I have to admit, there are a lot of premium products I purchase for my baby, but expensive wipes had never been one of them. In the search for baby wipes safe for sensitive skin, I landed on Water Wipes, Pampers Aqua Pure and Coterie. I ended up using Pampers Aqua Pure with Caden after trying and not loving Water Wipes or Coterie’s wipes. Fast forward two years when Willow was born, I decided to revisit my options, including Coterie’s newest released wipes.
Baby wipes are one of those “does everything” staples for anyone with a baby or toddler – diaper changes, mealtime clean-up, snotty noses, car spills, the list goes on. Given how frequent they are used on a baby's skin, everywhere, its important to choose an option that is safe for baby's sensitive skin. I put three brands to the test – Coterie, WaterWipes, Pampers Aqua Pure – to see which baby wipes were the best.
Criteria 1: Functionality
Coterie: Coterie’s wipes have a noticeable thickness that distinguishes themselves against any other wipe I’ve tried, not to mention they’re incredibly soft. The size is also striking compared to others – they are huge, so you can do more with less. I seriously almost never need more than 1 wipe to get the job done! I love that the custom designed pack opens with a quick press of the lever and dispenses just one at a time to minimize waste. P.S. Coterie also has convenient travel size packs to throw in your diaper bag. 5/5
WaterWipes: These wipes are soft, but too dry, making it more of an effort to clean up messes. The thickness is average, and the size is not even 7”x7” – much smaller than Coterie. I found myself reaching for multiple wipes at a time given the combination of dryness and size. I’m not a fan of the plastic adhesive “lid” and lack of packaging to allow for easy dispensing. 3/5
Pampers Aqua Pure: I love the softness of these wipes, but they are sopping wet. I don’t enjoy the extra time required to wait for my squirmy baby’s skin to dry. They are slightly larger than WaterWipes, much smaller than Coterie, and average thickness. 4/5
WINNER: COTERIE
Criteria 2: Ingredient Safety
Coterie: Coterie’s wipes are made of 99% purified water and 1% gentle ingredients. They are hypoallergenic, free of alcohol, fragrance, dyes, and other chemicals, earning them the EWG Verified status and a National Eczema Association Seal of Acceptance. 5/5
WaterWipes: WaterWipes only contain two ingredients: 99.9% water and .1% grapefruit seed extract. They are hypoallergenic, fragrance free and have the National Eczema Association Seal of Acceptance. 5/5
Pampers Aqua Pure: Pampers Aqua Pure are made of 99% water and 1% cleaners and preservatives. They are free of alcohol and dye, but does contain hydrogenated castor oil, an ingredient the EWG advises to use with restriction. 3/5
WINNER: COTERIE & WATERWIPES
Criteria 3: Environmentally Friendly
Coterie: Coterie wipes are made from biodegradable, 100% plant-based, plastic-free fibers. 5/5
WaterWipes: WaterWipes are 100% compostable, but the brand isn’t transparent about what the wipes are made of or where the materials are sourced. 4/5
Pampers Aqua Pure: These wipes are made from responsibly produced cotton, but have no other information on environmental impact or if they are compostable. 1/5
WINNER: COTERIE
Criteria 4: Cost
Coterie: 4 packs of 56 wipes per pack for $30.00 = $0.13 each
WaterWipes: 4 packs of 60 wipes per pack for $16.29 = $0.07 each
Pampers Aqua Pure: 6 packs of 56 wipes per pack for $17.97 = $0.05 each
WINNER: PAMPERS AQUA PURE
The best baby wipes of 2023 IMO are Coterie
I am officially a convert. Coterie’s new wipes really are that good!! Order a subscription now, you won’t look back (and give the diapers a try while you're at it, its no secret I'm obsessed).