Best Baby Wipes of 2024, Tested & Reviewed

Little ones are ♫ so fresh and so clean ♫ with these top-rated sensitive baby wipes.

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  By: Tali Ditye, Ph.D., Co-founder

  Updated: April 9, 2024

Mommyhood101 independently tests and curates baby gear to help you make informed decisions. If you buy products through links on our site, we may earn a commission.

Baby wipes are the most convenient way to clean up during diaper changes, helping keep your little one's delicate skin clean, fresh, and free from irritation.

Pediatric dermatology research shows that not all baby wipes are created equal and that the ingredients found in baby wipes need to be safe and gentle on the skin to reduce the risk of diaper rash and discomfort. 

We've been reviewing baby wipes for over 10 years, and if we made our own, here is what they would look like:

✔️  Over 99.9% water.
✔️  No fragrances.
✔️  No parabens or alcohol.
✔️  No harsh surfactants.
✔️  No harsh preservatives.
✔️  Natural, no chemicals.
✔️  Hypoallergenic ingredients.
✔️  Ingredients with EWG rating 1.
✔️  Moisturizing.
✔️  Soft, textured material.
✔️  Easy dispensing.
✔️  Snap-close lid.
✔️  Wide availability.

Of course, you will also want the baby wipes to meet your budget constraints and be widely available for purchase. That's a lot to ask, and very few baby wipes meet the needs of picky parents!

Every year we put over a dozen sensitive baby wipe options to the test, evaluating them on ourselves and on infants and toddlers. The top 5 options we've tested are listed below, followed by in-depth reviews of several additional options.

#1. WaterWipes Baby Wipes
#2. Mama Bear 99% Water Wipes
#3. Honest Company Wipes
#4. Pampers Sensitive Wipes
#5. Seventh Generation Wipes

Our testing process includes dispensing, feeling, stretching, smelling, and using the wipes to clean up wet and soiled diapers. We test for short- and long-term skin irritation, and how many wipes are needed to clean up the dirtiest jobs.

Finally, we investigate each and every ingredient in the wipes, checking their hazard rating in the Environmental Working Group's (EWG) SkinDeep database. Based on this research, we detail any concerning ingredients we find.

Pro-tip: If you run out of baby wipes, in a pinch you can use a paper towel dipped in warm water with a drop of baby soap and coconut oil!

Full disclosure: Some of these baby wipes, including the Bets and Emy, Dyper, Babyganics, Rascal + Friends, and Honest wipes, were sent to us as free test samples by the manufacturer.

While we're on the topic of baby bums, check out our reviews of the best diapers, and the most effective way to clean up a baby: the best baby bathtubs!

Here are the Best Baby Wipes of 2024!

1. WaterWipes Baby Wipes, 99.9% Water.

About 6 cents per wipe and the closest thing to you'll find to a piece of cotton with water on it! With all the greenwashing surrounding baby wipes, WaterWipes are a breath of fresh air. The wipes themselves are made from non-woven cotton and wool fibers, then doused with purified water and a bit of grapefruit seed and soapberry extracts. Grapefruit seed extract is made from the seeds and pulp of grapefruit and typically includes vegetable glycerin. Soapberry extract is extracted from the Sapindus Saponaria tree, native to Georgia and Florida. Grapefruit seed extract has an EWG score of 1 (lowest risk) when used at recommended concentrations, and soapberry extract also has a score of 1 (lowest risk). Those two ingredients help preserve the wipes, preventing mildew, mold, and other bacteria growth and can help a bit with clean-up. In our testing, the wipes were strong and soft, and clean-up was surprisingly effective given how mild the ingredients are. These are a perfect option for babies with sensitive skin, producing no irritation whatsoever in our 3 years of use. And that's exactly the intent of the WaterWipes - to provide you with highly sensitive, hypoallergenic, chemical-free diaper wipes. For wet diapers, they performed very well, cleaning nicely and leaving no detectable residue. For soiled diapers, we needed to double-up on the wipes to make sure we kept our hands clean, but they worked well without excessive rubbing. To be honest, it was nice not to have your hands and baby smell like chemicals and artificial fragrances after a diaper change.

