Non-Toxic Baby Wipes Guide (And Ones to Avoid)

Choosing the best non-toxic baby wipes is not just about keeping those cute bums clean – it’s also about ensuring the products touching baby's sensitive skin are safe and gentle. Ever since Caden was born, I've been pretty specific about selecting non-toxic diapers and natural baby wipes made with organic ingredients to help prevent rashes and skin irritation.

So I did what I do best: research. I put together all my findings to help you make an informed decision on the top non-toxic baby wipes. Whether you're packing your diaper bag or restocking your changing table, our guide is designed to help you make the best decision for your family.

Why we recommend non-toxic baby wipes?

Using non-toxic baby wipes is crucial for your little one's delicate skin. Babies have extra sensitive skin, and are prone to irritation from harsh chemicals often lurking in regular wipes. Non-toxic wipes are made with gentle, safe, clean ingredients, which can help reduce the risk of any nasty reactions. They not only keep your baby’s bottom clean but also provide gentle care, safeguarding their skin during every diaper change. 

Opting for non-toxic options isn't just about your baby's well-being—it's also about a better choice for the environment. By choosing wipes free from harmful chemicals, you're shrinking your family's ecological footprint. It's a win-win situation—ensuring both your baby's safety and a healthier planet.

Risks of regular baby wipes

Not all baby wipes are created equal. Regular disposable baby wipes, though widely available and often less expensive, can be a hidden source of concern for many parents. These are not the safest baby wipes, and may contain a mix of chemicals like parabens, phthalates, sodium benzoate, benzalkonium chloride, and even formaldehyde releasers—compounds not exactly known for their skin-friendly properties. These ingredients can lead to skin irritations, rashes, and in some cases, more severe allergic reactions.

Benefits of non-toxic baby wipes

Here are some benefits of purchasing natural baby wipes:

1. Gentle: Non-toxic wipes are specifically designed with your baby’s delicate skin in mind, utilizing only gentle, non-irritating ingredients.
2. Fewer allergic reactions: By avoiding harsh chemicals, these wipes significantly reduce the risk of allergies and skin irritations including diaper rash.
3. Eco-friendly: Made with sustainable and biodegradable materials, non-toxic wipes contribute to a healthier planet, reducing waste and pollution.
4. Safe ingredients: They are free from potentially harmful substances like alcohol, parabens, and phthalates, ensuring a safer cleaning option for your baby.
5. Better for overall health: Using baby wipes free from harmful chemicals means reducing your baby's exposure to toxins, leading to better overall health and wellbeing.

How to Choose Baby Wipes

Here's a helpful guide for choosing the best baby wipes, hint you're looking for a water-based wipe with simple ingredients:

Harmful Chemicals & Ingredients to Avoid

Here are a few key ingredients to steer clear of:

1. Alcohol: Can be very drying and irritating, especially for sensitive baby skin.
2. Parabens (such as methylparaben, propylparaben): Used as preservatives, but they can mimic estrogen and disrupt hormone function.
3. Phthalates: Often found in fragrance ingredients used to make scents last longer, phthalates are linked to hormonal disruptions.
4. Formaldehyde releasers (like quaternium-15, DMDM hydantoin): These release small amounts of formaldehyde over time, and is a known irritant and potential carcinogen.
5. Propylene Glycol and Polyethylene Glycol (PEGs): These can penetrate the skin and potentially carry harmful chemicals to the bloodstream.
6. Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) / Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES): Can cause skin irritations and dryness.
7. Sodium benzoate: A preservative that may cause irritation or allergic reactions in individuals with sensitive skin.
8. Benzalkonium chloride: A antimicrobial agent that can be harsh on the skin.

Materials

When choosing the best natural baby wipes, it’s important to consider the materials of the wipes themselves. Some materials can irritate sensitive skin and can have a negative impact on the environment. Here are a couple of materials to keep an eye out for and ideally avoid:

1. Polyester: Commonly used in wipes because it's durable and cheap, polyester is a type of plastic that can take hundreds of years to decompose, contributing to environmental pollution.
2. Polypropylene: Another plastic-based material often found in baby wipes, it can be harsh on the skin and is not eco-friendly, as it contributes to the growing issue of plastic waste.

