Do you feel it?  The pressure to be all things to all people at all times?  I do. 

Mamas, let's make a pledge to ourselves to take things one step at a time.

I'm starting this blog with quite a few "aces in the hole".  (ooo... I like writing within quotations almost as much as I love writing within parentheses!).

So, I'm gonna start with a topic I've been asked to explain many times:  CLOTH WIPES.

CONTAIN YOUR EXCITEMENT LADIES!

Yes, cloth wipes are the easiest way to green up the output process of your wee ones.  (Ha!  I just came up with that- "output process"!  I feel clever.)

If you already use cloth diapers, this will be an easy addition for you!  The wipes go right in the diaper pail.  If you use disposable diapers, this is a way to be a little greener, a little healthier for your baby and a little more confident around any tree-hugger friends you have.

For the first 8 months of my baby's life, I found a zen-like joy (only slightly exaggerating) in folding the wipes accordion style after washing* them and then placing them in my Prince Lionhart wipe warmer (hey, now they sell one with bamboo wipes!  glad they jumped on the band wagon!).  Just remoisten the little sponge thing every day and your wipes are always the perfect moistness and a pleasing temperature. 

Now that my baby is a little hardier, I'm relishing the freedom to be a little lazier with my wipes.  I toss them into the dryer (ok, sometimes I line dry them, but only sometimes!) and then stuff (emphasis on the helter skelter here.  no folding allowed!) them into the unplugged wipe warmer. 

Now, if you aren't a cloth diaper mama, you may be a little squeamish about the idea of having to wash poop (that word makes me smile).  If that's the case, no biggie... use disposable wipes on those diapers and cloth wipes for all the others!  If you want to go all-out and use the cloth wipes for everything, I've been really pleased with the bumgenius bottom cleaner
that I received as a baby gift.  I spritz a little on the dirty bum and everything wipes cleanly off.  One 4 oz. bottle has lasted a LONG time!  However, once that runs out, I'm gonna fill the bottle with ye ole H2O and a squirt of Dr. Bronner's (I'll let you know how that goes).

As for the cloth wipes.  I really like these thin unbleached flannel squares.  I imagine it wouldn't be too hard to make your own flannel wipes, but come on... this is MY blog!  I have also tried cloth wipes that are more terry cloth (bumgenius brand, though they don't seem to be for sale online anymore).  These are great as washcloths, but too thick for a wipe.

What do you think?  Do you already use them?  Will you try?

*How I wash:  I wash my wipes with the cloth diapers.  1. cold rinse; 2. hot wash with 1/4 the amount of detergent (Dreft or any free & clear); 3. extra cold rinse.  If you don't wash cloth diapers, throw the wipes into the washer for a cold rinse before adding whatever else.  The wipe-to-skin contact is brief, so let's not over think the detergent!