Our only real criticism is the packaging, which makes it relatively difficult to retrieve a wipe, and only seals with a sticky flap. Also, because these wipes are 99.9% water, the water does tend to settle a bit at the bottom of the package. This is easy to address by flipping the package over occasionally to let the water saturate the upper wipes. Here are the ingredients for the WaterWipes Baby Wipes, along with the EWG hazard rating (from 1 to 10, with 10 being the highest hazard): purified water (0), citris grandis (grapefruit) seed extract (1), and soapberry extract (1). The manufacturer also notes that benzalkonium chloride is present in trace amounts (< 0.01%), which is an antimicrobial that EWG gives a rating of 5 (which is pretty bad!). Given that it's only present in less than 0.01%, we're not too concerned. Overall, these are an excellent addition to our best baby wipe list, aimed at parents who want the best and most sensitive wipes for their baby. Who else loves the WaterWipes? They are top picks by our friends at Babylist, Babygearlab, WhatToExpect, and The Bump! Impressed? You can check out the Water Wipes here!

2. Amazon Mama Bear 99% Water Baby Wipes, 99.9% Water.

Less expensive than WaterWipes, these wipes come in at about 4 cents each. If you like the idea of WaterWipes but don't like the price, the difficulties dispensing wipes from the packaging, or the inclusion of benzalkonium chloride, than these might be the perfect wipes for your family! These wipes are 99% water and use a non-woven fiber that is partly cotton for increased softness. They are hypoallergenic, fragrance free, and do not include alcohol, parabens, or phthalates. What they do contain is purified water, phenoxyethanol, decyl glucoside, tetrasodium glutamate diacetate, sodium benzoate, sodium citrate, citric acid, sodium bicarbonate, glycerin, tocopheryl acetate, cucumis sativus (cucumber) fruit extract, calendula officinalis flower extract, glycyrrhiza glabra (licorice) root extract, chamomilla recutita (matricaria) flower extract, aloe barbadensis leaf extract, microcrystalline cellulose, and cellulose gum. Basically, water with some preservatives, gentle cleansing agents, pH balancers, moisturizing oils, and fruit and flower extracts. None of the ingredients scores above a 2 on the EWG scale, which means they are among the safest ingredients to include.

In our testing, the wipes passed the sniff-test with flying colors - there basically was no smell whatsoever, which is great for sensitive skin (and noses!). They dispensed easily and cleanly from the packaging without pulling out a chain of multiple wipes unintentionally. The wipes were moderately soft and reasonably thick, without any discernable texture. They were perfectly moist, and we thought the plastic flip-cap worked very well to seal in the moisture. Cleaning up wet diapers was a breeze, and soiled diapers took on average two wipes (we like to use each wipe, then fold it in half, and use it again). That's about the same as most other wipes we test, but their cleaning power does seem a bit better than WaterWipes. We tested these wipes with three little ones, one of which is very susceptible to diaper rash and irritation from most baby wipes; the good news is that none of the babies experienced any skin irritation or diaper rash. Overall, we think these are an excellent alternative to the original WaterWipes, with a generally better price, sensitivity (no benzalkonium chloride), and ease of dispensing. While they're not quite as simple in terms of ingredients, we think they strike a perfect balance of sensitivity and practicality. Who else loves the Mama Bear 99% Water Baby Wipes? They are top picks by our friends at Babygearlab, Forbes, and hundreds of Redditors! Impressed? You can check out the Amazon 99% Water Baby Wipes here!

