Low-Tox Baby Wipe Review
I know this is a baby wipes review/guide, but I would like to start by saying: I have 3 kids and I truly rarely ever used/ use wet wipes !
Why?
First of all, my kids all have had sensitive skin and even the most low-tox wet wipes have irritated their skin.
90% of wet wipes are made of plastic…. mostly either polyester or PP…not great for the environment and probably a source of microplastic exposure.
Many wet wipes can contain less than stellar ingredients, from a toxicity perspective, and even ‘low-tox’ baby wipes can contain ingredients that can irritate a baby’s skin. This is a big deal because baby skin actually absorbs more than adults!
Finally, with the growth of citizen chemical testing, like that conducted by Mamavation for fluorine levels in products (fluorine is indicative of PFAS chemicals) I am now often wary of what will be found to contain PFAS chemicals next (often due to contamination reasons, not necesarily added on purpose). This is another reason I rather rely on water (with a bit of soap if needed) and organic cotton dry wipes for daily use.
Of course, there are some moments when wet wipes are convenient and needed (travel, away from home etc). For these , some ingredients I recommend avoiding in wet wipes include:
COCAMIDOPROPYL BETAINE: a well researched allergen associated with irritation & contact dermatitis
( Huggies, Rascal & Friends, and Aleva natural bamboo wipes contain this ingredient as of 6/2024)
POLYSORBATE-20: fragrance ingredient which can be contaminated with ETHYLENE OXIDE and carcinigenic 1,4-DIOXANE
Other ingredients that could be contaminated with these 2 include: ingredients that start with
• PEG-
* Polysorbate-
Words ending in:
* –eth
( Polysorbate 20 is Found in Rite Aid wipes. Coterie has Laureth 9 , Kandoo Kids has PEG, Huggies Nourish Scented Baby Wipes, have Polysorbate 20 and a PEG ingredient , Pamper Sweet Dream Wipes contain PEG-40 as 6/2024)
Fragrance, perfume or parfum,: will likely contain phthalate chemicals. These are endocrine disrupting chemicals that are used to bind the fragrance to the product.
( PS fragrance-free baby wipes are safer than unscented wipes- “ unscented” can still contain chemicals that mask chemical smells to seem like the product doesnt smelll)
ADDITIONALLY, some wipes contain ingredients that, while considered safe by industry, can still cause irritation / diaper rash in sensitive children
Tocopheryl acetate: A synthetic form of vitamin E that can cause a rash ( 365 brand has this 6/2024)
Petrol-based propylene glycol: some wipes use vegetable based which is “ better”
Sodium benzoate: A preservative that can irritate or cause allergic reactions in people with sensitive skin ( Honest Co, Eco by Naty & Healthybaby, caboo wet wipes have this…6/2024)
Benzalkonium chloride: An antimicrobial agent that can be harsh on the skin ( Wet Wipes has this as of 6/2024)
Bottom line?
Water plus an organic cotton cloths works perfectly well, are much more gentle for babies, and contain zero chemicals/ ingredients! You can have a spray bottle with water or a little container with water nearby to use. For poop situations, if you feel you need something stronger to clean, you can also add a few drops of your favorite baby soap to your spray bottle.
I find it interesting that my kiddos have never had a bad diaper rash. The only times they dealt with any irritation has been when we are relyig too much on wet wipes (traveling), and then things get better when I switch back to water and dry wipes. I always wonder if it is related.
My Favorite Reusable organic cotton wipes (works well for pee)
Under the Nile
My Favorite Disposable organic cotton dry wipes (better for poop)
Healthybaby organic cotton dry wipes
My Choices for Wet Wipes
When I need to travel, these are the wet wipes I have found have better ingredients ( some do contain ingredients that can cause irritation, however just on very sensitive kids) , and none are made of petroleum-based plastic
Some of the baby wipes I DO NOT recommend (because of ingredients and/or materials they are made of) include: Cuties
Cuties
Huggies
Johnson & Johnson
Pampers
Better Options : these are made of more natural, biodegradable, material but can contain some ingredients that could cause allergic reactions in some
Joonya ( made of viscose (FSC® Mix certified) materialwhich is derived from cellulose fibers- biodegradable)
Attitude ( biodegradable made of biologically sustainable cellulose fibres) contain sodium benzoate which could cause irritation
Eco by Naty ( compostable and biodegradable, made of natural viscose ) contain Sodium benzoate which could cause irritation
Healthybaby ( Made Safe certified and EWG Verified- 100% sustainably sourced FSC Certified wood pulp , biodegradable. contain sodium benzoate
Caboo ( Made Safe Certified, made of bamboo
contain Sodium benzoate which could cause irritation)
Best WET Wipes
Jackson Reece–made from biodegradable organic wood pulp
Kudos: EWG Verified. compostable and biodegradable made with sustainably-managed trees from VEOCEL™ Lyocell fibers
Natracare baby wipes: made with organic cotton. Made Safe Certified