This Homemade Natural Baby Wipe Solution is so simple and quick to make. With only three ingredients, you can make this with what you already have in your kitchen in a minute. It’s made with all natural ingredients, so you can feel safe using this on your baby’s sensitive skin.

Why I use a Homemade Natural Baby Wipe Solution

I love making my own baby wipes. I’m all about saving money and making my own products where I can. It does mean one extra thing I have to do but honestly, it takes a minute to make and I don’t even notice it anymore. If I need more I can go to the kitchen instead of the grocery store and keep my money in my pocket and not in the trash.

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Reasons to make your own baby wipes

Making your own baby wipes means you know all the ingredients that go into it.

No mineral oil/baby oil or petroleum jelly are added to this recipe. Unlike disposable wipes, these don’t include any chemicals or alcohol which I certainly do not want on my babies skin or mine.

This recipe has ingredients that you can find in your pantry. I prefer to use natural items in my home, especially when it comes to my baby.

With their sensitive skin, this solution gently cleans and keep their skin baby soft. The oil used is gentle and helps keeps the skin moisturized. The soap is gentle and cleans the skin without stripping it of the natural oils.

You’ll get to keep more money in your pocket instead of in the trash. No more running to the store to buy a plastic package of disposable wipes. You use them once and toss them in the trash.

Material to use with your Homemade Natural Baby Wipe Solution

The wipes that are sold in most packages of baby wipes are typically made with polyester or polypropylene. I wouldn’t want to use that as toilet paper for myself, why us it on my child. If I have a choice as to what I can use, I’d much rather make my own.

You can use your own choice of material to clean your baby. I don’t know about you but I prefer to use cotton on my baby. From her bonnets down to her baby wipes with the exception of a wool diaper cover. With their delicate skin I feel it’s best to have natural fibers against their skin. If possible I’ll try to use organic material.

I use some receiving blankets that were cut up into some 6×6 squares. Then just toss them in with the diaper laundry when dirty.

If you would prefer not to use cloth, you can use a heavy duty paper towel for the baby wipes. You may need to make more solution if you prep the paper towels ahead of time with the whole roll.

Oils for Homemade Natural Baby Wipe Solution

There are many options when it comes to the oil you use. I prefer to use fractionated coconut oil. This is just coconut oil that doesn’t solidify. While Virgin Coconut Oil is great for so many things it is solid at room temperature. Unless you plan to use a wipe warmer this wouldn’t be a very good oil to use.

Some other oils that you could use are grapeseed oil, olive oil and avacado oil.

Can I add essential oils to this solution?

You most certainly can. I don’t add any essential oils just to keep it very simple.

As long as you are using any of the oils mentioned above you should be fine. You only need a few drops of essential oil in the bottle so that it is diluted in a carrier oil properly.

Some essential oils that you can use are Lavender, Cedarwood, and Rose just to name a few. HERE is a great source on essential oils for baby and mothers.

Homemade Natural Baby Wipe Solution for Diaper Rash

When my daughter was born I first started using only water with my cloth wipes and she ended up getting a rash. I have heard some people having good luck with using only water on their cloth wipes. Though, for me, it just didn’t get her clean enough.

My friend then told me about this recipe and my daughter has not had a diaper rash since. She is currently 8 months old.

Is Homemade Natural Baby Wipe Solution safe for cloth diapers?

This solution is perfectly fine for cloth diapers.

Usually, the only thing you need to avoid using with cloth diapers is Zinc Oxide. This can reduce the absorbency of the fabric in your cloth diapers. Zinc is typically found in diaper rash creams.

I go over the types of cloth diapers I have tried and how it worked out for me in the first 6 months. You can read about that HERE.

Can I use the soap I have on hand?

It’s best to stick with a gentle and uncented baby soap or shampoo. I prefer Dr. Bronners baby unscented castile soap because it is an all natural soap. I like that it is only made from vegetables like olive, hemp and coconuts.

How to use Homemade Natural Baby Wipe Solution

I found that it is easiest to keep this in a squirt bottle. I use a peri bottle that I had gotten from my midwife from my home birth.

You can read all about my natural home birth story HERE.

You can also use a spray bottle but I find that it takes a lot longer to get the baby wipe wet enough.

I prefer to keep my wipes separate from the solution. Then I don’t have to hurry and use up all the wipes before they get moldy.

How to make Homemade Natural Baby Wipe Solution

This recipe is simple and effective. It will only take a minute to make and it will leave your baby soft and clean. Refreshing!

Supplies

• A bottle (squirt or spray bottle)
• 1/2 TSP Dr. Bronners Baby Uncented Castile soap
• 1 TSP Fractionated Coconut Oil
• Filtered or Distilled water (I like to use my Berkey water filter)

Directions

Fill your bottle with the filtered water leaving about 1 inch head space at the top.

