Redness, irritation, and rashes are common causes for concern in babies. But did you know that some of the detergents, fragrances, and preservatives in baby wipes could be the culprit for skin issues? Sensitive skin needs sensitive wipes. This article will break down our top choices for the best sensitive baby wipes and how to know what to look for.
Best Sensitive Baby Wipes
The Honest Company Designer Baby Wipes are made from 99% of water and plant-based ingredients, while the WaterWipes Baby Wipes contain 99.9% of pure water.
The Honest Company Designer Baby Wipes
The Honest Company Designer Baby Wipes are made of 99% water and plant-based ingredients. They are also dermatologist recommended, fragrance-free, and hypoallergenic.
The natural ingredients in Honest baby wipes make them perfect for babies with sensitive skin. Each cloth is made thick and durable, perfect for wiping hands, faces, bottoms, and more. The solution is also free of harmful or drying ingredients like alcohol, parabens, chlorine, or fragrance. Instead, ingredients like aloe, pomegranate, and chamomile are used.
In addition to using sustainable ingredients, these wipes are biodegradable and break down in 60-days after being used. Even so, you should not flush them down the toilet. Something to note is that they do have a strong aroma that likely comes from the essential oils used in these wipes. It can be overwhelming to parents who were expecting an aroma-free baby wipe.
The thick design of the wipes makes them perfect for wiping away messes. This means that your baby’s bottom gets clean with fewer wipes every time.
Pros
- Made from sustainable ingredients
- Biodegradable
- Hypoallergenic and dermatologist tested
- 99% water and plant-based ingredients
- Free of harmful and drying chemicals
Cons
- Strong aroma
Bloom Baby Sensitive Skin Wipes
The Bloom Baby Sensitive Skin Wipes are extremely nourishing, containing 98% natural ingredients including vitamins A, B-Complex, D, Omega-3, and Omega-6 to encourage natural healing. In addition to being perfect for sensitive skin, these are ideal for children who frequently suffer from rashes or eczema.
These sensitive wipes have a textured surface that helps wipe away messes instead of spreading around. The sheets are a little larger than standard-sized wipes so you’ll use less and they are very thick. Some parents might feel they are too thick. Something else to note is that the wipes are a little bit stretchy. This stops them from tearing easily, however, they are not as stretchy as Pampers wipes.
Each wipe is made from ingredients derived from plant-based cellulose. They are also certified as a USDA Biobased product and manufactured in a wind-powered facility.
For parents worried about allergens, they can feel confident that these have been made in an FDA-certified facility and have not come into contact with nut, gluten, or other common allergens. They are also free of alcohol, formaldehyde carriers, chlorine, parabens, phthalates, phenols, SLS lanolin, and fragrances. Moisturizing ingredients leave your baby’s skin feeling nourished and moisturized after being clean instead of drying it out.
Finally, even though these wipes are unscented, they do have a fragrance. The fragrance should not irritate your baby’s skin because it comes from natural ingredients, however, they can be irritating to people who are sensitive to smells.
Pros
- Made from plant-based cellulose
- Contains all-natural ingredients
- Responsible manufacturing and made in a wind-powered facility
- Free of drying ingredients and harmful chemicals
- Textured design for easy and effective wiping
- Soft, thick wipes
Cons
- Not truly fragrance-free
WaterWipes Baby Wipes
The WaterWipes Baby Wipes are the perfect choice for parents who don’t want to look over complicated ingredients lists to find out what is the best for their baby. They are made of 99.9% water and 0.1% fruit oil extract, making them one of the most natural wipes for your baby’s skin.
The cloths used in these wipes are also hypoallergenic, being free of any chlorine, alcohol, sulfates, parabens, or phthalates that might irritate sensitive skin. WaterWipes is verified by the Vegan society and also has been awarded the National Eczema Association of America Seal of Acceptance since 2022.
Something to note is that these wipes are very wet. Since they do not use detergents or other harsh additives to clean your baby’s skin, the added wetness helps wipe away moisture. However, you may need to air your baby’s bottom out for a minute or two to let extra moisture dry before putting their diaper on. Too much moisture in even the best diapers can cause further irritation or rash.
These wipes come in individually sealed packs. They do not have a snap-top closure, however, the plastic on top seals well and easily to stop the wipes from drying out between uses.
