Baby Wipes - Save yourself $200 - $760 per year!

Thankfully both my children are out of nappies now.   Having children in nappies can really add to the household budget.  Take baby wipes for example....

Plunket estimate that disposable baby wipes will cost you between $200 to $760 per year.  (Source: http://www.plunket.org.nz/your-child/welcome-to-parenting/family-and-whanau/finances-for-families/babybudget/)

Here is what I used as an alternative.

Camomile Tea and Chux Wipes

This was as easy as making a 'cup of tea' (camomile tea), cooling it (very important), and then putting it in a small bucket or 1kg yoghurt pot near the change table.  Beside it were a stack of clean chux wipes.  (The no name brand are good but won't wash as well).  Simply dip your clean wipe into the cold tea, squeeze out the excess and use it to wipe the bottom.  Do not double dip!!!  (That way you can use the same tea all day.)  The used wipes go into the nappy bucket for washing and drying in the sun.  They can then be reused until they fall apart.  I usually cut the Chux to a smaller size too.  With practice even the worst mess can be cleaned with one wipe using the fold and wipe method.... like how you do with toilet paper....

Why I like this method:
1.  Disposable wipes are horrible to use.  Their texture just spreads the mess around and doesn't pick up enough of it.  So you have to use more wipes.  Skilled use of the camomile chux, and the texture of the chux means most messy bottoms can be cleaned with one wipe.  I hated resorting to disposable wipes when we were out or on holiday.
2.  The camomile tea is very soothing to little bottoms and is not a chemical cocktail.  Think about it, whatever lotion wipes are sitting in just stays on your babies bottom.  There have been recalls on wipes found to contain nasty chemicals.  Yuck.
3.  I'd rather have the extra $$ for more fun things than wiping baby bottoms.

Keen beans: You can make travel versions of these wipes using plastic containers or zip lock bags.  One method is to use one bag/container for unused ones and another for used.

So, happy wiping!