3. Honest Company Sensitive Baby Wipes.

About 7 cents each when you buy a larger box of wipes (like a 288-count box). The Honest Company is known for making very high-quality and environmentally responsible products, but they also tend to be a bit more expensive than comparable products. These baby wipes are super soft and gentle, and they contain some great fruit and plant extracts to gently cleanse your baby's bottom. Importantly, we found these wipes to be very sensitive, and they did not cause any rashes on any of the babies, toddlers, or adults that we tested them on. In our testing, we thought the wipes were strong and soft, and had a very nice texture and size (7" x 8") to make clean-up more efficient. These baby wipes are not intended to be flushable, though they are biodegradable within 60 days. Out of the box, we loved the packaging. Like the new Aqua Pure wipes, the package uses a convenient plastic flip-top that does a great job dispensing and holding the moisture in when you're not using them. The packaging comes in a few different patterns and designs, like the pictured Blue Ikat, but also a cute geometric pattern option, and one with rose blossoms. That's probably not so important to you, but some parents like that aspect. Some other things we noticed: the packaging is easy to use for one-hand dispensing, the smell is very mild and pleasant, the dotted texture is great for cleaning up poops, and they don't leave behind any noticeable oily film. That's probably because the Honest Company put a lot of thought into the ingredients, and was careful to exclude parabens, alcohol, chlorine (even in the making of the wipe cloth itself, which is made of natural cellulose fibers), phthalates/BPA, formaldehyde, phenols, ammonium, and lanolin. And no animal testing or animal byproducts (the glycerin is vegetable, not animal-sourced), for what it's worth. These hypoallergenic wipes contain only ingredients that are a 2 or lower on the EWG (1-10) hazard scale, which is extremely rare!

Specifically, here are the ingredients for the Honest Company Baby Wipes, and the EWG hazard rating for each (ranging from 1-10 with 10 being the highest hazard): Water (0), glycerin (2), chamomile flower extract (1), cucumber extract (1), licorice root extract (1), pomegranate extract (1), masterwort leaf extract (1), decyl glucoside (1), sodium citrate (1), citric acid (2), and silver citrate (2). Citric acid is not entirely ideal, but every baby wipe needs a preservative. There is also some silver citrate, which is an anti-microbial with a somewhat unknown risk profile. Nothing too alarming to report - and the good news is that there are no harsh irritants, no common allergens, and no dangerous chemicals. Limitations? Well, other than the higher price you need to pay for these excellent baby wipes, the only other thing we noticed is that they aren't quite as thick as some of the others on this list. They aren't super thin by any means, but I wouldn't use them without folding them in half first. Overall, these are truly excellent baby wipes and are very deserving of this spot on our list, and the ingredients list gives parents peace of mind that they're using high-quality, low-risk, hypoallergenic baby wipes on their baby's sensitive bum! Who else loves Honest baby wipes? Our friends at Babygearlab, Babylist, and WhatToExpect consider them a top pick! Impressed? You can check out the Honest Company's Baby Wipes here.

4. Pampers Sensitive Baby Wipes.

About 4 cents per wipe. These are some of the most popular baby wipes of all time, and parents swear by their sensitivity, softness, thickness, durability, and scent. On top of that, they're very reasonably priced. You only need one wipe to get the wet jobs done, and likely 2 to get the dirty jobs done. That's because you can wipe then fold and wipe again. Not many other wipes are capable of that without worrying about things soaking through the wipe and getting on your hands. They are about 20% thicker than most other wipes we've tested, and we also loved how moist they are to help make clean-ups easier. For limitations, the sensitive version of Pampers wipes doesn't clean quite as well as the original version, which isn't surprising. Second, we found these to be somewhat oily, leaving a very slight and thin oily film after wiping, which we are assuming is the castor oil or another moisturizer. Nothing terrible, but worth mentioning. Overall, we think if you're looking for a great, thick, sensitive wipe without any strong odors, the Pampers Sensitive is a good choice.

