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Super easy, safe and healthy homemade baby wipes for sensitive tushies!

First image of Woman pulling homemade baby wipes out of the center of a paper towel roll in a container with bumblebee duct tape on it on a wooden countertop. Second image baby wipes container open on a wooden countertop with lid sitting next to it. Text that says The Best Homemade Baby Wipes across the center.

These homemade baby wipes are so easy to make, super cheap and so much better for tiny heinies! My kids have always had super sensitive skin. These have been the best option for us because they don’t have any harsh or toxic chemicals or fragrances that cause irritation. I do usually keep a travel package of sensitive store bought wipes in our diaper bag for when we are out of the house, but I still prefer my homemade wipes and even keep a couple containers in our car.

What You’ll Need To Make These Homemade Baby Wipes:

Paper Towels (I use these)
Witch Hazel (This is my favorite)
Liquid Baby Unscented Castile Soap (This is a great one, but I’ve been using this one from Sprout’s because it is cheaper)
Lavender Essential Oil (I only use Young Living Essential Oils) (Here is a referral if you want to sign up to get them at a discount)
Boiled water (This is my trusty little electric kettle)
Glass 1 cup measuring cup
1/2 TBSP measuring spoon
Tape Measure
Pencil
Sharp knife
Container about 4.5″ W x 4.5″ L x 5″ H

Two rolls of paper towels with a glass measuring cup and a 1/2 tbsp measuring spoon in it, a bottle of witch hazel, a bottle of lavender essential oil, and a bottle of liquid castile soap in front of them on a wooden countertop. Ingredients for making baby wipes.

Step 1:

Boil some water

Black and stainless steel electric kettle sitting next to rolls of paper towels on a wooden countertop.

NOTE: You can also use distilled or very well filtered water, but I prefer boiling water to sterilize it first because it seems like hot water absorbs into the paper towels better anyways. Just keep in mind that if you use tap water the wipes will probably get moldy, but I have never had them get moldy if I use boiled or distilled water.

Step 2:

Measure and cut paper towels

I like to cut my rolls into thirds. They seem to fit in my containers a lot easier this way. So I take my tape measure and pencil and mark them at about 3 11/16″ and 7 5/16″. Then I take my big sharp chef knife and slice them up.

Tape measure on a roll of paper towels laying down horizontally and a woman's left hand marking 3 11/16" with a pencil on the paper towels for making baby wipes.

Tape measure on a roll of paper towels laying down horizontally. A woman's right had holding the tape measure on top of the paper towels while a woman's left hand is marking 7 5/16" with a pencil on the paper towels for making homemade baby wipes.

A woman's left hand holding down a roll of paper towels horizontally on a cutting board while cutting the roll with a knife in her right hand.

Three chunks of paper towel rolls lying on a cutting boards with a knife.

NOTE: For different size paper towels, you’ll have to experiment with the amount of solution to get them saturated properly. I would prefer to use unbleached paper towels, but I have yet to find any that are sturdy enough. So the Great Value Ultra Strong Double Rolls have been working the best for me for a long time now.

Also, I used to use the “Full Sheet” paper towels instead of the “Split Sheet” ones since they are bigger, but they got too hard to find at least in the big packages. So just know that you will likely need to use more than one single wipe at a time if you use the “split sheet” paper towels like I do.

Step 3:

Place cut paper towel roll in your baby wipes container

Paper towels inside a square container with bumblebee duct tape on it and matching lid that says "Baby Wipes" next to it on a wooden countertop.

Step 4:

Measure witch hazel

I use about 1 oz or a little less than 1/4 cup.

Glass liquid measuring cup sitting next to a measuring spoon on a wooden countertop.

A woman's left hand pouring witch hazel into a glass measuring cup on a wooden countertop

Step 5:

Measure castile soap

Add 1/2 TBSP of liquid castile soap to the witch hazel in the measuring cup.

Woman measuring 1/2 TBSP of liquid castile soap into a glass measuring cup.

Step 6:

Add essential oil

Add 10-15 drops of lavender essential oil to the witch hazel and castile soap.

Woman dropping essential oil into a glass measuring cup with a measuring spoon in it on a wooden countertop.

