending blessings to you
ReplyDeleteHi all. After having used cloth diapers for all of my children I can tell you that there IS more work involved in using clothies when you are diapering more than one or two children at a time. It's not too bad when you are using them on one or two children at a time.
ReplyDelete-Mom of two 28 year olds, one 27 year old, two 25 year olds, one 23 year old, one one 21 year old, one 19 year old, one 15 year old, two 11 year olds, one 8 year old, and one 4 year old.
I agree. We have choices! I have used cloth with 2 of my 7 children. I prefer disposables. I know they cost more money but I spent tons of time washing and trying to get rid of stink and creams on burn rashes from cloth that for me disposables are a better option. If the Duggars want to use disposables than that is their business.
ReplyDeleteI am with comment number 18. How funny that people with 2-3 children are trying to compare their diapering experience to the duggars..I seriously laughed out loud, and how nice that they are so concerned about how much the Duggars spend on disposables. As a mother of soon to be 8 this really made me laugh. Yes, to my 20+ loads of laundry a week, please let me add 7 more, no problem, I'll just stay up one night and do it. How much is your time worth..it wouldn't make much sense to spend 3 hours on something that would cost you 20 dollars at the store/week, unless you had plenty of time on your hands, which parents with just 2 or three do(you think you're busy, but you are not, I know because I used to think I was busy.)
ReplyDeleteAmen!!
ReplyDeleteI think the Duggars got the saving money thing down!! They live debt free, not even a motgage. I think they are doing something right!!
Unless you have twins, why would you have more than one child in diapers at the same time? 12 months is long enough - they need to be trained! It can be done1
ReplyDeleteYou must know some secret the entire population of parents havnt figured out yet. Please let us in on your secret
DeleteEvery child is different..im a mother of 4 beautiful boys 18,16,7,6..they potty trained at different ages..no 2 kids are the same.. fyi it is possible to have 2 children in 1 year with 2 separate pregnancies..
DeleteHaha omg I wonder if the person who made this last comment about children being potty trained by the time they're 12 mos old has children. I literally laughed out loud at that. While I agree that some children may be ready to START potty training at that time, its ridiculous to say that every child should be out of diapers by their 1st birthday. Not to mention it only takes 9 months to make a baby, so its quite possible that a person could have a 10 month old and a newborn at the same time, thus having two children in diapers..
ReplyDeleteI have enjoyed making wipes for my 7. I prefer Viva since they are so cloth-like. My water mixture is 2C water, 2T baby soap, 2T oil (jojoba, canola, almond), and a few drops of tea tree oil. I need wipes for sensitive skin and these work for me.
ReplyDeleteAll these posts are so unsupportive. How is a homeschooling mother of so many children going to have time to sew diapers, wash diapers of multiple children, and or early potty train them? We cloth diaper and do a modified elimination communication to achieve early training, but so far we only have three children. I can easily see how cloth diapers would fall quickly to the bottom of my list, or right off, when we have more-despite the cost differences. There are only twenty four hours in a day ladies and we mothers must use them wisely. We can not neglect our duties to husband and children in the attempt to reach some ideal we have in our minds. <3
ReplyDelete7 kids here, what most people are failing to understand that when you have so many children time is ALSO a precious commodity, I personally do not cloth diaper for the increase in time convenience and laundry, homeschooling and just keeping that many kids fed and bathed is enough to leave you exhausted at the end of the day. I say right on Michelle! Everyone thinks b/c they see some parts of your life they can tell you how to live it better- I think your amazing!
ReplyDeleteI have 2 daughters now 32 and 35. Both of my girls were toilet trained by the time they were a year old. At 3 months of age I would sit them on a bedpan held in my lap about 20 minutes after each meal so they would learn to recognize the sensation of voiding and pooping. We used a special hand signal along with a verbal response so that even before they could walk or talk they could express their need to "go"! Two of my 4 grandchildren were toilet trained by 14 months. As were 7 of my 13 nieces and nephews! so, yes, it can be done!
ReplyDeleteRaising children is a FULL TIME job! Time becomes a precious commodity and no one in their rocking chair at 75 years old ever says "gee, I wish I had used cloth diapers"! It's more probable that they wish they'd spent less time on laundry and more time having tea parties and playing tag! You are the queen of your home, do what works for you and NEVER let anyone make you feel guilty for doing whatever it takes to buy more time with your children!
ReplyDeleteI have used a homemade recipe in the past and loved it but it was not convenient to open the top every time. Thank you for the idea of cutting an X in the top! I would like to suggest using lavender Dr Bronners castile soap, water and lavender or tea tree essential oil instead of alcohol, baby oil and water. Less chemicals on baby skin. And ehile I cloth diaper my eight month old, I also love disposables for leaving home. Cloth was a necessity for us as hubby in nursing school and I am stay at home mom to a four yr old and eight month old.
ReplyDeleteI've also never understood the push to potty train so early. The kid will use the potty when they are ready. I've yet to see a college kid in diapers. Stop rushing the babies to grow up, they have the rest of their lives for that. Let them be babies.
ReplyDeleteI have four kids. Oldest is autistic and 10 just barely been potty trained and not easy to have three all close.in age ans see oldest still in pull ups. and believe me for my third I tried cloth diapers but too much work for being a working mom and no time to always wash these. plus the smell never left. so now with my fourth. i go to costco for my youngest and we go through diapers every two months because he is in the process of potty training and wanting to walk around in birthday suit. lol. Also if you do have money problems like myself please look at sales of store brand diapers. safeway in washington are like costco brand. also wipes if you dont want to spend a lot of time. i like using wash clothes with baby shampoo because those i can put in a diluted bleach bucket and wash them later before i go to bed.
ReplyDelete-My mother once told me that she began potty-training me at 9 months old. I was day trained at 12 months and night trained at 14 months. She also told me I didn't really walk efficiently until 15 months.
ReplyDelete-Early at somethings and late at others.
It's really interesting to see people's comments on baby wipes and such. Obviously people's opinions differ on these things. But the most important thing is that the duggars are raising happy, polite kids who will make a positive impact on the world. Even if I don't agree with their conservative beliefs I watch because this family is totally different from my family and I get to see what being in a different family would be like which is interesting
ReplyDelete@Anonymous
ReplyDeleteRinse with plain white vinegar.. its better for the ph balance of the diapers and works as a fabric softener also .
Hi ya'll. I cloth diapered one, and thank God for disposables for #2. When I shopped at yard sales and thrift stores for most items, it made it possible to buy disposables for my convenience and sanity. Save one place, spend another. Thank you Duggers for sharing your lives with us. We may all have slightly different details on religious practices, but worship the same Lord. thank you again for your influence in our lives.-----Rene from Alabama---ps- our children were born 16 yrs apart. We had been married 20 yrs when we had #2. Have been married 39 yrs now, and every day gets sweeter.
ReplyDeleteI used both cloth (for home and short quick trips out) and disposable (long trips, vacations and when my children were ill) diapers. I also used baby wipes only when I used disposable diapers, all other times I used a slew of baby washcloths set aside for just the baby. It just seemed logical to save as much money as possible.
ReplyDeleteOne word for disposable diaper issue: landfill.
ReplyDeleteThey are not truly disposable, they don't ever go away!
Baby oil is a carcinogen and very toxic... So is regular baby products (sad, I know). I would do the water, Organic coconut oil, and essential oils for a non-toxic inexpensive wipe.
ReplyDelete