Baby wipes are a diapering essential when it comes to babies. It doesn’t matter where you are changing your baby – in the house, in the car, at the park, or in your lap – wipes are non-negotiable.
However, not all wipes created equal. Each brand of wipes consist of their own ingredients and materials. It is important to know what you are looking for in your baby wipes, and to choose wipes that are made with the most natural ingredients.
What you put on your baby’s skin is just as important as what you put in their mouth. Anything that can seep into their pores gets passed through their blood stream.
If you wouldn’t directly pour chemicals into your newborn’s mouth, then why would you use a baby wipe that contains chemicals on their most sensitive areas?
I’ve rounded up the best natural baby wipes, free of toxins and chemicals, that you will want to stock up on and keep with you at all times.
How to Choose a Natural Baby Wipe
When choosing natural baby wipes, it can be hard to understand what all the labels mean and that’s why I’ve done the work for you. You have to be careful when shopping for wipes as every brand has it’s own determination of “natural.”
Not all “natural” wipes are created equal. Some do still contain other ingredients which can be harmful for sensitive skin.
When choosing a natural baby wipe, aside from the ingredients, you’ll also develop a personal preference for use of the wipes. Each brand will have its own texture and varying levels of wetness, some more soft and wet or some more rough and dry.
It is hard to know what you will like the best before trying them out. It is also hard to know which ingredients and materials will work the best with your baby’s skin.
Some babies are more sensitive than others so the best thing to do is to buy a few different brands of wipes in the beginning, and then you can stock up on your favorites once you decide.
A few things to consider when choosing a natural baby wipe:
What is the price? You will find packages of natural baby wipes in several different sizes and you will notice that the sizes vary greatly by brand. When trying to compare the price of wipes it is best to consider the cost per wipe vs the cost per package for this reason. Natural wipes are generally higher priced than your basic wipe brand.
What are they made of? Wipes are nontoxic by default, but you can also find wipes that are hypoallergenic, fragrance-free, and also wipes that are made with all-natural ingredients. When choosing a natural baby wipe it is important to look at the ingredients to determine if they are actually what you are looking for.
How many are in a package? You can absolutely save money when buying in bulk. But you may want to consider that some types of wipes dry out faster than others, and you will also want a few smaller packs for carrying around.
Here are my top choices for natural baby wipes that I use everyday on my own babies:
This post may contain affiliate links which I would receive a small commission should you make a purchase.
Water Wipes *Winner*
Water wipes are my top choice for natural baby wipes. They are very moist, soft, and durable. They also only contain 2 ingredients making them the purest baby wipe on the market: 99.9% water and a drop of natural fruit extract. These wipes are hypoallergenic and contain no parabens or sulphates. I use these on their mouths, nose, and diaper area because I know that I am only putting the purest ingredients on my baby’s skin.
Dyper Bamboo Wipes *Second Place*
These wipes are my second favorite for their softness, wetness, & safety. Made with four main ingredients: Bamboo Viscose, water, glycerin, and aloe extract, they are also absorbent, yet extremely soft to the touch. They stay moist longer than your average natural baby wipe and are the most eco-friendly as they’re made with bamboo.
Abby & Finn
These baby wipes are made with 99.7% water and have the perfect amount of thickness, texture, and moisture. They are also gentle and soothing for baby’s sensitive skin. When trying these wipes, I noticed that their wetness was impeccable as they didn’t dry out quickly and did a very efficient cleaning because they were so moist.
Honest
Honest baby wipes provide the convenience of a disposable cloth wipe in a hypoallergenic and plant-based alternative. They are made with more than 99% water and without alcohol, parabens, chlorine processing, or fragrances. They are also ultra-thick and durable and I have no complaints about these wipes.
Hello Bello
Hello Bello wipes are plant-based wipes made with 99%+ water with a touch of aloe and chamomile extract. They are soft and super strong. The thick, plant-based cloth means you can count on them to clean up any mess.
I didn’t love how these wipes were textured and how dry they were. They were thick, but didn’t provide as much wetness when wiping my baby.
Eco Pea
Eco Pea wipes are 100% biodegradable, made from eco-friendly bamboo. They’re hypoallergenic, antibacterial, fragrance-free and contain no nasty chemicals. I felt that these wipes were too thick and not wet enough. Another drawback is that they were difficult to pull out of the container as they stuck together.
Babyganics
Babyganics wipes are gentle, and non-allergenic for sensitive skin. They are made without parabens, phthalates, artificial frangrances or dyes. They also have a seed oil blend made with tomato, sunflower, cranberry, black cumin, and red rasberry oils. When using these wipes, I noticed that they are much thinner and don’t stay as wet as the other wipes.
Huggies Natural
Huggies natural wipes are pure and gentle wipes made with 99% purified water and 1% skin essential ingredients. They are hypoallergenic and dermatological tested. These wipes are infused with aloe and vitamin E to keep baby’s skin healthy and moisturized.
Seventh Generation
Seventh Generation wipes are free and clear wipes made for your baby’s sensitive skin. They are unscented, alcohol free, paraben free, and Phenoxyethanol free. They are thick and safe for baby’s bottom, hands, and face, however I did not like the texture of these wipes. They are rougher than the other options and don’t feel as gentle for my baby.
What are the benefits of using natural baby wipes?
What you put on your baby’s skin is just as important as what you put in their mouth. Any products that go onto your skin are absorbed into your bloodstream in a matter of seconds.
If you put a lot of time and effort into mealtime. It only makes sense to be careful about what products you use on your baby’s skin as well.
What is the best thing to look for in natural baby wipes?
It is possible to find baby wipes that contain ingredients that will reduce the chances of irritating your baby’s sensitive skin. When you are shopping for a natural baby wipe, look for the following ingredients which are great substitutes for harmful chemicals:
- Purified water
- Grapefruit seed extract
- Jojoba oil
- Silver dihydogen citrate
- Aloe barbadensis leaf extract
- Chomomilla recutitia flower extract
- Seed oil
Which Ingredients Should You Avoid In Baby Wipes?
The following ingredients may cause some irritation to your baby’s sensitive skin and I recommend avoiding them whenever possible:
- Parabens – Parabens, in general have proven to be dangerous. They can cause allergic reactions, and have also been linked to cancers and hormonal disruptions.
- Sodium Benzoate – this is a type of synthetic preservative; however, it is also linked to toxicity, especially when in high concentrations. This ingredient has also been linked to cancer when combined with citric acid.
- Polysorbate 20 – this ingredient is often treated with ethylene oxide, which runs the risk of being contaminated with dangerous by-products.
- Fragrance– Many companies use the term “fragrance” to list some of their ingredients. While fragrance “seems” okay, it allows the brand to hide a variety of potentially harmful ingredients in their wipes.
- Sodium Lauryl Sulfate– This is a common ingredient in baby wipes. This ingredient has been linked to cancer, organ toxicity, neurotoxicity, endocrine disruption, and reproductive problems.
- Methylisothiazolinone – This long worded ingredient is a preservative and allows wipes to have a longer shelf life. However, research has found that it can cause damage to brain cells in rats, which could be cause for concern.
- Phenoxyethanol– This may seem a safer alternative to parabens, but it is still not a great option. It is linked to a variety of skin irritants, including eczema.
- Formaldehyde– this has been a staple in baby wipes for decades, but in recent years has been linked to cancer, skin irritations, and allergic reactions.
As you can see, there are several amazing choices for natural baby wipes, and these are just a few of my favorites!
Have you found a brand of natural baby wipes that works best for you? Let me know in the comments below!