NOTE: Lavender is probably one of the mildest oils, and my go-to because I use a lot of it and it is on the cheaper side. Some other options I like to use are: Frankincense, Tea Tree, Gentle Baby (Young Living blend), Chamomile, and Geranium.

Step 7:

Add hot water

Top off the measuring cup with the previously boiled hot water up to the 1 cup mark and stir gently.

Woman pouring hot water from a stainless steel kettle into a glass measuring cup with a measuring spoon in it on a wooden countertop.

Step 8:

Pour solution over paper towels in your container

Woman pouring liquid baby wipe solution from a glass measuring cup onto paper towels in a container with bumblebee duct tape on it.

Step 9:

Remove cardboard core

I like to give them a minute to soak up the water and cool down a little. Then I pinch the cardboard and it slips right out.

Woman pulling carboard tube out of center of paper towel roll for homemade baby wipes in container with bumblebee duct tape on it.

Step 10:

Pull wipes out from the center of the roll, tear off a few sheets and wipe those tushies!

Woman pulling homemade baby wipes out of the center of a paper towel roll in a container with bumblebee duct tape on it on a wooden countertop.

Open container of homemade baby wipes sitting on a wooden countertop next to the lid that says "Baby Wipes".

NOTE: Don’t forget to put the lid on when not it use or they will dry out!

Please feel free to leave a comment. I would love to hear how these work for you!

Yield: One Container of Wipes

How to Make Homemade Baby Wipes

These homemade baby wipes are so easy to make, super cheap and so much better for tiny heinies! No harsh or toxic chemicals or fragrances that cause irritation.

Prep Time 5 minutes

Active Time 5 minutes

Total Time 5 minutes

Materials

Paper Towels
1oz Witch Hazel
1/2 TBSP Liquid Baby Unscented Castile Soap
10-15 Drops Lavender Essential Oil
Boiled Water

Tools

Glass 1 Cup Measuring Cup
1/2 TBSP Measuring Spoon
Tape Measure
Pencil
Sharp Knife
Container about 4.5″ W x 4.5″ L x 5″ H

Instructions

Boil some water (at least one cup)
Measure and mark the paper towels at about 3 11/16″ and 7 5/16″
Cut paper towels into thirds
Place one third roll into wipes container
Measure about 1 oz of witch hazel into glass measuring cup
Add in 1/2 TBSP castile soap
Add 10-15 drops essential oil
Add boiled water up to the 1 cup mark and stir gently
Pour solution over paper towels in wipes container
Pinch cardboard core and remove.

Notes

* You can also use distilled or very well filtered water, but I prefer boiling water to sterilize it first because it seems like hot water absorbs into the paper towels better anyways. Just keep in mind that if you use tap water the wipes will probably get moldy, but I have never had them get moldy if I use boiled or distilled water.

* I like to cut my rolls into thirds. They seem to fit in my containers a lot easier this way. So I take my tape measure and pencil and mark them at about 3 11/16″ and 7 5/16″. Then I take my big sharp chef knife and slice them up.

* For different size paper towels, you’ll have to experiment with the amount of solution to get them saturated properly. I would prefer to use unbleached paper towels, but I have yet to find any that are sturdy enough. So the Great Value Ultra Strong Double Rolls have been working the best for me for a long time now.

* I used to use the “Full Sheet” paper towels instead of the “Split Sheet” ones since they are bigger, but they got too hard to find at least in the big packages. So just know that you will likely need to use more than one single wipe at a time if you use the "split sheet" paper towels like I do.

* Lavender is probably one of the mildest oils, and my go-to because I use a lot of it and it is on the cheaper side. Some other options I like to use are: Frankincense, Tea Tree, Gentle Baby (Young Living blend), Chamomile, and Geranium.

* Don’t forget to put the lid on when not it use or they will dry out!

Comments

Stacey

April 7, 2024 at 10:37 pm

Was just wondering where you got the container you used for your wipes. Thanks 🙂

- ourlifewithpurpose
  
  April 7, 2024 at 11:09 pm
  
  Hi there! The containers I use are old Smart Balance margarine containers decorated with duck tape. We don’t use SB anymore because of the bad oils, but a similar container from sour cream or something would probably work just as well. I would really prefer not to use plastic, but I have yet to find a viable alternative. I will have to update the post when I do. Thanks for your interest!