Here are the ingredients for the Pampers Sensitive Baby Wipes, along with the EWG hazard rating for each ingredient (from 1 to 10, with 10 being the highest hazard): water (0), citric acid (2), PEG-40 hydrogenated castor oil (3), benzyl alcohol (5), phenoxyethanol (4), sodium citrate (1), sodium benzoate (3), xanthan gum (1), disodium EDTA (1), BIS-PEG/PPG-16/16 PEG/PPG-16/16 dimethicone (3), caprylic/capric triglyceride (1), ethylhexylglycerin (1), bisabolol (1), chamomilla recutita (matricaria) flower extract (1), aloe barbadensis leaf juice (aloe vera, 3). So those are mixed hazard ratings overall, with phenoxyethanol (the anti-microbial) and benzyl alcohol (preservative) as the most concerning for irritation and allergic reactions. So, while they tend to be low risk of irritation, and they are overall great effective wipes, if you prefer something a bit more natural, go with the WaterWipes. Who else loves Pampers Sensitive baby wipes? Our friends at Babylist, Babygearlab, and The Bump consider them a top pick! Interested? You can check out these Pampers Baby Wipes here.

5. Seventh Generation Sensitive Protection Baby Wipes.

About 4 cents each. You can trust Seventh Generation to produce high-quality, safe, natural alternatives to major-brand baby wipes. These are the original Seventh Generation wipes that had a brief pause due to the release of the Thick and Strong version, which was not well-received by consumers. Seventh Generation brought back these original Soft and Gentle wipes, and like most others on this list, they are free of dyes, parabens, fragrances, and alcohol. They are also hypoallergenic and sensitive to baby bottoms. For cleaning, the wipes contain coconut acid and citric acid, to keep things sensitive they contains aloe and natural preservatives. We noticed immediately that these wipes have a relatively pleasant odor, a nice texture, and we felt good about using wipes ingredients derived from natural sources. We love the texture of these wipes, which makes for easier cleaning, and think they do a great job cleaning up soiled diapers. For limitations, they could be a bit thicker, but you can always fold the wipe in half (and then in quarters) to be safe. Second, they are a bit more expensive than some other options.

Overall, we love the Second Generation wipes, and if you're looking for a wipe you can feel good about, with a great ingredient profile and very high sensitivity, then we suggest these wipes over the Pampers or Huggies. Here are the ingredients for the Seventh Generation Free and Clear Baby Wipes, and the EWG hazard rating for each (ranging from 1-10 with 10 being the highest hazard): Water (0), cocamidopropyl pg-dimonium chloride phosphate (1), citric acid (2), quillaja saponaria wood extract (1), aloe barbadensis leaf extract (1), tocopheryl acetate (3), sodium benzoate (3), wood pulp (cellulose, 1), polyethylene (1), polypropylene (1). There are some mildly concerning ingredients, including tocopheryl acetate (a skin conditioner) and sodium benzoate (a fragrance and preservative), but nothing too alarming. Who else likes the Seventh Generation baby wipes? Our friends at Babygearlab and WhatToExpect! Interested? You can check out the Seventh Generation wipes here!

6. Babyganics Extra Gentle Baby Wipes.

About 5 cents per wipe. Babyganics has a great line of gentle baby products, including top-rated sunscreens, baby washes, and now baby wipes! In our testing, we thought these baby wipes were soft, sensitive, durable, and effective. In most cases, we didn't need to double up on these to clean up a pee-pee diaper, but we did find them somewhat small and thin. Nowhere near the thickness of the Bloom wipes, or even the Huggies or Pampers wipes. We also found them to leave a nice moist residue without any oily film left on the hands or bum, which is more than we can say for most other options. They also seemed to be very gentle on even the most sensitive cheeks and bums, and we didn't notice any increase in diaper rash or other symptoms of sensitivity. Not so surprising given the high quality, fragrance-free sensitive ingredients, including chamomile and several natural seed oils. Check out our hazard analysis of the ingredients at the end of this paragraph. We didn't really love the odor; we got used to it with time, but the lack of fragrances made for somewhat odd-smelling wipes, likely from some of the seed oils. Overall, we think these are excellent and highly effective (but maybe a bit smelly) baby wipes that will suit most families perfectly!

