No baby wipes for newborns?

krahgozar · August 2011

We just went to our baby care class yesterday and the nurse said we shouldn't use baby wipes for the first 8 weeks when changing the baby. She said even the ones for sensitive skin were too harsh and they we should use a warm washcloth. I was planning on doing alot of laundry but if you change a baby 10 times a day thats alot of washclothes. Has anyone else been told this?

ar78 · August 2011

No, this is the first I've heard of this! Now you are going to get a ton of mamas who will tell you that they DID use wipes and that their baby was just fine

However, I was planning on using flannel wipes anyway. You can get they for a very reasonable prince on Amazon---I got the imse vimse kind.

reg224 · August 2011

I have never heard this before, so I am interested to read these responses.

Bonnie311 · August 2011

Eh, I've heard this every now and then, but as long as there is NO ALCOHOL in the wipes, I think you'll be fine.

We used soaked cotton balls & sensitive wipes from pampers, with no problems! I couldnt imagine using a hard washcloth Yowch!

Jo&Matt6609 · August 2011

My SIL did this with my two nephews. She kept a bowl of water near the changing table, and just used soft paper-towels (like Viva), dipped it in the water, wrung it out, and wiped their bums that way. I was thinking of doing this too.

Bonnie311 · August 2011

Yea.....VIVA are the best paper towels, ever!

ChrissyLonghorn · August 2011

The book Baby 411 says this advice is old school and not necessary. Every IRL mom I know used wipes from the get go w/ no problems.

062307Bride · August 2011

Never heard of this, but we'll be using homemade wipes anyways - I just cut up baby terry into 8x8 squares and sewed around the sides so they don't fray.

Jo&Matt6609 · August 2011

I honestly think it's all a personal preference, and there isn't one "right" way.

gkb0910 · August 2011

One of the nurses at the hospital told us not to use wipes for the first 2 weeks. They gave us dry wipes that you just get wet to use. I believe they sell them at Buy, Buy Baby. I asked our pediatrician about this and she said it's fine to use wipes but maybe to use Aquafor or something to add a little barrier to the skin.

AmandaPaige6410 · August 2011

Our hospital used damp paper towel type things, and gave us a ton to take home. They said no wipes for 2-4 weeks, especially since we had DS circumcised. We used what they gave us (lasted about 2 weeks) then switched to sensitive wipes and it all worked out. Also, the paper towel things were a little bit thicker than wipes are, and I can't imagine trying to clean up the first few poops with a flimsy wipe because that stuff sticks!

Mrs. Alice · August 2011

The NICU doesn't use them on preemies because their skin is so sensitive. We've been using these dry cloth like wipes with water on them. When they came to the new hospital, they used wipes on them and both of them had a rash the next day. I'm not sure if it was related, but I didn't want to take the chance. Usually full term babies can do just fine with wipes, but if you notice a diaper rash you might know why.

TheFannins729 · August 2011

every wipe out there made ds' bum raw and bleed the first few weeks. so, we used washcloths. after that we were able to use sensitive unscented stuff and he was fine. but, he was sensitive to everything in the beginning (clothes, wipes, dairy, etc)

mollybloom · August 2011

Yeah, we learned that at our childbirth classes. I asked our doctor and he said to use Viva and warm water. Our hospital will not use wipes on newborns because if the high risk of sensitivity.

I was also given this advice from many a mommy. Off the top of my head, I cannot think of anyone that used wipes in the first few weeks and was happy with that decision.

But, like someone said in an earlier reply, I am sure that there are a lot of moms that had no problems with wipes right from the get-go. I think it is just about finding out what works for your baby.

Corbin30 · August 2011

I don't use baby wipes at all (or disposables diapers for that matter) but thats mainly because I was traumatized by DS. He was so allergic to everything that could possibly touch him that by 4 weeks old we were in the hospital. He had a rash on his butt so bad that they thought they were going to have to do skin grafts! He healed, thank god, but I after that I switched to cloth diapers and flannel wipes and a spray bottle of water. Since that was what I was used to I did the same thing with DD, and I will do the same thing this time too.

kenandlaura06 · August 2011

I never heard of this before...we always used baby wipes, even in the hospital and didn't have a problem.

meredith anastasia · August 2011

we used the dry wipes in the hospital since they gave them to us, then once those ran out at home we switched to regular wipes and never had an issue.

FortMyersBride · August 2011

Eh, my DS has rather sensitive skin, but did just fine from the start with sensitive wipes. I'm fairly certain we used sensitive wipes in the hospital too, certainly didn't use anything that needing to be wetted or was cloth.

backinpgh · August 2011

I have heard some people recommend it, but you can use disposable cotton pads instead of washcloths that need to be washed.

HNLchick · August 2011

Yup, thats what we were told with DD as well. Although we didn't go to 8 weeks we did do the first couple weeks with warm water dipped cotton pads:

https://www.amazon.com/Cotton-Clouds-220s-Rainbow-Cosmetic/dp/B0009QZYWO

We were told to use cotton balls but they would leave so much fuzz behind that the above pads were so much better.

WeWearCombatBoots · August 2011

I have read and been told that you use either wet gauze or cotton balls for the first few weeks.

Lissa832 · August 2011

Don't use scented wipes, use unscented or sensitive wipes.

vanessrose · August 2011

Im not sure what I am going to do but 11years ago with my DS I only used warm washclothes and she never had a diaper rash ever!!!!!!

angel2288 · August 2011

I used sensitive wipes for DS from birth until he potty trained and he rarely had diaper rash ever.

babyAutumn · August 2011

We were told the same thing in hospital when DD was born. Being FTP we listened and it didn't seem to help with the diaper rashes. She still got them consistently through until we stopped using the washcloths at 3 months. We switched to sensitive baby wipes then and the rashes tapered off. Whether it's because she had less frequent BM by then or that the extra cleansing in the wipes made a difference we'll never know. When DS was born, we used the sensitive wipes right from the start and he never got a rash. I feel like I did an unnecessary amount of laundry with DD. Planning to use sensitive wipes right from the start again unless we find that they are too harsh on baby's skin.

mabma80 · August 2011

Say what? That is the dumbest thing I've ever heard. But, no, I've never heard of a nurse saying that. In fact, I remember at our baby care class, they gave us each a pack of Pampers diapers and wipes as a gift.

Kml9876 · August 2011

My son is 3 1/2 we were never told this. We used store bought wipes from the get go and never had any problems. Plan to do the same with this one.

jurcgirl · August 2011

I have used baby washcloths for all four of my boys and plan to do it with this little one as well.

I do it for about the first 4 weeks or so and it was not by design that I started doing it..I was in hawaii with my oldest and his skin seemed to get so irritated after a diaper change with wipes so I just got the baby washcloths and used them with warm water and voila, it worked...after I noticed his skin had "toughened" up a bit, I changed to wipes.

chargermama · August 2011

Jo&Matt6609:
My SIL did this with my two nephews. She kept a bowl of water near the changing table, and just used soft paper-towels (like Viva), dipped it in the water, wrung it out, and wiped their bums that way. I was thinking of doing this too.

We did this for the first 4 weeks or so.

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