Pros
- Simple ingredients list- water and a drop of fruit oil
- Hypoallergenic
- Doesn’t leave behind residue
- Verified by the Vegan society
- National Eczema Association of America Seal of Acceptance since 2022
Cons
- Wipes are extremely wet
Pampers Sensitive Water-Based Diaper Wipes
The Pampers Sensitive Water-Based Diaper Wipes have a thick, wet design that makes it easier to clean your baby’s bottom. According to sales data, they are also the top choice for U.S. hospitals. This is no surprise since these hypoallergenic wipes are soft enough to use on even newborn skin.
The thick, soft wipe is gentle on delicate skin. These wipes also have a pH-balancing formula that helps maintain your baby’s natural skin balance. They are free of perfumes and fragrances, as well as parabens, alcohol, dyes, and phenoxyethanol. Even being fragrance-free, however, these sensitive wipes have a light, pleasant scent.
The thick wipes are made of 15% premium cotton and have a soft design that wipes away messes well. This particular bundle comes with 4 refill packs (without the plastic pop-top) and 8 packages with the pop-top.
Something to note is that these wipes are not always the best for hard-to-remove messes. They have a stretchy design. While that stops the wipes from ripping, they also might stretch thin instead of ‘grabbing’ onto messes and wiping them away.
Pros
- Hypoallergenic
- Free of alcohol, dye, fragrance, and harsh chemicals
- Thick wipes made of 15% cotton
- Do not rip easily
- #1 choice for hospitals in the United States
- Light fresh scent, even being unscented
Cons
- A little too stretchy
Best Organic Baby Wipes
Doctor Butler’s Organic Baby Wipes and Niki’s Natural Baby Wipes are both EWG certified and free of many harsh chemicals, however, Niki’s Natural Baby Wipes are also free of nut, soy, and GMO’s.
Doctor Butler’s Organic Soothing Baby Wipes
The Doctor Butler’s Organic Soothing Baby Wipes is a great choice for parents who need a sensitive wipe that is also environmentally conscious. Each wipe is made from a thick bamboo cloth that cleans well and is soft on delicate baby skin.
One nice thing about Doctor Butler’s baby wipes is that they are certified by the EWG (Environmental Working Group). This means their ingredients list has been verified as being free of dozens of ingredients known for causing skin irritation, worsening diaper rash, disrupting hormone production, and more. The EWG has several ingredient lists to rank the potential harmfulness of a product and Doctor Butler’s wipes have achieved their highest certification.
These sensitive baby wipes were developed by physicians to be hypoallergenic and soothing. Their ingredients include Avena sativa extract, chamomile, Aloe, and other essential oils that soothe and promote healing. Not only do they leave your baby’s bottom clean, but they also soothe and heal irritated skin. The number one ingredient is filtered water.
With high-quality ingredients and organic bamboo cloths, these wipes are more expensive than many other wipes. However, parents can be confident in the product they are using on their baby’s skin. These are also thick and have an extra-large design, meaning you can use fewer wipes.
Finally, the wipes are free of even preservatives, using salt and herbs instead. They are also free of chemicals, pesticides, rayon, and more. The wipes do not leave behind debris or residue and finally, they are cruelty-free. Doctor Butler’s does not test on animals or use animal by-products in their wipes.
The one downside of the design of this wipe is that the plastic on top doesn’t seal well. As much as each package costs, it would make more sense to have a snap-top or other closure that seals better to prevent the wipes from drying out.
Pros
- Filtered water is the main ingredient
- Cloth is made of organic bamboo
- EWG verified
- Has essential oil to promote soothing and healing
- Large-sized baby wipes
- Thick, wet cloths make cleaning your baby easy
Cons
- Expensive
- Seal could be designed better
Organic Baby Wipes by MADE OF
The Organic Baby Wipes by MADE OF are NSF-certified organic and meet the highest standards of verification from the EWG for their safe ingredients. For children with a family history of allergies, these have the advantage of being nut- and soy-free. The ingredients are derived 70% from organic sources and 30% from natural sources.
In addition to being free of nut and soy, these are free of phthalates, parabens, sulfate, alcohol, synthetic fragrances, and other artificial ingredients. The unscented baby wipes are also non-GMO and certified cruelty-free, meaning they have not been tested on animals and the wipes do not contain any animal by-products. They also are biodegradable, which reduces your environmental footprint compared to non-biodegradable wipes.
The main ingredients in the solution the soft wipes are soaked in is derived from aloe, essential oils, and other natural ingredients. They soothe sensitive skin and promote healing. They can be used for cleaning everything from faces to bottoms and are natural enough that they can be used on children who have eczema.
These wipes are thick enough and durable enough that you only need one for cleaning. However, the top of the pack is poorly designed and it is hard to get just one wipe out at a time. This does have a snap-top closure, but you’ll want to be sure it is fully closed every time to prevent the wipes from drying out.