Here are the ingredients of the Babyganics Baby Wipes, along with the EWG hazard rating for each ingredient (from 1 to 10, with 10 being highest hazard): water (0), chamomilla recutita flower extract (1), vegetable oil (1), glycerin (2), lauryl glucoside (1), polyglyceryl-2-dipolyhydroxystearate (1), glyceryl oleate (1), dicaprylyl carbonate (1), sodium benzoate (3), citric acid (2), potassium sorbate (3), solanum lycopersicum (tomato) seed oil (1), helianthus annuus (sunflower) seed oil (1), vaccinium macrocarpon (cranberry) seed oil (1), nigella sativa (black cumin) seed oil (1), rubus idaeus (red raspberry) seed oil (1). There are a lot of gentle, low-hazard ingredients that are naturally derived from various plants; but the potassium sorbate (anti-microbial) and sodium benzoate (preservative) can be mild irritants and allergens. Who else loves the Babyganics wipes? Our friends at Babylist and WhatToExpect call them a top pick! Interested? You can check out these Babyganics Wipes here.

7. Rascal + Friends Sensitive Baby Wipes.

About 4 cents per wipe. Rascal + Friends is a relative newcomer to the baby wipes market but is quickly gaining popularity as an excellent sensitive baby wipe option with a great ingredient profile. We got our hands on these new baby wipes late last year (thanks for the samples, Rascal + Friends!) and were impressed with several features. First, the packaging is excellent: each package contains 72 wipes that are individually dispensed, the package has a plastic flip-top for convenience and to help keep moisture inside, and the package fits nicely into the baby wipe warmers. Second, these wipes are fragrance-free and there is basically no odor, they use a plant-based cloth, include soothing chamomile, aloe, and pomegranate extracts, and are 99% natural (more on that later). Third, in our testing, we found the wipes (each measuring 6.5" x 8") to be large, strong, and the perfect thickness to prevent break-throughs while also minimizing waste. The wipes did a great job cleaning up both #1 and #2, and left the bottoms feeling clean and soft. The only con we found was that we prefer baby wipes to have a slight texture or pattern, which we find helps with messier clean-ups. These are very smooth and do not have any texture. Not a huge deal and just a personal preference! How about the ingredients? Rascal + Friends makes a "no nasties" promise, so let's see how that checks out!

Here are the ingredients of the Rascal + Friends Baby Wipes, along with the EWG hazard rating for each ingredient (from 1 to 10, with 10 being the highest hazard): water (0), glycerin (1), sodium citrate (1), punica granatum fruit extract (1), citric acid (2), aloe barbadensis leaf juice (1), polyglyceryl-4 caprate (1), chamomilla recutita (1), gluconolactone (1), sodium benzoate (3). While EWG does not give these an official overall rating yet, they are very similar to the Babyganics wipes but without the potassium sorbate. All baby wipes need a preservative otherwise they will develop mold, and personally we think sodium benzoate is a decent compromise. Overall, we think these Rascal + Friends baby wipes are an excellent new addition to our list (and, no nasties!), and we're happy to have gotten our hands on them for testing! Interested? You can check out these Rascal + Friends Wipes here.

8. Aveeno Baby Sensitive Baby Wipes.

About 6 cents per wipe. Aveeno calls these "all over" wipes, meaning that they intend for them to not only be used on private parts but everywhere else - face, hands, feet, you name it, and this wipe is ready to tackle the stickiest of messes. These baby wipes are fragrance-free, and hypoallergenic, with what they consider a 99% naturally derived formulation. The ingredients are below - basically what that means is it is 99% water and then several chemicals (though they are really low risk and low concentration). In our testing, the packaging was easy to use and had a sticky peel cover (like the Bloom Baby Wipes). The wipes were pulled out one at a time, which means that the next wipe didn't pull up a bit when one was pulled out. We like this technique for messes that only need one wipe because it decreases the frustration of needing to push the next wipe back into the package before resealing and the risk of that wipe being left out to dry (literally). But for messes that need more than one wipe, which in our experience is most messes, this can be a little frustrating because you need to dig in with your fingernail a bit to grab the next wipe. Not a huge issue but worth mentioning.

