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If you calculate the number of diaper changes you perform in a day, by the number of baby wipes you use at each change, the result is an estimated 4400 wipes per year. Not only can wipes be wasteful to the environment, they also often contain such chemicals as fragrance, chlorine, synthetic preservatives, and dioxin.

Wipes are used, not only for diaper changing, but also to wipe hands and faces, to clean off pacifiers that have fallen onto the street, and to wipe down dirty shopping cart handles. They are terribly convenient, and are an essential in every well-packed diaper bag. The concern is not if you have packed enough for your outing, but what is lurking inside that solution that keeps them nice and moist.

That delicious, fresh baby smell, also known as frangrance or perfume, is found in many brands of baby wipes and is a potential concern. Synthetic fragrances have shown such effects, on baby, as skin irritation, allergic reactions, and headaches. If baby is suffering from eczema, synthetic ingredients can also irritate the issue.

Dioxins, often found in meat and dairy products, are also the by-product of the chlorine bleaching process. The effects of dioxin have shown, by the Environmental Protection Agency, that it is carcinogenic. If you are using baby wipes that are bleached with chlorine, be wary of this toxic chemical.

To avoid having to flush or dispose of wipes, and to eliminate the use of chemicals on your baby's precious skin, make your own washable wipes! They still fit perfectly into your mini wipes case in your diaper bag, and they can be soaked and washed after use, with your cotton diapers, in vinegar and water. Just as convenient as disposable wipes, but friendlier to the environment and baby's skin!

Recipe for 100% natural baby wipes solution::

In a measuring cup, combine

' ' C warm, purified water
' ' C Aloe Vera Juice
' 1 teaspoon Apple Cider Vinegar
' 1 teaspoon grated, unscented soap

Stir until dissolved. Add:

' 2 Tablespoons Carrier Oil (Calendula, Jojoba, Apricot Kernel)
' Optional: Add up to 4 drops of either or both of Lavender Essential Oil, Tea Tree Essential oil.

Pour mixture over 15-20 baby facecloths, or 10'x10' cotton flannel squares, in a square plastic baby wipes dispenser. Once container is empty, clean well and repeat!

Launder your used cloths with cotton diapers, or soak separately in a container of water, vinegar and baking soda mixture before washing.

Copyright 2006, Jennifer A. Casey

Author, 'HOMEMADE BABY: The Guide To Making Your Own Baby Care Essentials. The Natural Way!' www.munchskins.com/book.htm