Opting for disposable wipes made from natural and biodegradable materials, like organic cotton or bamboo, is not only kinder to your baby’s skin but also to our planet.

Convenience & Availability

When it comes to finding non-toxic baby wipes, we all want the shopping experience to be as hassle-free as possible, right? Convenience and availability play huge roles in the decisions we make. Thankfully, with the rise of eco-friendly and health-conscious products, it's becoming easier to find natural and organic baby wipes that meet these criteria. Many stores now devote entire sections to natural baby products and personal care items, and online shopping offers plenty of options too. Plus, subscription services are a fabulous way to make sure you never run out of your favorite non-toxic wipes, delivering them straight to your door at intervals of your choice ensuring your diaper bag is always stocked. The goal is to simplify your life so you can focus on what really matters.

Our Round-Up of the Safest Baby Wipes

🥇Top Pick: Coterie Wipes

I'm sure you already are well aware of my obsession with Coterie, so naturally my top pick is Coterie wipes. Coterie’s wipes have a noticeable thickness and they’re incredibly soft. They are hypoallergenic, free of alcohol, fragrance, dyes, and other chemicals, and made from biodegradable, 100% plant-based, plastic-free cellulosic fibers. You can conveniently establish an auto-renewal plan on Coterie's website along with your diapers subscription (there is a fantastic diaper + wipe bundle that gets you a 15% discount).

Get 20% off your Coterie purchase with code: NEWMODERNMOM

Honest Company Organic Dry Wipes

Made with 100% organic cotton, Honest dry wipes can be used wet or dry (diaper changes or to wipe boogies!). Honest wipes are made without alcohol, parabens, fragrances, or chlorine processing. They're widely available and can be purchased on Amazon or at Target.

Pipette Baby Wipes

These soft, water-based baby wipes are made from 100% plant-based, FSC-certified cloth fibers and are pH balanced. They also contain sugarcane-derived squalane to moisturize baby's skin. Pipette Baby Wipes can be purchased on Amazon or at Target.

Joonya Wipes

Joonya Wipes are made from FSC-certified pulp and enriched with chamomile, jojoba, and aloe vera to soothe your baby's skin. These 100% biodegradable wipes are extra large, fragrance-free, and free of toxic ingredients. They are available through a subscription on Joonya, or you can find them on Amazon or at Walmart.

Hello Bello

Hello Bello's unscented wipes are made from 99% water and contain natural ingredients like aloe and chamomile. They're hypoallergenic and made without alcohol, parabens, sulfates, phthalates, and artificial dyes. These wipes can be purchased on Amazon and at Walmart.

HealthyBaby

HealthyBaby Wet Wipes are made with 100% water and plant-based ingredients. They're totally chlorine free (TCF), made from FSC-Certified wood pulp, and contain vitamin E, organic aloe, and honeysuckle to nourish baby's skin. They're available at Target.

Eco by Naty

These unscented baby wipes are made of 100% natural fiber and 98.4% water. They are dermatologically tested and hypoallergenic and are available on Amazon.

Baby Wipes We Don’t Recommend

We recommend avoiding the following wipes due to their harsh chemicals and additives:

1. WaterWipes (this may be a surprise, but there is a hidden potentially toxic ingredient in these)
2. MilleMoon Wipes
3. Babyganics
4. Kirkland
5. Dyper
6. Pampers Aqua Pure
7. Parasol
8. Seventh Generation
9. Huggies Natural Care
10. Burts Bees

I hope this guide helped you find the best non-toxic baby wipes for your family. Don't forget to add them to your baby registry checklist! To discover more tips and tricks for motherhood and family life, subscribe to the newsletter.  

Featured Image by Africa images

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