Baby Wipes: What Is In Them and How to Choose

For newborn and sensitive skin, fragrance-free and alcohol-free are the two most useful things to check. Fragrance is one of the more common irritants, and there is no benefit to it.

Ingredient lists are long because most of a wipe is water plus mild cleansers and preservatives. A short, plain list is generally the safer bet.

Wipes that are mostly purified water with a minimal preservative suit very young or reactive skin. Cotton wool and warm water does the same job for even less, and is what many hospitals suggest for the first weeks.

It is slower, but it is gentle and cheap.

A thin wipe means using three where a thicker one would do, so the cheaper pack often is not. Judge value per change rather than per wipe.

The reseal sticker matters too — a pack that dries out is wasted.

Even wipes labelled flushable break down far more slowly than toilet paper and are a well-documented cause of blockages. Bin them.

A small lidded bin at the changing station makes this easy to stick to.

If you see redness that follows the wiped area, stop and switch to water and cotton wool for a few days. Persistent rash, broken skin or anything that looks infected needs a doctor rather than a different brand.

Patch-test a new brand on a small area first if your baby has reacted to anything before.