The Best Baby Wipes to Handle Big Cleanups, Trusted By Parents Who've Been There
What to Expect selects products based on real-life testing conducted by staff, contributors and members of our user community, as well as independent research and expert feedback; learn more about our review process. Prices and details are accurate as of the published date. We may earn commissions from shopping links.
Quick Summary
The best wipes, according to What to Expect community members, are WaterWipes. These cult favorites — approved by the National Eczema Association, by the way —earn rave reviews from parents for being virtually ingredient-free and highly effective at cleaning up all kinds of messes.
Baby wipes are like diapers: absolutely essential for new parents, yet somehow they don’t always make it to the top of the baby registry. (Which feels like a missed opportunity — hello, completion discounts — but that’s a conversation for another time.) And sure, it’s easy to assume all baby wipes are the same. I certainly did until I learned the hard way just how wrong that is.
One of the first packs I bought completely fell apart while I was dealing with a moderately messy diaper. Others left my daughter’s sensitive skin red and irritated, only making her diaper rash worse.
With so many options on the market, choosing the right baby wipes can feel overwhelming. Here's how to find the best wipes for your baby — and a few of our top picks to help get you started.
How I Chose the Best Baby Wipes
As a shopping editor and mom, I’ve tested just about every popular baby wipe on the market. But since every baby (and the mess they make) is different, I also factored in feedback from other parents who’ve been there, wiped that.
I looked at results from What to Expect’s community-driven 2024 Mom Must-Have Awards, where more than 250 parents voted on their favorite baby wipes. I also combed through countless What to Expect community boards to see not only which wipes parents recommend most, but also what they actually prioritize when buying them. Based on these firsthand insights, I narrowed my original list of a dozen baby wipes down to six that stay moist, hold up well during cleanup and are gentle on sensitive skin.
Why Trust Us?
What to Expect is the world’s most trusted pregnancy and parenting brand for a reason. Our product recommendations are based on expert parent insight, advice from medical professionals and feedback from the millions of parents and parents-to-be in our community. Our editors adhere to the highest research and reporting standards and our team of vetted OB/GYNs, pediatricians and other health professionals ensure our recommended products are safe and effective for you and your baby.
Best Baby Wipes
WaterWipes
- Minimal ingredients
- National Eczema Association approval
- Often on sale
- Some find the wipes too wet
Founded by a parent whose baby struggled with severe diaper rash, it’s no surprise that WaterWipes are a multi-time What to Expect Mom Must-Have Award winner. Parents love the ultra-simple formula — 99.9% ultra-purified water and just a drop of fruit extract — along with the National Eczema Association’s seal of approval, so there’s less worry about potential skin reactions. (Plus, you can use them on your baby's hands, face. . . pretty much anywhere.) Despite the minimal ingredients, WaterWipes are impressively effective during diaper changes. Bonus: They’re almost always on sale during Amazon Prime Day, giving you the perfect chance to stock up.
Best Baby Wipes for Sensitive Skin
Pampers Baby Sensitive Wipes
- Hypoallergenic
- Low cost per wipe
- Dispenses one wipe at a time
- Some find the packs hard to open
Pampers takes baby's skin seriously, and proves that with its senstitive wipes. Woven with cotton, thier super soft yet durable, so you don't have to worry about them ripping apart mid-cleaning. But, most importantly, they're free from alcohol, fragrance, parabens and latex — all things that can irritate skin. And if you've ever found yourself pulling out multiple wipes, don't worry: Parents rave about the brand's unique pop-top design that ensures you only grab one wipe at a time, preventing waste.
Note: The wipes are advertised as flushable, but you shouldn't flush any wipe down the toilet.