Each package comes with 56 wipes, making the package only about 2.5" thick and easier to carry in a diaper bag relative to some other options. The wipes themselves are large and moist, with dimensions of about 7.5" x 8.25", which is really a large baby wipe. There is basically no odor at all, and no texture pattern, but more of a woven fiber type of texture that is a bit thinner than we'd like - some advice - don't approach a poopy diaper without folding it in half first! In our testing, the wipes did a good job cleaning and were completely not irritating for even the most sensitive bottoms. So, we weren't entirely impressed by the thickness or texture of the wipes, but we were impressed by the sensitivity of the ingredients. Here are the ingredients for the Aveeno Sensitive All Over Baby Wipes, along with the EWG hazard rating for each ingredient (from 1 to 10, with 10 being highest hazard): Water (0), Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice (3), Avena Sativa (Oat) Kernel Extract (1), Glycerin (2), Coco-Glucoside (1), Glyceryl Oleate (1), Glyceryl Polyacrylate (1), Carbomer (1), Lauryl Glucoside (1), Caprylyl Glycol (1), Polyglyceryl-2 Dipolyhydroxystearate (1), Citric Acid (2), Sodium Hydroxide (2), and Sodium Benzoate (3). There are only a couple of ingredients exceeding a 1, suggesting very low exposure to potentially toxic, allergenic, or irritating ingredients. Very impressive! Interested? You can check out these Aveeno Baby Wipes here.

9. Huggies Natural Care Baby Wipes.

About 3-4 cents per wipe. These are a direct competitor with the Pampers Sensitive wipes, and these Huggies Wipes do quite a good job in that role! One big difference 2 of the 5 moms noticed was the smell. Though they are fragrance-free, there is a faint odor that 2 moms mentioned as a negative; the other 3 didn't notice it. The odor is a bit of a chemical smell, though we have found them generally very sensitive on bums. The sensitivity is due to them being paraben-free, fragrance-free, alcohol-free, hypoallergenic, and very thick. But they do have some other concerning ingredients, including cocamidopropyl betain (an irritating cleaning agent) and phenoxyethanol (a preservative/bactericide); these ingredients have a relatively low allergen profile, but your baby might show sensitivity to them. To be fair, the Pampers wipes also contain phenoxyethanol, and some other potentially concerning ingredients. They do include some aloe and vitamin E to promote soft skin and healing of any mild skin irritation.

Two of our test moms said these were their go-to wipes, and they loved them. They are thick, durable, and soft, and the moms reported no issues with diaper rash. They are a bit less oily than the Pampers, they don't leave the same slight film on your hands, which is good. The texture of the wipes is soft with some imprinted letter H texture; they are so soft and moist that we sometimes found them a little bit "mushy" when dealing with them. They do not have the nice woven feel of a wipe like the Bloom Baby Wipes, making them feel a bit slick when sliding across the bum. Here are the ingredients for the Huggies Natural Care Baby Wipes, along with the EWG hazard rating for each ingredient (from 1 to 10, with 10 being the highest hazard): Water (0), Phenoxyethanol (4), Amodimethicone (1), Caprylyl Glycol (1), Cocamidopropyl Betaine (4), Malic Acid (3), Sodium Citrate (1), Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice (3), and Tocopheryl Acetate (3). The phenoxyethanol (a preservative) and cocamidopropyl betain (a cleanser) cause some concern for irritation and allergic reactions. The use of moderate-risk ingredients in a wipe named "Natural Care" raises some greenwashing concerns, for good reason. Who else recommends these Huggies Natural Care wipes? Our friends at WhatToExpect and Babygearlab! Interested? You can check out these Huggies Natural Care Baby Wipes here.