Add your oil and soap to the bottle.

Slowly top off the bottle with the filtered water if necessary.

Gently invert a couple times to mix together prior to each use.

Tip: Don’t add the soap to the bottle first. This is to prevent the soap from foaming up when you add the water in on top of it.

Generously apply it to your homemade baby wipes and wipe away!

Have you made your own baby wipe solution before? What did you add in yours?

Leave a comment below and let me know!

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This naturally leavened sourdough banana bread is a long ferment sweet bread. I wanted to make a banana bread that’s made with a natural sweetener and long fermented to make it more tolerable for those that are gluten sensitive. Another great aspect is this bread rises naturally and no baking powder or baking soda is needed.

Why we love Naturally Leavened Sourdough Banana Bread

My husband absolutely loves banana bread. Sadly, I never made it much until the last few months. When I did start making it again I wanted to make it with sourdough. Everyone seems to love it. I know I really like it.

I have always loved banana bread topped with cream cheese. My husband prefers it plain. But how good does sweet banana bread, warmed a bit in the toaster oven and smothered with cream cheese? Delish!

Once again this makes my list for a quick little pre-breakfast snack. Just like the peanut butter no-bake oatmeal cookies. I’ll leave a link for those cookies HERE.

To Long Ferment or To Not

I choose to ferment it for a long time because I believe it helps me handle the flour better. For years, I’ve had some issues and since switching everything that I make to a long ferment with sourdough, things are getting better.

Another reason is that there is a health benefit from using sourdough in our food. Though the probiotics don’t survive the baking process you still have the healthy bacteria left from the lactic acid from the fermentation.

By allowing the bread to naturally leaven this makes sure that the phytic acid is being broken down so that our body can easily process these modern day grains. Your body will also get more nutrients from the grain itself like zinc and iron.

Lastly, the third reason is because I wanted the bread to naturally rise. I did not want to use any more processed ingredients then I had to.

So I decided not to use any baking soda or baking powder. I wanted to use the natural yeast in the sourdough to make it rise. I also like the idea of having less ingredients to add and keep this sweet bread as healthy and natural as possible.

If you choose not to long ferment that is fine as well. You will still get the sourdough taste and some of the health benefits from the sourdough starter.

Though you will want to add baking powder and baking soda. I have not tested the amounts needed for these with this recipe but 1 tsp each should do the trick.

Naturally Sweetened

Once again I used honey as a sweetener for this banana bread. I am slowly trying to move away from using processed sugar. Natural sweeteners like honey are slowly digested making you feel full longer. It also keeps your metabolism stable unlike processed sugar.

Very Ripe Bananas

When ever I make banana bread I always use the ripest bananas I can find. The more brown spots the better! This is best because as the banana ages the starch in the flesh of the banana starts to break down and it then converts into sugar. What I have always done is when my bananas a too brown for fresh eating I put them in the freezer to save for future banana bread. When it comes time to use them I just pull them out to thaw on a plate. Another good bonus is this will add some extra sweetness to your bread.

How to make Naturally Leavened Sourdough Banana Bread

Ingredients

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• pinch of salt (I use pink Himalayan salt)
• 2 tsp cinnamon
• 3 bananas (as ripe as you can get them)
• 1 egg
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 3/4 cup honey
• 1/2 cup melted coconut oil
• 1 cup fed and bubbly sourdough starter

First thing you will need is fed and bubbly sourdough starter. I usually feed mine in the evening the day before I want to make the bread and I let the starter ferment for about 12 hours or more.

After the 12 – 24 hours, begin to prepare the banana bread.

In a large bowl add your flour, salt and cinnamon. Mix well together.

In a smaller bowl add the bananas and egg and mash those together well.

Then add the vanilla, honey and coconut oil and mix well.

Lastly, add 1 cup of the sourdough starter and fold it in. I find that it’s better to add the starter in last and fold it in. It seems to make the bread rise the most doing it this way.

Grease your bread pan with coconut oil all over and completely up the sides. If given warm enough temperatures, the dough should at least double in size.

Cover with a tea towel, cheese cloth or large cloth napkin.

Place in a warm spot for at least 12 hours. I placed mine in my oven with the oven light on. Depending on the temperature in the house I may leave the oven door open a crack so it didn’t rise too quickly. Since I typically make this in the evening, I don’t want it to rise too fast and I can then bake it when I get up in the morning.

Once your bread has doubled in size preheat your oven to 350 degrees.

Bake for 35 to 45 minutes.

Note: Depending on how much the bread rose the baking time may vary. If it rose to the top of the bread pan it may take closer to 45 minutes. Once its been in there for about 30 to 35 minutes, check the center with a knife to see if it comes out clean.

Tip: If you would like your bread sooner you could place it in a casserole dish (8×8) prepared the same way. This will allow it to bake a bit faster since it’s not as thick.

