Sensitive Baby Bottoms Need the Very Best Baby Wipes, and Expert Parents Approve of These 10 Options (2024)

Along with diapers, wipes are a must-have essential for all households with a baby or toddler. Besides ensuring your child has a clean diaper area, baby wipes are also useful for cleaning faces and hands. When choosing baby wipes, gentleness on the skin is key. Many babies can be sensitive to perfumes and other ingredients in wipes, so look for water-based wipes or those with the fewest ingredients. Look for wipes that are thick enough to clean a baby’s bottom effectively. Before buying them in bulk, you might want to start with a small package of baby wipes to see if they cause any reaction.

“I would recommend trying a few different brands to see if any particular brands or ingredients seem to affect your baby's skin,” says Amy Johnson, a blogger and mom of two based in Ohio, adding that parents should also consider ease of use, whether they travel well, and price when choosing wipes.

To help you choose the best baby wipes for your little one, we researched dozens of popular brands, used our own experience as parents, and talked to a pediatrician and other parents about what to look for and avoid when combing through the options.

Our Favorite Baby Wipes

• Best Overall: Pampers Sensitive Baby Wipes
• Best Value: Millie Moon Sensitive Wipes
• Best Reusable: Buttons Flannel Baby Reusable Wipes
• Best for Newborns: Huggies Natural Care Baby Wipes
• Best for Toddlers: Seventh Generation Baby Wipes
• Best for Sensitive Skin: WaterWipes Original Baby Wipes
• Best Fragrance Free: Honest Wipes
• Best Sustainable: Terra Wipes
• Best Organic: Doctor Butler's Organic Soothing Baby Wipes
• Best for Diaper Rashes: Mustela Baby Cleansing Wipes

Why We Like It

Mild, hypoallergenic, and free of alcohol, perfume, parabens, phenoxyethanol, and dyes, Pampers Sensitive Baby Wipes are our top overall pick. The wipes are 20% thicker than regular Pampers wipes, and are 97% water-based, making them excellent for sensitive skin.

“My son with eczema never had problems with these,” Jacqui DiNardo, a mother of two, tells us.

We especially love that they tend to stay moist for a long time​ which leads to using fewer wipes during a diaper change as compared to other brands of wipes.

But Take Note

The big downside to these wipes is that it’s not always easy to pull just one out of a container, especially when you’re in a rush.

The Details:

• Fragrance-free: Yes
• Ingredients: Water, citric acid, castor oil, sodium benzoate

Why We Like It

These plant-based wipes from Millie Moon are a winner for the value they provide. The soft, moist (but not too moist), and fragrance-free wipes come in nicely sized packs that are easy to take on the go.

Parents love the size of the wipes, too. “The size, softness, and thickness are unbeatable! The luxurious feel makes the diapering process slightly more glamorous than it truly is. They're also biodegradable and 100% plant-based, without any harsh fragrances or latex on baby's skin,” says mom Dallas Waldon.

But Take Note

The ingredients list on these wipes is long and includes various extracts and other ingredients as preservatives, cleansers, and moisturizers, so you may want to do a patch test and double check if your child has allergies.

The Details:

• Fragrance-free: Yes
• Ingredients: Water, glycerin, sodium citrate, citric acid, avocado extract, aloe leaf juice, gluconolactone, sodium benzoate, polyglyceryl-4 caprate, calendula flower extract

Why We Like It

Although they are necessary for cleanliness, most wipes are made of tree-based cloth or paper, which is a significant drain on natural resources. Those worried about the environment may prefer reusable wipes made out of unbleached cotton flannel. Besides being great for the environment, these also eliminate the use of harsh chemicals on your baby's skin and help save you money.

But Take Note

After each use, you will have to thoroughly clean them with hot water and soap to make sure you sterilize them appropriately.

The Details:

• Fragrance-free: Yes
• Ingredients: Unbleached cotton flannel

Why We Like It

Made of 99% triple-filtered water, Huggies Natural Care Unscented Baby Wipes are formulated specifically for sensitive newborn skin. They’re pH-balanced; free of fragrances, alcohol, and parabens; and contain aloe and vitamin E.

While the wipes are gentle enough for newborns, they are also hearty enough to use on toddlers. We especially love how strong and moist the wipes are, even after you accidentally leave the package open.

