Reusable Wipes?

I had cloth baby wipes on my registry.  No one decided to make this purchase, and I started rethinking having to rinse out poopy wipes.  I've never been in the habit of wiping after a pee diaper.  But with the whole yeast rash episode, I changed my ways.  Now we go through an amazing amount of wipes in a day/week/month.  Recently a few wipes made their way into my laundry.  They survived a wash and dry and actually came out more cloth-like.  I believe it was the generic Kroger brand super sensitive.  Also, in previous times a few poopy wipes made their way into the toilet.  Since they can't be flushed (even the "flushable" ones do not degrade) I had no choice but to fish them out of the bowl and the yuck seemed to shake off quite easily.

So now my new recourse is to attempt to reuse the "disposable" wipes until they fall apart.

Part of the reason why I want to reuse wipes:  Not just to "save" the environment, but because my baby has very sensitive skin.  In fact she is starting to get a bit of a rash again.  The four main factors this time are the laundry detergent, new "sensitive" wipes (in a solution that took forever to rinse out), back to trying solids, maybe another tooth is breaking through and we are just going to have a rash every time.

I thought I had the detergent part beat since I started using a water softener and 1/2 as much detergent.  After some research, I am going to try All Free and Clear (I wish I could get the Military grade) that makes it a go for cloth.  But I'd rather have her diapers fall apart down the road than deal with this rash repeatedly.  As for wipes, I'm going to try Seventh Generation Wipes.  We can't stop solid foods, she's going to need to eat real food sometime.  And there is nothing I can do about teeth coming in, if it's the teeth.

As far as how we deal with wipes.  First I rinse them out with water till most of the sudsing goes away.  I could let them dry at this point.  Then I make a solution of 10 parts water 2 parts Apple Cider Vinegar.  I dunk and squeeze out the solution before wiping baby.  I strongly feel like this was essential to her skin healing from the last rash.

What Is A Menstrual Cup?

At 19, a friend told me about The Keeper menstrual cup.  Twice in my life I had gotten Menorrhagia and wished I'd had a menstrual cup but I didn't know they existed.  Even still, it took me 3 years to come around to the idea and actually buy and use one.

It took 3 months for me to break-it-in as it were and then it was incredibly comfortable.  Most of the time I didn't feel it, and some times I would forget I was wearing it.  I often would still wear a reusable pad or pantyliner (just in case).  But the great part was not having to change it every time I went to the bathroom.  It doesn't absorb urine.  And it doesn't dry you out.  On light days I only change it twice a day.  There have been no known cases of Toxic Shock Syndrome with a menstrual cup.  I just use soap and water to wash my cup when I'm done using it for the cycle.  You can boil it or run it through the dishwasher, if it's made from medical grade silicone, like the Moon or Lunette Cup.

I just purchased my new Keeper (post baby size) and I've finally broken it in.  So I'm all set for the last 11 and the next 9 years (20 years total) and the cost has been around $80.  Plus I am not creating and throwing away all that garbage.  And I never have to pack anything with me when I go places because I'm already wearing it.  Some people complain of having to change it when out and about.  But honestly just wipe the edge with some toilet paper.  The only real danger might be dropping it in the toilet.  Then I would boil it.  Luckily this has never happened to me.

So to re-cap, it's easier, cheaper, more sanitary, less wasteful, environmentally friendly, and more comfortable.  Why wouldn't you use one?  Just in case you are allergic to gum rubber, what The Keeper is made from, there is also The Moon Cup and The Diva Cup and the Lunette Cup made from medical grade silicone.

My favorite shop for reusable menstrual products is Glad Rags.  I even was one of their "friend of the month" featured stories, and that's how I restocked my reusable pads for free.  But since I sew I also make my own.