Dealing with a baby’s first cold is always a little heart-wrenching, isn’t it? Suddenly, those adorable little faces are sporting perpetually runny noses, and you find yourself constantly reaching for tissues. We experienced this firsthand after our little ones passed their first birthday and started exploring the world beyond our home more. More adventures meant more exposure to germs, and, inevitably, our babies got their first colds. While we want them to experience everything childhood offers, seeing their little noses get red and raw from constant wiping is tough.
George will probably not like this picture being posted, but it
A slightly unhappy baby George at his first sick visit, showcasing the beginning of the baby boogie battles.
It’s common for babies to get around eight colds in their first year, but thankfully, our babies’ first colds arrived a bit later. However, when they did hit, they came with an impressive amount of nasal congestion. All that nose wiping with regular tissues quickly led to red, irritated skin. That’s when I decided to get a little creative and find a gentler way to manage those baby boogies: homemade nose and face wipes!
Inspired by our go-to baby wipes recipe, I adapted it to create wipes specifically designed for delicate noses. The secret ingredient swap? Instead of standard baby wash, I used Johnson & Johnson’s Soothing Vapor Bath. This contains rosemary, eucalyptus, and menthol, perfect for soothing stuffy noses. I also added a touch of tea tree oil for its gentle antiseptic properties, ideal for those already irritated little noses. The best part? A batch of these cost pennies to make, around $0.50! Don’t be intimidated by homemade – if a busy parent of quadruplets can whip these up, anyone can. They are truly a cinch to make.
DIY Boogie Wipes recipe: Cut one Viva paper towel roll in half and stuff into a cylindrical container. Whisk together 1 1/2 c. water, 1 tbs soothing vapor bath, 1/2 tbs baby oil, and 2 drops tea tree oil. Pour mixture over the paper towel roll. Pull cardboard from the center of the paper towels. Voila!
Easy DIY nose wipe recipe using household ingredients, perfect for soothing baby’s sensitive skin during colds.
“Dance” Your Tissues: DIY Nose Wipe Recipe
Ready to make tissues “dance” gently on your baby’s nose? Here’s how to create your own soothing wipes:
- Prepare the Roll: Cut a roll of Viva paper towels in half using a serrated knife. Stuff one half into a cylindrical container with a lid. An old baby wipes container works perfectly!
- Mix the Soothing Solution: In a separate bowl, whisk together 1 ½ cups of water, 1 tablespoon of Johnson’s Soothing Vapor Bath, ½ tablespoon of baby oil (for extra gentleness), and 2 drops of tea tree oil.
- Saturate the Wipes: Slowly pour the liquid mixture evenly over the paper towel roll in the container. Allow the paper towels to absorb the liquid.
- Remove the Core: Once absorbed, carefully pull out the cardboard core from the center of the paper towel roll. This allows you to pull wipes from the center, just like store-bought wipes.
- Voila! Your DIY gentle nose wipes are ready to use!
For more detailed, step-by-step picture instructions, you can refer to our original baby wipes recipe. Just remember to swap out the baby wash for the soothing vapor bath to get the nose-friendly version. It’s that simple!
These homemade wipes have been a game-changer for us during cold season. They are so much softer and gentler than dry tissues, helping to keep those little noses happy even with constant wiping.
What are your favorite home remedies for baby colds? We’d love to hear your tips!
Hugs,
Amber
P.S. While Bounty paper towels are great for general baby wipes due to their strength, Viva paper towels are the key for nose wipes because of their extra softness. Also, remember that soothing vapor bath products are generally recommended for babies over three months old. Always check product labels and consult with your pediatrician if you have any concerns.