But Take Note

These wipes are very wet, making them not great for use on sticky hands or faces.

The Details:

• Fragrance-free: Yes
• Ingredients: Water, aloe and vitamin E

Why We Like It

Once your baby starts eating solid foods, you might want to opt for a heavier wipe that can handle bigger messes. This favorite from Seventh Generation is free of dyes and perfumes, but it also packs a punch in the cleaning department.

Beyond cleaning diaper areas, these are great for hands, faces, and car seat messes, too. The handy closable top keeps them fresh, so you don't have to worry about them drying out.

But Take Note

Customers report that the wipes can stick together.

The Details:

• Fragrance-free: Yes
• Ingredients: Water, citric acid, Quillaja saponaria wood extract, aloe, and vitamin E

Why We Like It

Completely devoid of harsh chemicals, WaterWipes Sensitive Baby Wipes are safe for newborns and gently clean even the most irritable skin. They are made of 99.9% pure water with a drop of grapefruit seed extract. They’re also safe and useful for cleaning sticky faces and hands.

“I would say [these are] supreme in gentleness,” says Johnson. “These truly are the best for newborns or babies with sensitive skin.”

But Take Note

It’s tempting to stock up on wipes, but because they don’t contain any preservatives, if these wipes are not kept in a cool, dark place, they are susceptible to mold. Also, as your kid grows and starts to eat solids, you might need a thicker wipe.

The Details:

• Fragrance-free: Yes
• Ingredients: Water, grapefruit seed extract
  

Why We Like It

Honest Wipes are made with more than 99% water and no plastic. We especially love that these fragrance-free wipes are thick and not too wet, making them also useful for cleaning toys, faces, and hands.

“These have always been my go-to brand when it comes to baby wipes,” says Johnson. “I make sure I always have a few packs on hand as they are very gentle. My daughter (seemingly more than my son) dealt with a lot of irritation and diaper rash, [and] Honest wipes seemed to never upset her sensitive skin.”

But Take Note

While these wipes are compostable—they’ll disintegrate in eight weeks, less time than a grapefruit peel—you shouldn’t compost them yourself if you’ve used them for cleaning human or animal waste.

The Details:

• Fragrance-free: Yes
• Ingredients: Water, trisodium ethylenediamine disuccinate, sodium benzoate, sorbitan oleate decylglucoside crosspolymer, caprylyl glycol, ethylhexylglycerin, citric acid

Why We Like It

A favorite among eco-conscious parents, Terra Wipes are made of 99.7% water, with cloth from bamboo fiber. Thick and slightly textured, they make cleans-ups easier, and parents report these wipes are also incredibly soft. They also work for cleaning hands, faces, and toys. Plus, they contain no plastic and are biodegradable, meaning they decay naturally without releasing chemicals into the world.

But Take Note

While we love that these wipes aren’t made with potentially irritating grapefruit extract or citric acid, they do contain soy. These clean wipes are also on the pricey side and can be hard to find.

The Details:

• Fragrance-free: Yes
• Ingredients: Water, Hydrolyzed Soy Protein

Why We Like It

Many brands of baby products claim to be organic, but Doctor Butler’s Organic All Natural Chemical Free Soothing Wipes is one that lives up to the hype. Doctor Butler’s wipes are made from ultra-soft bamboo cloth, which is a more sustainable material than the material used to construct most other baby wipes.

Free of chemicals and artificial preservatives, the wipes also contain organic ingredients such as vitamin E, rosemary oil extract, and chamomile extract.

But Take Note

These organic wipes are some of the most expensive wipes on the market and they can be hard to find.

The Details:

• Fragrance-free: Yes
• Ingredients: Organic bamboo cloth, filtered water, vitamin E, rosemary oil extract, lysine, calendula, chamomile, sodium citrate, betaine

Why We Like It

Mustela Cleansing Wipes are great when you need to address a specific skin concern such as a diaper rash. Formulated from ingredients such as avocado, which protects your baby’s skin, and aloe vera leaf extract, which soothes irritated skin, the wipes are hypoallergenic and alcohol-free.

But Take Note

These are definite splurge when compared to other brands. They also do contain fragrance, so do an initial test to see if your baby has a reaction to it.