Pros
- Free of nut, soy, and GMOs
- EWG-verified and certified organic
- Made of aloe, essential oils, and other beneficial ingredients
- Soothing, healing ingredients
- Cruelty-free
- Free of harsh chemicals, synthetic fragrances, and unnatural ingredients
Cons
- Hard to pull out just one wipe
- Snap-top closure can be hard to shut in a hurry
Best Baby Face Wipes
The Original NeatCheeks Baby Face Wipes are flavored with Stevia to make wiping baby’s face easier due to its sweet taste, while the Boogie Wipes Unscented Wet Wipes are made from saline which dissolves the boogies on baby’s face during a cold.
Boogie Wipes Unscented Wet Wipes
The Boogie Wipes Unscented Wet Wipes is perfect for the cold season. While you should not use these on your baby’s bottom, keeping them handy for cleaning their nose, hands, and face can save you a lot of struggle.
One of the worst things about kid’s colds is the fight to keep their face clean. Boogie Wipes are made with natural saline, which dissolves snot, boogers, and other gunk on your child’s face. Saline is also commonly used and recommended by pediatricians for cleaning out nasal cavities. Some other ingredients include soothing and healing aloe, chamomile, and Vitamin E. These ingredients and the soft, wet design means that the wipes won’t leave your baby’s face dried out, sore, or irritated.
In addition to having good ingredients in the wipes, Boogie Wipes have kept all the bad ingredients out. These sensitive baby wipes are free of drying alcohol and potentially harmful ingredients like parabens and phthalates.
Boogie Wipes have a snap-top closure that makes it easy to pull wipes out as you need them and helps keep them fresh. Even though the unscented version might be best for scented noses, these are available in fresh scent and grape scent as well. Something else to note is that these are smaller than standard-sized wipes, so you’ll use more if you are using them to clean especially messy hands and faces.
Pros
- Saline dissolves dried boogers for easier wiping
- Snap-top closure
- Soothing and healing ingredients
- Unscented wipes are good for sensitive skin
- No alcohol, parabens, or phthalates
Cons
- Wipes are smaller than standard wipes
- Not to be used for diaper changes as well
The Original NeatCheeks Baby Face Wipes for Sensitive Skin
The Original NeatCheeks Baby Face Wipes are perfect for cleaning sensitive hands and faces. They are the first flavored baby wipe that is naturally sweetened with Stevia so they have a better taste than traditional wipes, meaning your child will be less resistant when it is time to clean up after a meal.
As an added benefit, the Stevia that gives these wipes their sweet taste is also known for being healing and moisturizing. They are also free of alcohol and other irritating ingredients. Even though these were created by a mom who understands the struggle of after-meal clean-up, they have been pediatrician and dermatologist tested for safety.
These are smaller than traditional baby wipes, however, they are big enough to get the job done. They are sold in travel-sized packs of 25 wipes and come with a snap-top closure to keep them wet and ready to wipe away messes.
Pros
- Sweetened with Stevia so there is no chemically taste on your baby’s mouth after cleaning
- Healing and moisturizing
- Pediatrician and dermatologist tested
- Easy to take on the go
- Snap-top closure to keep wipes fresh
Cons
- On the smaller side
- Not for diaper changes
Sensitive Baby Wipes Compared
The table below compares only the recommended products on this page. A low or high Price means it is low or high compared to the other products listed. The Popularity Score reflects how often readers click on and buy the product. The Quality Score is our assessment of the overall performance and satisfaction with the product compared to others in the table.
| Pampers Sensitive Water-Based Diaper Wipes | 9.8 | 9.6 | 40.88 |
| The Original NeatCheeks Baby Face Wipes for Sensitive Skin | - | 8.0 | 34.00 |
| The Honest Company Designer Baby Wipes | 9.9 | 9.6 | 19.97 |
| Doctor Butler's Organic Soothing Baby Wipes | 8.4 | 8.8 | 14.95 |
| Boogie Wipes Unscented Wet Wipes | 9.7 | 9.4 | 14.27 |
| Organic Baby Wipes by MADE OF | 8.0 | 8.4 | 9.99 |
| WaterWipes Baby Wipes | - | -0.2 | - |
| Bloom Baby Sensitive Skin Wipes | 3.9 | -0.2 | - |
Buying Criteria
Baby Wipe Ingredients
One of the challenges that exist in parenthood is understanding labels. Manufacturing companies often list long, hard-to-understand words on the back of their products.
