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Learn how to make all-natural baby wipes with this quick and easy recipe. Gentle enough for your baby’s delicate skin and, of course, naturally scented with pure essential oils.

When I had my first baby, I was overwhelmed by all the products on the shelf.
Reading the labels on so many lotions, sunscreens, and wipes was daunting, but I knew I wanted to be selective about the ingredients going on my baby’s skin. Ultimately, I decided to make my own!
If you want to start making your own baby products, these homemade wipes are a great place to start! They are very easy to make and have very gentle, natural ingredients.
You can make these baby wipes disposable with paper towels or opt for reusable cloths! Either way, this is an eco-friendly recipe.
Every mom needs to have this recipe on hand because who has time to run to the store during a diaper change? 😉
Why You’ll Love These
- Save money: When I had my first baby, I couldn’t believe how expensive diapers and wipes were! I quickly realized I needed to DIY so I could ensure I was getting natural baby wipes without spending a fortune. Making your own wipes is a great way to save on your budget without sacrificing quality ingredients going on baby’s skin.
- Gentle ingredients: These wipes are made with very gentle, natural ingredients that are ideal for sensitive skin. This is so important when it comes to baby wipes!
- Easy to make: Once you get the paper towels cut in half, it only takes a minute or two to whip up a batch of homemade baby wipes. They couldn’t be easier!
- Eco-friendly: This recipe uses natural, eco-friendly ingredients and cuts back on waste! DIY wipes reduce the single-use plastic containers and packaging. Plus, you can make it even more eco-friendly by using reusable cloth wipes with the homemade soap solution.
What Goes Into This Recipe
- Water
- Paper towels: When selecting paper towels for baby wipes, the thicker the better.
- Fractionated coconut oil: Coconut oil is moisturizing and soothing to the skin, perfect for baby wipes. Be sure to use fractionated coconut oil, not cold-pressed coconut oil.
- Castile soap: Made with all-natural plant oils, castile soap is gentle yet effective. It is suitable for sensitive skin, which is why I use castile soap in these homemade baby wipes and my homemade baby wash. You can buy scented or unscented; I prefer unscented so I can add my own essential oils.
- Vinegar: Adding vinegar to this recipe helps extend its shelf life and inhibit mold growth. With the vinegar, these wipes should last about one week.
- Essential oils: I usually use lavender, but I share more suggestions below! If you’d rather not use essential oils, feel free to omit them.
How to Make Homemade Baby Wipes
Step 1. Carefully cut a roll of paper towels in half. Set one half aside to use another time.
Step 2. Make the soap solution by combining water, fractioned coconut oil, essential oils, castile soap, and vinegar in a bowl.
Step 3. Add the paper towels to the bowl of soap solution and let it absorb the soap for 10 minutes.
Step 4. Once the paper towels have soaked up the solution, remove the cardboard roll from the middle.
Step 5. Carefully pull a paper towel square from the middle of the roll to start the wipes.
Step 6. Store in an airtight container such as a mason jar or an empty wipes container.
Expert Tips
- Always be sure to properly dilute essential oils before applying them topically, especially for babies.
- A sharp serrated knife works best for cutting through paper towels. An electric knife works well too.
- Don’t skip the thicker, more durable paper towels for homemade wipes. Trust me; the cheaper thin ones do not hold up nearly as well.
- Using distilled or filtered water is best. I try to avoid using tap water due to the unusually high chlorine content found in our water.
Essential Oils for Homemade Baby Wipes
When using essential oils on babies, or anyone for that matter, it is really important to use pure, organic essential oils. Essential oils are extremely potent and, as a result, must be diluted before use.
Always consult with your doctor to see if using essential oils topically is right for you.
Using essential oils in your homemade wipes is optional, but they can add a scent and many benefits for the skin. Here are a few of my recommendations:
- Lavender: Lavender is my favorite essential oil to use on my babies because it is very calming. Lavender oil has cleansing properties and can help with pain relief, plus it is gentle on sensitive skin.
- Frankincense: Frankincense essential oil is a very soothing oil that can help with pain and rashes, making it ideal for baby wipes.
- Roman chamomile: Like lavender, chamomile has a very calming and relaxing aroma. I like to pair this with lavender in my baby wipes!
- Wild orange: Wild orange adds a fresh scent to your wipes and natural cleansing properties. Citrus oils are photosensitive, so be careful using them topically on skin that will be exposed to the sun as they may cause sunburns.
- Rose: Rose is another soothing, delicate oil that is perfect for babies. It has antibacterial and antifungal properties and it promotes relaxation.
Recipe FAQs
Making your own baby wipes is much cheaper than purchasing store-bought. You can even use reusable cloth wipes to keep it extremely cost-effective and eco-friendly! Homemade baby wipes can also be made with very natural, gentle ingredients, so you can feel confident in what you’re using on your baby’s skin.
Yes, you can! Using cloth wipes is an excellent way to reduce waste and save money. You can use the same soap solution from this disposable wipes recipe. Simply add the ingredients to a glass spray bottle, shake well, and spray the wipe before use. Throw used wipes in your cloth diaper pail and wash them with a gentle laundry detergent, such as my homemade liquid laundry soap.
You can store your baby wipes in any airtight container that works for you. I’ve had good luck with old baby wipe boxes and mason jars. You can also use an old coffee can or plastic Tupperware container.
Yes, many essential oils are safe to use on babies and they can be quite beneficial! It’s very important to properly dilute essential oils before applying them to babies and children. Always consult with a doctor to see if essential oils are right for your child.
More Natural Recipes for Kids
- Baby Wash & Shampoo
- Rainbow Bath Bombs for Kids
- How to Get Rid of Cradle Cap
- Calming Bath Salts for Kids
- Must-Have Roller Bottle Blends for Kids
- Bedtime Baby Lotion
If you tried this All-Natural Baby Wipes Recipe or any other tutorial on my website, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it went in the 📝 comments below. Thanks for visiting!
All Natural Baby Wipes Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 cups water, filtered or distilled is best
- 1 tablespoon fractionated coconut oil
- 1 teaspoon castile soap
- 1 tablespoon vinegar
- 10-15 drops lavender essential oils, optional
Instructions
- Cut a paper towel roll in half, widthwise, and place it upright in an airtight container. (Save the other half for later unless making a double batch)
- Combine water, fractioned coconut oil, essential oils, castile soap, and vinegar in a pitcher.
- Pour the mixture over the paper towels to absorb for 10 minutes.
- Secure the lid and flip the container over to allow the top of the towels to absorb the mixture for an additional 10 minutes.
- Finally, remove the cardboard tube from the middle of the roll and carefully pull a paper square up from the center to start the wipes.
Video
Notes
- Check out the post above for step-by-step photos or watch the video in the recipe card to see the process!
- Always be sure to properly dilute essential oils before applying them topically, especially for babies.
- A sharp serrated knife works best for cutting through paper towels. An electric knife works well too.
- Using distilled or filtered water is best. I try to avoid using tap water due to the unusually high chlorine content found in our water.
I loved making these wipes for my grandchildren and I use it in my kitchen too!
What a great idea! Enjoy!
Thank you for the recipes, Laura!
How long does the mixture hold if I keep it in the glass bottle?