The Details:

• Fragrance-free: No
• Ingredients: Water, glycerin, peg-40 hydrogenated castor oil, sodium benzoate, potassium sorbate, allantoin, 1,2-hexanediol, caprylyl glycol, tartaric acid, propylene glycol, aloe vera powder, Saponaria officinalis leaf/root extract, tropolone, avocado fruit extract, sodium hydroxide, fragrance

Our Review Process

We researched more than two dozen products to create our list of the best baby wipes, relying on a combination of expert insight, online customer reviews, and our own parenting expertise. In particular, we reviewed ingredients, gentleness, and thickness. We also looked at ease of use, price, and if they stored and traveled well.

• Ease of Use: Some wipes do not come out of the package well, which is more than inconvenient when tackling a messy diaper change. “Think of this like grabbing a facial tissue and instead of grabbing one, a whole string of them comes out,” says DiNardo, the blogger behind Mommy Maker Teacher.
• Ingredients: We focused mainly on plant-based and water-based wipes, as well as wipes that contain moisturizer. Some wipes contain artificial fragrance, which some people like, while others try to avoid using on sensitive baby skin.
• Value: You’re going to go through a lot of wipes. We considered not only the price but how much value parents were getting out of each one based on thickness and gentleness. In general parents can expect to pay anywhere from $20 to $45 per month for wipes.

Our Experts

Before and after researching the options for baby wipes, we talked to the following experts to get their take on what makes a great wipe, how to use them safely, and how many wipes to expect to use.

• Lyndsey Garbi, M.D., a member of the Parents Review Board, double board-certified in neonatology and pediatrics, and chief medical officer of Blueberry Pediatrics
• Dallas Waldon, a California-based mother of a 17-month-old with another child on the way
• Jacqui DiNardo, a mother of two and blogger behind Mommy Maker Teacher, who lives in Pennsylvania
• Amy Johnson, a mom of two based in Ohio, who balances her finance career with motherhood and running the website Amy’s Baby

Factors to Consider When Buying Baby Wipes

• Ease of Use: It’s important to consider how you’ll use the wipes and what will make them more convenient for you. Look at whether the wipe containers are easy to open and pull out, how they are disposed of, and in the case of reusable wipes, what you need to do to wash them.
• Gentleness: For babies with extra sensitive skin, skip the regular wipes and opt for wipes that are fragrance-free and alcohol-free.
• Thickness: While thicker wipes may cost a few dollars more, they will actually help you save in the long run as you'll use fewer wipes per diaper change thanks to their cleaning efficiency.
• Ingredients: You'll want to take a look at the ingredients of baby wipes to make sure they include what your baby needs. Some are formulated with just water (or 99% water) while others have an extra hydrating formula to help moisturize. Note that some products labeled "unscented" may still have fragrance added to mask chemical smells.
• Environmental Impact: For something so small, baby wipes can have an oversized environmental impact. Reusable wipes are more environmentally conscious, but keep in mind you’ll need a way to store and wash them. Some disposable wipes are also biodegradable, meaning they’ll spend less time in a landfill.

How to Use Baby Wipes Safely

Using baby wipes safely is essential for your little one's well-being. The Food and Drug Administration recommends only using wipes on unbroken skin and throwing out used wipes right away. The American Academy of Pediatrics also cautions caregivers to keep containers of wipes away from children, close containers tightly, and store wipes in a cool, dry place. Remember to check and follow the instructions on the baby wipes label.

How Many Wipes Does a Baby Use Per Day?

The number of wipes your baby uses in a day depends on their age and how many wet and dirty diapers they have. The AAP also recently suggested that you don’t necessarily need to wipe after every pee diaper. You will likely use one to two wipes for every wet diaper, and three or more for each poopy one.

Can You Flush Baby Wipes in the Toilet?

Generally, you should not flush baby wipes in the toilet since they are not made to break down when wet, which can cause plumbing issues. A number of wipes are marketed as flushable, but it’s best to check the labels and also consider your home’s plumbing system, as there have been reports of those wipes causing major problems.

Who We Are

Bridget Shirvell is a Connecticut-based writer for Parents. Her work focuses on parenting, food, and the environment. The mom of a 5-year-old, she's always on the lookout for interactive, functional, and sustainable children's products.