Some of these ingredients can dry out the skin, disrupt the body’s natural hormone processes, cause diaper rash to worsen, and even cause cancers. As a parent, therefore, it is important to understand exactly what is in the products you’re using on your baby.
When dealing with a baby with sensitive skin, finding natural diapers and baby wipes with minimal ingredients is best. Many ingredients included in baby wipes are intended to cleanse, heal, and moisturize, however, they can irritate baby’s sensitive skin.
You should also avoid wipes that have alcohol, which can be drying, and wipes with fragrance because it can be harsh on sensitive skin.
Thickness of Wipes
The thickness of the wipes affects how clean your baby’s bottom is getting. Additionally, it affects the number of wipes you use and the overall softness of the wipe. You can usually expect to pay more for thicker-style wipes, however, keep in mind that you may end up using fewer wipes (and saving money in the long run).
Even though thicker styles are nice, you also want to be sure you are buying baby wipes that don’t leave lint. Some baby wipes have pieces of fabric that come off when you are wiping your little one’s bottom. These can be irritating to try and remove and they can irritate diaper rash.
How Well They Clean
The last thing that you want to do when trying to clean a struggling baby is going through wipe after wipe trying to be sure their bottom is clean.
Factors like the thickness and wetness of the wipe affect how well they clean. Wetness is good for wiping away messes, however, they can also push the mess around instead of picking it up. While you can try to find this information by reading baby wipe reviews, ultimately you’ll have to try wipes out for yourself to see what works best.
One thing to note is that some wipes clean better because they have a detergent in them. Detergents make it easier to clean the bottom by making the icky stuff easily slide off the skin. However, some detergents are also known irritants and can cause an allergic reaction. It is best to avoid wipes with detergents if you have a baby with sensitive skin.
Something else to consider is if you will be able to use the baby wipes to clean your child’s face easily, too. Baby wipes are not antibacterial, however, they do clean up food, dirt, and other messes well. Parents should also note that many antibacterial wipes contain triclosan which can disrupt the body’s natural hormone production.
Wipes Container Style
To a first-time parent, something like the design of the baby wipe container might be overlooked.
However, the design of the container affects how easily you’ll be able to pull one wipe out of the container when you need it. It also affects how easy or difficult it is to open the top. You want this to be easy, especially because you never know how much your little one is going to kick or roll around while you are trying to change their diaper.
Something else to consider is how well the container seals. While soft packs of wipes are usually cheaper, some don’t seal well once you peel open the label for the first time. This can cause the wipes to dry out. Hard-style containers are usually air-tight, however, they take up more space than soft packs.
An alternative is soft packs designed with pop-open tops instead of labels that need to be peeled back to open them. You could also buy the soft packs as refills for the harder containers.
Scent
In addition to getting your baby’s bottom clean, you want to choose a baby wipe that leaves their butt smelling clean too. The problem with scented wipes is that many companies derive their fragrance from potentially harmful ingredients. There is also a risk of allergic reactions or irritation, particularly if your baby has a sensitive bottom.
Some parents choose unscented wipes altogether, focusing on finding one that cleans really well instead. If you do choose a scented wipe, be sure the scent is derived from a natural source. For example, water wipes barely have a scent and the slight fragrance they do have comes from grapefruit seed oil.
Something else you’ll want to note is that even when a product is unscented, it may have a scent from the ingredients found in the wipes. Usually, this comes from natural oils or other ingredients.
If you are worried about the scent, do some research beforehand and check out reviews to get an idea of which wipes have the mildest scent.
Environmental Factors
Some parents choose to raise their baby with the intent of minimizing their environmental footprint.
Biodegradable wipes break down easier in nature, so they don’t end up sitting in landfills as long. Something to note, however, is that even when a wipe is biodegradable you should not flush it down the toilet. Even wipes manufactured as being ‘flushable’ can clog drains and end up in water ways.
Something else that you can do to minimize your impact on the environment is to look for wipes manufactured in clean energy facilities. As many countries start to shift away from the dependence on coal and oil, alternatives like wind energy and solar energy are being used to power factories.
Finally, be sure any ingredients used are sustainably sourced. For example, bamboo products are made from bamboo, a major food source for panda bears. Sustainably sourced bamboo would come from trees grown especially for manufacturing, rather than affecting the food supply of panda bears.
Overall Cost
You will go through a lot of baby wipes in the first few years of your child’s life.
Since baby wipe containers may have different counts, you’ll want to calculate the cost per wipe. You can figure this out by dividing the total number of wipes by the overall cost.
Something to consider is that with lower quality wipes, you may end up using more wipes to clean big messes.