Once your bread is done baking, let it cool in the pan for a bit.

Then with a knife loosen up the sides of the bread from the pan and it should slide right out.

You can let it cool a bit before you cut into it. This will help to keep the bread from squishing as you cut it. I usually can’t wait long enough before I break into it.

Show your support and appreciation. If you made this recipe and loved it, give it a 5 star review and follow me on Instagram @naturalliving.homestead then tag me in a photo of your tasty treat!

Naturally Leavened Sourdough Banana Bread

Yield: 1 Loaf

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 40 minutes

Additional Time: 12 hours

Total Time: 12 hours 55 minutes

Long fermented sourdough banana bread has a hint of cinnamon, a touch of sweetness and moist within.

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Ingredients

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• pinch of salt (I use pink Himalayan salt)
• 2 tsp cinnamon
• 3 bananas (as ripe as you can get them)
• 1 egg
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 3/4 cup honey
• 1/2 cup melted coconut oil
• 1 cup fed and bubbly sourdough starter

Instructions

1. First thing you will need is fed and bubbly sourdough starter. I usually feed mine in the evening the day before I want to make the bread and I let the starter ferment for about 12 hours or more.
2. After the 12 - 24 hours, begin to prepare the banana bread.
3. In a large bowl add your flour, salt and cinnamon. Mix well together.
4. In a smaller bowl add the bananas and egg and mash those together well.
5. Then add the vanilla, honey and coconut oil and mix well.
6. Lastly, add 1 cup of the sourdough starter and fold it in. I find that it's better to add the starter in last and fold it in. It seems to make the bread rise the most doing it this way.
7. Grease your bread pan with coconut oil all over and completely up the sides. If given warm enough temperatures, the dough should at least double in size.
8. Cover with a tea towel, cheese cloth or large cloth napkin.
9. Place in a warm spot for at least 12 hours. I placed mine in my oven with the oven light on. Depending on the temperature in the house I may leave the oven door open a crack so it didn't rise too quickly. Since I typically make this in the evening, I don't want it to rise too fast and I can then bake it when I get up in the morning.
10. Once your bread has doubled in size preheat your oven to 350° degrees.
11. Bake for 35 to 45 minutes.
12. Once your bread is done baking, let it cool in the pan for a bit.
13. Then with a knife loosen up the sides of the bread from the pan and it should slide right out.
14. You can let it cool a bit before you cut into it. This will help to keep the bread from squishing as you cut it. I usually can't wait long enough before I break into it.

Notes

Note: Depending on how much the bread rose the baking time may vary. If it rose to the top of the bread pan it may take closer to 45 minutes. Once its been in there for about 30 to 35 minutes, check the center with a knife to see if it comes out clean.

Tip: If you would like your bread sooner you could place it in a casserole dish (8"x8") prepared the same way. This will allow it to bake a bit faster since it's not as thick.

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 12 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 479.5Total Fat: 10.3gSaturated Fat: 8.1gUnsaturated Fat: 0.4gCholesterol: 14mgSodium: 21.6mgCarbohydrates: 88.2gFiber: 3.3gSugar: 21.4gProtein: 9.5g

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Alternatives to Diapering Your Baby

Diapers are one of the first things you get when your expecting a new baby. In the USA disposable diapers are most commonly used. There is a large amount of people that decide to jump on the cloth diaper train, and it’s becoming more popular. In some countries like China they use cloth diapers more commonly. Then you have countries like Vietnam that practice Elimination Communication (EC) quite regularly. Babies are diaper free and the parent looks for cues of needing to relieve them-selves. When those times come they are held over a toilet so they can “do their business”.

Why I Chose to Cloth Diaper

I had always known I wanted to cloth diaper my children, for years before we had our first baby. My mother had used cloth diapers on me so it wasn’t a foreign topic. There isn’t just one reason why I chose to cloth diaper my baby, there are actually several. I had done a lot of research on the pros and cons and the different methods out there.

The Cost of Diapers

This was a BIG one for me and my husband. The cost of buying disposables versus cloth diapers is ridiculous. On average per child you could spend over $2,000 from birth until they are potty-trained. With cloth diapers you buy them once. Typically you could spend about $500 on a good size stash of diapers. It is a larger cost upfront but that is a one time deal. Now if you end up deciding you no longer want or need to cloth diaper you can sell those diapers and get a good amount of your money back. Win Win!

Eco-Friendly

I like the option of using natural fibers against my babies skin. I wouldn’t like wearing plastic underwear all the time, so why make my child. Not to mention that these plastic fibers can irritate a babies sensitive skin constantly rubbing against them. Also if a cloth diaper ends up getting so damaged that you are unable to use it, you can recycle/compost most of it. Sometimes even all of the diaper if it is made of natural fibers.