10. Pampers Aqua Pure Baby Wipes.

About 5 cents each. These were new to the baby wipe market a couple years ago, and they've been making quite a splash. These wipes seem to be in direct competition with WaterWipes, emphasizing the fact that they are 99% water, made from cotton, and free of many common irritant ingredients found in baby wipes (like phenoxyethanol). When we received them for testing, we were pretty excited by them! The packaging itself is excellent: they use a typical pouch but with a plastic flip-top dispenser. And it dispenses one at a time, leaving a tiny bit of the next wipe hanging out of the package. If all baby wipes came in this packaging, with this folding/dispensing technique, life would be so much easier! Our first impression of the wipes after pulling them out was that they seemed lightweight and thin, and sized just about the same as most major brands. So not as large as the Bloom Baby Wipes, but not as long and narrow as the Babyganics Wipes. Our second impression was that there was clearly no fragrance added, and what you're left with is a mild chemical smell. Nothing too off-putting, but noticeable. In our testing, they were sensitive and none of our test babies developed any rashes or irritation after use. They were decent with cleanup, especially for number 1. For number 2, they left something to be desired.

In addition to being a bit thin for our liking, they were also very "slick" in that they move very quickly across the bum, like an oily slick wiping sensation. So, we weren't really impressed, and think that Pampers needs to consider adding a subtle texture to these baby wipes to help with cleanup. Heck, they could just use the same texture they have on their regular sensitive wipes, and that would help tremendously. It seems especially important to have some texture when the wipes don't have the cleaning power of non-sensitive wipes. Anyway, we were truly excited to try out these new wipes but were left thinking that you can do better for the money. We were also thought thinking that there are still a couple of moderate irritants in the ingredients here, so all the "pure" marketing doesn't exactly hold up. Just like the Huggies Natural Care, there seems to be a bit of greenwashing happening here. Here are the ingredients for the Pampers Aqua Pure Baby Wipes, and the EWG hazard rating for each (ranging from 1-10 with 10 being the highest hazard): Water (0), citric acid (2), PEG-40 hydrogenated castor oil (3), sodium citrate (1), sorbitan caprylate (1), sodium benzoate (3), and disodium EDTA (1). There are some mildly concerning ingredients, including sodium benzoate (a fragrance and preservative), and castor oil (a fragrance and cleanser), but nothing too alarming. The primary downfall is really the thinness, odor, slickness, and lack of texture. Who else recommends the Pampers Aqua Pure? Our friends at WhatToExpect and Babygearlab! You can check out the Pampers Aqua Pure baby wipes here.

Conclusions

Testing baby wipes is one of the most rewarding tasks we do since we can use them for not only cleaning up after our children but also after our animals, cleaning up little messes around the house, wiping a toilet seat, and more. Because they're relatively gentle, baby wipes are super versatile around the house!

Greenwashing Baby Wipes?

Baby wipe ingredients have engendered some controversy over the past few years, with parents accusing companies of greenwashing, concealing ingredients, and using ingredients that are known irritants or carcinogens.

From the parent's perspective, they want only the simplest and most natural and sensitive ingredients for their baby. From the perspective of a baby wipe manufacturer, it's a bit more complex than that. Their challenge is to produce a wipe that can sit around at room temperature for weeks or months, retain moisture and not dry out, not grow bacteria or develop odors, be soft and sensitive, not use any artificial ingredients or potential irritants, be hypoallergenic, and maintain effective and efficient cleaning capabilities. That's a very tall order!

We want to be clear that this is basically impossible unless you're willing to compromise on at least one of those factors. Even the simplest baby wipes, the popular WaterWipes, need to have ingredients (fruit extracts) to stop bacteria growth when the wipes sit around all day. If you're truly concerned about any possible ingredients other than water, you might consider making your own baby wipes as a simple and budget-friendly alternative.

Harmful Chemicals

It's a difficult compromise between how effective a wipe is versus the number of potentially harmful chemicals in its ingredients, like chemical preservatives, fragrances, parabens, harsh cleansers, and more. The most effective baby wipes for cleaning up #2 and making your baby smell fresh, tend to also include more chemicals that might ultimately irritate your baby and cause rashes.

When evaluating wipe ingredients with the EWG database, we counted the frequency of "moderate hazard" ingredients. The Honest Company, Babyganics, Seventh Generation, Aqua Pure, and WaterWipes came out as clear winners, each only having a couple of moderately hazardous ingredients. In contrast, the Huggies wipes had 4, and the Pampers had 5.