For parents worried about overall cost, one thing you can do is buy baby wipes in bulk. Of course, you’ll want to wait to buy bulk baby wipes until you have decided which brand you want to use.
Something else to keep in mind is that the style of packaging can affect the total cost. For example, you may pay more for packages that have a snap-top closure than you would for refill packs of the same wipe.
FAQs – Sensitive Baby Wipes
What sensitive baby wipes are comparable to Water Wipes?
Water Wipes are a thick cloth saturated with 99.9% water and just a drop of grapefruit seed extract. With minimal ingredients, it is easy for parents to feel confident they are choosing baby wipes that are free of chemicals, irritants, and harmful ingredients.
For babies who have especially sensitive skin, there are a few brands that have manufactured wipes primarily using water, including Pampers Pur Aqua and Earth & Eden 99% Water Wipes.
Does it matter what baby wipes you use?
The baby wipes you choose to use are a matter of preference. Most parents try out several brands before they find the ones that wipe well without irritating their baby’s skin.
There are a lot of different factors affecting the best sensitive baby wipes, including the thickness, how well they clean your baby’s bottom, the scent, and more. Even reading baby wipe reviews, it can be a process of trial and error.
When you’re choosing baby wipes for a baby with a sensitive bottom, you also want to choose a brand once you find something that works and stick with it. Changing wipe brands frequently can irritate your little one’s skin, especially if it is already sensitive.
What ingredients should you avoid in baby wipes?
Even though there are strict regulations on baby products to help keep infants safe, manufacturers can still include ingredients that can be harmful or even toxic to your baby.
Generally, baby wipe ingredients include water and/or aloe vera, detergents that remove the icky stuff from your baby’s bottom, moisturizing agents and humectants, preservatives to keep the wipes fresh, and fragrances.
Some of the most harmful ingredients that you should avoid in baby wipes include:
- Formaldehyde ingredients- Even though you won’t find formaldehyde listed on the ingredients label, there are many compounds that create formaldehyde as they break down. Bronopol (also listed as propanediol) and DMDM hydantoin are two examples.
- Fragrance- Fragrance may be listed as parfum or perfume. Since companies are not required to disclose what they get their fragrance from, there is a risk of putting irritants, allergens, neurotoxins, endocrine disruptors, or phthalates on your baby’s skin. Parents of babies with sensitive skin should buy unscented wipes or wipes with a scent derived from a natural source like essential oils.
- Parabens- Parabens are suspected endocrine disruptors, meaning they interfere with the body’s ability to produce hormones. They are a common group of preservatives that include butyl, ethyl, methyl, and propyl.
- PEGs- PEGs or polyethylene glycols are added to make baby wipe ingredients penetrate deeper and nourish the skin. However, PEGs are sometimes contaminated with 1,4-dioxane and ethylene oxide. Additionally, PEGs can irritate damaged skin (like diaper rash) and make it worse.
- Phenoxyethanol- This common additive is also a preservative and has become increasingly popular as diaper wipe manufacturers try to move away from parabens. However, research from the FDA shows phenoxyethanol can depress your baby’s central nervous system. It is also an irritant that is dangerous to use around the mouth.
- Propylene Glycol- This is a humectant that increases other ingredients’ abilities to penetrate the skin. Even though it is non-toxic, propylene glycol is an irritant that can damage baby’s sensitive skin.
- Methylisothiazolinone (MIT)- MIT is a preservative, though it hasn’t been used as frequently since its effects have come to light in the media in the last few years. It is most well known for causing irritation and contact dermatitis.
- SLS (Sodium Lauryl/Laureth Sulfate)- SLS are detergents that help clean messes, which is why they’ll help get your baby’s bottom clean. In addition to being a known irritant, however, sulfates also have a risk of organ toxicity.
- Triclosan- While triclosan is more likely to be found in antibacterial wipes than baby wipes, it is still a product you should watch for and avoid. In addition to potentially being an endocrine disruptor, the use of wipes and antibacterial products with triclosan contributes to the production of antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
What are the best non-toxic baby wipes??
The EWG (Environmental Working Group) verifies companies as ‘safe’ or ‘unsafe’ depending on their ingredients list. Companies can submit their products to be verified.
EWG verified products are free of the list of potentially harmful ingredients found on the EWG website. They include compounds that release formaldehyde as they break down, ingredients known to increase the risk of cancer, substances that affect hormone production, and more.
While not all manufacturers have taken the extra step to have their ingredients verified, some sensitive baby wipes mentioned that currently have the EWG seal of approval include Doctor Butler’s Organic Soothing Baby Wipes and MADE OF Organic Baby Wipes.