No Chemicals

There are chemicals used in disposables to make them extremely absorbent. These chemicals are also used to wick away any moisture away from babies skin. The reason it is needed is having that all that liquid in the diaper with a plastic cover can cause a rash because there is no air flow. Not to mention that the chemicals themselves against the skin can cause irritation.

Reusable

The idea of buying something just to throw it away bothers me. I’m basically just throwing my money in the trashcan. I love the idea that I can buy diapers once and be able to use them for years. With proper care, cloth diapers can last years. I may only have one child at the moment but my husband and I plan to have more, so I will then be able to use these diapers on my next child and so on.

No Blowouts

Yep I said it, No Blowouts! Before I had my baby, there were many other moms in cloth diaper groups that have stated that they did not have this issue. I wanted to believe that it is a true possibility, to not need to deal with poop flying all the way up my child’s back.

My Concerns About Getting Cloth Diapers

For years I knew the brand that I wanted to get. Then came the time to get diapers and I had second thoughts.

I wanted to make sure that I was getting the right diapers. That they would fit my baby well and I wouldn’t have issues with how they are put together/used. I was also concerned about getting them to clean well.

Then, I wasn’t sure if I would be going back to work after having our baby. If I did end up going back to work someone would need to change her diaper other then me of course. So for whoever would be changing her diaper I wanted to make sure that it was straight forward and simple.

I also wanted to make sure that it was something that my husband would feel comfortable using. I worried that if it was too complex he may not want to use cloth diapers on her or at least when he was changing diapers. For example: Use a certain insert with this cover or if you use this one, double up with this for night time”. As well as: “Make sure you wrap it tight enough around here and no gaps but not too tight”.

So I did a lot of research on that brand again and asked people in my cloth diaper groups and only found good reviews and I even talked to the woman that created them.

So I got the diapers because you can’t know if you’ll like them until you try them.

Using Disposable Diapers

When she was born I had yet to figured out if I wanted to use them for the first couple weeks or not. I was hesitant because of the meconium that is deposited in the first week or so. It tends to stain and I hadn’t decided if I wanted to use disposables or clean them the best I could.

We had been gifted a package of disposable diapers and we ended up just using those for the first couple weeks. I didn’t like using them but it made things easy at the time. Considering I was stuck in bed for a couple weeks with limited trips up and down the stairs. It was also easier at this point because I would then have had to show my husband the cleaning routine of the new diapers. Not that he was not perfectly capable but it would have been one more thing he needed to do and I wanted to keep it simple for him.

Six Months into Cloth Diapering

Now after 6 months and many very messy diapers I have never had a blowout. Everything stays contained in the diaper making it an easier clean up and staining on the inserts is minimal. I’ve been using diapers that are referred to as All-In-Two. They have a removable cover with body formed inserts that snap into place on the shell. Some inserts are made with hemp and the others are made with bamboo-cotton blend.

Though a downside to these diapers is they take a long time to dry. It wasn’t an option to put them on the clothesline since it was fall/winter, they would take forever to dry. I ended up putting them in the dryer and it shrunk them a bit since they are a natural fiber. At this point they probably won’t fit her once she is a year old. I will then need to use a different diaper method when that time comes.

Now I’m sure your thinking, hang dry them in the house! Well, at the time I didn’t have many inserts and shells. I was trying to be minimal about how many I had and save on cost. There wasn’t enough to create a good size load to wash and leave some extra for me to use. Then hang drying them would take 6 + hours in the house typically, because they were so thick.

Alternatives to Diapering Our Baby

So I’ve recently started using flats and covers since these are more customizable. I will be able to use these when she is older and may be too big for what she currently has. Once again, I’m only doing this because I accidentally shrunk the diapers I currently have because I dried them in the dryer on high heat. Oops… lesson learned.

I also want to mention that a couple weeks after she was born we started using the method of Elimination Communication (EC). We wanted to give her the option of doing her Number 1 and 2’s somewhere other then her diaper. I had done a lot of research on it and learned how it is she was telling us she needed to go potty.

So far it has been great! There are many days where we catch all #2’s in the potty and only wet diapers. Other times it’s the opposite but she’s growing daily so I can’t expect her to be in a regular routine so young.

What I Wish I Knew – Alternatives to Diapering Your Baby

I wish I had known that I would be staying home with our baby for the foreseeable future. I think I would have gone with just flats and covers instead of the diapers that I got. There are two reasons, firstly, because it takes a very long time for the inserts to dry. Secondly, because they shrink so easily, to about half the size they’re suppose to be (my fault, I know).

This does not mean that I do not like this brand or style of diapers. They are fantastic and the quality is great. Not to mention that the prints on the shells are adorable! Though had I known the above reasons, I believe I would have chosen a flats over thick inserts.

More on Alternatives to Diapering your Baby

Stay tuned for a follow up. I plan to go over in a bit more detail about the different types of diapers, Elimination Communication and washing methods.

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