So why do we list those options as relatively high on our list? Because they have great performance and passed our tests with flying colors. But if your baby has extremely sensitive skin, you might want to keep those ingredients in mind when picking the perfect baby wipe for your child. In most cases, none of the sensitive baby wipes on this list will cause any issues, as even when they contain certain ingredients, they tend to be present in much lower concentrations (that's part of what makes them "sensitive"). Furthermore, none of the baby wipes reviewed on this list include any hazards greater than a 5 on the EWG SkinDeep 1-10 scale, and none are included in the EWG's "high hazard" category. We can't say the same about other wipes on the market!

Cheap Baby Wipes - Saving Money

We have three pieces of advice. First, once you find a good baby wipe for your family, purchase them in bulk to save cash. Second, when you use wipes, don't just wipe once and toss, try to fold the wipe and use it again. Finally, consider making your own baby wipes; we include some information on how to do exactly that in our What Are Baby Wipes? article.

Flushable Baby Wipes

We want to point out that some wipes do indeed market themselves as "flushable" or "septic safe." These wipes do tend to decompose a bit more readily than others, but we want to be clear that all baby wipes can (and probably will) clog your toilet, pipes, and sewer main, particularly at intersections and turn points. This applies regardless of how a company markets its product. In other words, we suggest always placing your dirty wipes in the garbage, or perhaps in one of our best-rated diaper pails!

Sensitivity

This is important. When you are changing nearly a dozen diapers a day, you are also exposing your baby's bum to the chemicals and fragrances of each wipe you use. The fewer chemicals and fragrances, and the softer (less abrasive) the baby wipes, the better off you'll be. Using the best sensitive baby wipes will reduce the chances of developing diaper rash, bumps, and redness on the bum and privates. It will also make you feel better that you're not repeatedly exposing your baby to any harmful chemicals each time you clean them up. Also related to sensitivity is how sensitive your baby might be to the feeling of cold baby wipes against their little tooshie! If you think your baby might appreciate it, be sure to check out our reviews of the best baby wipe warmers!  

FAQs: Frequently Asked Questions

What baby wipe should I use on newborns? The best wipes for super sensitive newborn skin would be the WaterWipes, which are made of 99.9% water plus a touch of fruit extracts.

What is the best overall baby wipe? The Water Wipes baby wipes are super sensitive, effective, and efficient with cleanup, contain thoughtful ingredients, and are reasonably priced. They passed our testing and reviews with flying colors.

Are there septic-safe baby wipes? No, any baby wipes can clog your toilet, pipes, septic system, or sewer main, particularly at intersections and turn points. Use a diaper pail instead of flushing them!

Which baby wipes do not have harmful chemicals? After researching the EWG databases and ingredient lists, all our top 5 baby wipes do not contain harmful chemicals.

Can you use baby wipes on your baby's private parts? Of course! Just make sure the wipes are sensitive and do not contain any harsh chemicals that might cause stinging or irritation to these sensitive girl and boy parts.

What are the best organic baby wipes? According to our testing, there really is no such thing as a fully organic baby wipe, but there are plenty of all-natural options to choose from. The issue here is that the wipes themselves, including all fibers and binding agents used to make the wipes themselves would need to be organic, and all ingredients and preservatives would need to be organic as well. Most companies marketing "organic baby wipes" are using only organic cotton or organic ingredients, and are not completely organic for the wipe itself and all added ingredients. If you find something that meets these criteria, please let us know by commenting below!

Which baby wipes are the safest? In addition to hypoallergenic and all-natural ingredients, look for an ingredient list that scores all ones (lowest risk) in the EWG database. All our top-rated baby wipes contain generally safe ingredients for use by newborns, infants, and toddlers without severe allergies or sensitivities. If you have any doubts, ask your pediatrician.

What is the most sensitive baby wipe? The Honest Company Sensitive Baby Wipes are hypoallergenic and only contain ingredients that score a 2 or lower in the EWG database, with no harsh irritants, no common allergens, and no dangerous chemicals.