There is something very satisfying about making your own things, knowing that you are helping the environment at the same time. In this section you can browse recipes for all sorts of nappy related things. If you know of a recipe for something that you think should be added, please do let me know!
Stain
remover
Instead of pre-treating soiled nappies with a commercial product,
you could make your own stain remover.
- 50g (1¾ cup) borax (you can get this at any chemist)
- 500ml (2 cups) water
Mix together. Apply with a sponge and leave
to dry.
Nappy
bin soak/sterilising solutions
Use half a bucket of water with ONE of the following:
- 5-7 drops of an essential oil with disinfectant properties per cup of water, dissolved in 1 teaspoon of methylated spirits (available at any chemist)
- 2-3 tablespoons of clear/ white vinegar
- 1 tablespoon of vinegar
Change your solution every time you empty your bucket.
Essential oils with disinfectant products include: cinnamon, clove, pine, tea tree, thyme, bergamot, peppermint, rosemary, juniper, sandalwood. All essential oils should be used with extreme care where babies are concerned. Never use more than directed. A good tip is to start with the minimum amount indicated and build up to the highest dosage if you need it. Be aware that some babies have a particular sensitivity to tea tree oil.
You should not use commercial wipes on newborns. For them it is simply enough to use warm water and cotton wool.
For older babies you can use commercial wipes. There are a number of environmentally friendly products on the market you could try (all imported) or you could try making your own at home.
Use any old terry or flannel cloth, cut up. Place them in a sealable container and pour over one of these wash recipes. Make sure as much liquid as possible has been absorbed, then pour off the excess and close container until needed. These wipes can go in the nappy bin.
Alternatively, replace the terry wipes with a heavy duty kitchen paper (one that doesn't disintegrate at the first sign of water!). You could also simply have a sealed container with the wash solution in it, and dip in cotton balls or cotton pads as and when you need them. I find the make-up removing cotton pads excellent for newborns (but a bit small for older babies).
Change your wash solution every few days to stop it from going rancid.
(Thanks to 'The Nappy Lady' Morag for these recipes.)
1 1/2 cups warm water
2 tablespoons oil (baby oil or olive oil)
2 tablespoons baby wash (eg commercial liquid baby soap, or see
my home-made recipe below)
Alternative 1:
A chamomile tea bag
Almond oil (or baby oil)
A drop of some essential oil.
This is very soothing for baby skin. Approximate proportions are
two tea bags, two mugs of water and a couple of teaspoons of oil.
Alternative 2:
A variation is simply to use a chamomile and honey tea bag in water
that has been allowed to cool. Honey is a natural antiseptic without
stinging, and so aids the healing process enormously. In fact, the
results are nothing short of amazing. One lady whose son had such
severe nappy rash that he required hydro-cortisone injections. She
soaked a flannel with this mixture (slightly warm), which she laid
on the night nappy - within 24 hours, the rash was gone.
Alternative 3:
1 chamomile tea bag
1 cup of hot water
1 teaspoon oil (Baby Oil, Almond oil or similar)
1 teaspoon Baby bath or shampoo
1 drop of Lavender Oil
Brew the teabag in the hot water & allow to cool slightly. Poor
into a screw top jar (jam jar or similar), add the oil, baby bath/shampoo,
Lavender oil & shake well to mix.
Babies should not be washed with any cleaners until they are several weeks old as their skin is so sensitive. After that, they should only be washed with baby soap solutions as conventional soaps (even Dove soap) are too strong for their skin. Try this as an alternative. (It's great for your skin too, particularly if you suffer from acne or other skin problems!)
40ml (2 tablespoons) rosewater
60ml (¼ cup) distilled water
¼ teaspoon vegetable glycerin
Mix the ingredients in a 100ml bottle and shake well. Leave for 4 days to synergize, shaking occasionally. Filter the mixture through coffee filter paper. Store in a dark coloured glass bottle and shake well before use. To use, dip a piece of cotton wool in warm water and squeeze out well. Flatten and then sprinkle with the washing water.
For a variation, or if you know your baby is not sensitive to essential oils, add up to 6 drops of your favourite essential oil before shaking. Tea tree makes a great addition if your baby has nappy rash, but be sure to check that your baby isn't sensitive to it on another part of their body before you use it on any rash. Alternatively, add some honey to the mix before shaking.
For hard water areas, use washing soda, or sodium carbonate, in your wash to help preserve the life of your washing machine.
Alternatively, occasionally run your machine empty but with a cup of white vinegar.
