IMPORTANCE:
Traditional wipes contain a plethora of chemicals and toxic fragrances. Similar to diapers, wipes frequently touch your babies skin (and your hands), so avoiding toxicity is a priority! Surprisingly, some of the brands that make some of the best choices for diapers, still have toxic ingredients in their wipes.
LEAST TOXIC DRY WIPE OPTIONS:
Dry wipes are least toxic because they don’t contain any liquid that usually contains toxic additives. They are also available in organic cotton, whereas wet wipes aren’t. For all of these l dry wipes; wet them with water just before use. For newborns I keep a thermos bottle with warm water nearby to wet them. For older babies, a bottle of room temperature water or a glass dispenser (Amazon affiliates link: https://amzn.to/3nTF3sw), or just run them under a sink faucet if nearby.
-NOLEO Pure Organic Cotton Pads are my top non-toxic choice for any wipes. These are kind of small rectangles but are the only organic thing similar to a wipe that I could find. They are double layer to be thick, or you could pull apart if you prefer thinner. Amazon Affiliates link that I buy, but sometimes they aren’t stocked on Amazon https://amzn.to/3rRIReK. Here is their website link.
-A similar, but higher priced option is Baby Organic Large Dry Pads 100 Cotton Squares for Baby Care Diapering (Organic 360 Count). Amazon affiliates link: https://amzn.to/3IzkgCi.
-Another option is Swisspers organic cotton rounds (like the ones you use to wipe toner on your face) but I’m not sure they would be big enough to work well, at least for me.
-Here are dry cotton wipes that aren’t organic but are oeko tex: Winner brand or Dimora Soft Dry Wipe, Made of Cotton Only, 600 Count Unscented Cotton Tissues for Sensitive Skin. Amazon Affiliates link: https://amzn.to/3u41Aqt
-Honest Company makes an organic cotton dry wipe. They claim it is sustainable but wouldn’t give me a straight answer if it is certified organic; it appears to have some kind of logo but isn’t GOTS.
BAMBOO DRY WIPE OPTIONS:
Bamboo fabric uses a lot of chemicals to create; I’m looking into whether it’s true for the wipes material as well.
–Bamboo dry wipes; I will admit they aren’t quite as smooth /pleasant to use as regular wipes, but do work well. 3 PACK of Nature’s Dawning (these have a texture).
-Another brand, which has less texture: Natural 100% Bamboo Dry Baby Wipes, Use Dry or as Water Wipes, 80 Disposable Wipes in a Plastic-Free Box. Amazon affiliates link: https://amzn.to/32uJd2m
-A reusable/ disposable wipe option.
LEAST TOXIC WET WIPES:
These are the least toxic wipes that are wet already and ready to go (but not perfect; there are #noperfectoptions; look into ingredients and decide what you’re comfortable with.) Be aware there was a scientific study linking baby wipes with food allergies. Most people overlook the material and impact of the wipe material itself (aside from the liquid added to it); almost all are polyester (petroleum/ plastic), or sometimes viscose which involves heavy chemicals in the production. Another viscose article and another. Interesting tidbit: If you hear the term “non woven” it probably means a synthetic wipe material.
-Believe Diaper Wipes. Made from 100% bamboo and 100% water. There are no harmful chemicals, additives, preservatives or fragrances for a simple, pure, hypoallergenic clean. They claim they are naturally resistant to mold. They’re completely biodegradable. For every pack you buy, they donate one to a U.S. family in need. I have seen some reviewers who are suspicious that there might be undisclosed ingredients, but I have seen no proof of this. I used these occasionally.
-Doctor Butler’s Organic Soothing Baby Wipes. The wipe material is organic bamboo. The ingredients of the wipe liquid are good: Filtered Water, Vitamin E (Non-Synthetic Tocopherols), Rosemary Oil Extract, Lysine, Calendula Officinalis, Avena sativa extract, Chamomilla Recutita, Sodium Citrate, Betaine.
-Bets and Emy looks to be about the same as Water Wipes but they claim the grapefruit extract isn’t chemical derived like water wipes. Not sure if that’s true.
-Water Wipes are 80/20 polyester/ viscose. There was a big hullabaloo about the trace amount benzalkonium chloride stated on the package, but that is a naturally occurring by product of grapefruit seed extract (GSE). There is also controversy about GSE possibly not being antibacterial enough to prohibit mold growth on the wipes. There is also a report that says they (and Honest and some mainstream brands) contain formaldehyde. Available on Amazon. This is the best option available in stores (the other best options are only available online).
– Poof: The material of the wipes is non GMO corn, sugar cane, and bamboo. But the last ingredient is natural glycerin (see below for discussion).
-Jackson Reese: The wipes are biodegradable wood pulp, but contains glycerin. Available on Amazon.
– Made Of. EWG verified. Contains organic ingredients including glycerin. Wipes are made of viscose.
-Dyper Wipes
WIPES WITH TOXIC INGREDIENTS:
-Millie Moon
-Bambo
-Naty
-Aleva
-Cutie Pea
-Honest
-Mum&you
-Caboo
-Bumboosa
-Burts Bees
-Little Toes- contains tea tree oil and citric acid
-Parasol- citric acid (not sure if synthetic)
-Joonya- synthetic citric acid -Open Nature
-Offspring -Natracare -Pipette
And definitely all conventional brands in stores all contain toxic ingredients even if labeled as “natural” or “fragrance free.”
Note that many of these brands make safer diapers, but their wipes are not at the same level. Many contain sodium benzoate (you can look into it and decide how you feel about it, but won’t use it), or other preservatives or ingredients such as citric acid (made using black mold) that are a hard no for me.
Glycerin has some questionable info about it online, but is in so many things and usually considered safe. It can either come from natural sources (both plants and animals), or it can be made synthetically (derived from petroleum). If anyone has thoughts about this or this link about glycerin let me know!
NON-TOXIC DIAPER GUIDE:
Available free at this link.
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