Best Hypoallergenic Baby Wipes
Coterie The Wipe
- Hypoallergenic
- Durable
- National Eczema Association approval
- EWG verified
- Expensive
If your baby’s bum breaks out often, you may want to invest in Coterie’s wipes. These hypoallergenic wipes have received the National Eczema Association's Seal of Acceptance, meaning they're ideal for sensitive and eczema-prone skin. That’s largely thanks to the minimal ingredient list, which includes purified water and decyl glucoside — an ultra-mild cleanser. Parents say the wipes are soft, thick and durable, which is clutch for handling bigger blowouts.
That said, these cloud-like wipes comes at a cost, and are more expensive than others on the market. So you may want to test them before going all-in.
Best Baby Wipes for Eczema
Huggies Natural Care Wipes
- Minimal ingredients
- Low cost per wipe
- National Eczema Association approval
- Some find the wipes a little dry
A lot of my daughter’s friends have eczema, and all their moms agree that Huggies Natural Care Wipes are the way to go. With a simple formula of water, aloe and vitamin E, these wipes are designed to soothe sensitive baby skin. (It also helps that they’re deemed “safe for sensitive skin” by the National Eczema Association.) They’re pH balanced to help maintain healthy skin and prevent further irritation if a rash does occur. In fact, many parents say they’ve used the wipes on themselves to remove makeup or freshen up on a hot, sweaty day.
Best Eco-Friendly Baby Wipes
The Honest Company Clean Conscious Wipes
- Compostable
- Extra thick
- Multi-use
- National Eczema Association approval
- Some find they dry out easily
Many parents turn to Honest Company Wipes when they want to reduce their carbon footprint without sacrificing cleaning power. The wipes are made of plant-based cloth, so they can be composted rather than tossed in a landfill. On top of that, they're just a great wipe. Free from alcohol, phthalates, parabens, and other harsh chemicals, parents praise them for being gentle on skin and free from any strong scents. But not so gentle that they can't handle a mess — What to Expect community members agree that these wipes are large, thick and just moist enough to clean up a big mess without leaving any residue behind.
Best Affordable Baby Wipes
Kirkland Signature Baby Wipes
- Affordable
- Durable
- Multi-use
- National Eczema Association approval
- Only available in large packs
You’ll struggle to find a diaper wipe as affordable and effective as Kirkland Signature Baby Wipes. (They’re less than $0.02 per wipe!) I’ve been using these since my daughter was born, and even with her sensitive skin, they work wonders without causing irritation. Even though she's now potty trained, I still use them when she has a major poop — and to clean her hands and face on the go. The hypoallergenic wipes are made of an ultra-soft yet thick plant-based fiber, so you never have to worry about them tearing during big cleanups. I’ve also found they stay moist — as long as you close the easy-to-use flip top. The one downside is that they’re only available in packs of 100, so they can take up quite a bit of space in your diaper bag.
What to Consider When Buying (and Using) Baby Wipes
Again, not all baby wipes are the same. So it’s important to keep these things in mind to find the best ones for your baby:
- Ingredients: In general, baby wipes with fewer ingredients are less likely to irritate baby's skin, says Charisma Garcia, M.D., a pediatrician at Texas Children’s Health Plan and The Center for Children and Women. If your baby has very sensitive skin, look for hypoallergenic wipes without chemicals, dyes or fragrances.
- Thickness: “The thicker the wipe, the fewer passes across the skin you will need,” says Dr. Garcia. “There will be less rubbing and inflammation on delicate skin, less environmental waste and often a more luxurious feel.” Test them out on yourself first. Does it feel gentle, or scratchy and abrasive?
And while I have your attention, please remember this when actually using baby wipes.
- Don’t flush them: The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) notes that most baby wipes have the potential to cause problems with your plumbing.
- Use them sparingly: Not every diaper change requires wipes, according to the AAP, since urine rarely irritates the skin and today’s diapers are more absorbent than ever. Using wipes for poop clean-ups only can help you save money over time.
- Reassess if baby has a diaper rash: If your little one develops a diaper rash, you may want to try switching brands or forego baby wipes entirely; instead, clean baby with cotton balls or a washcloth soaked in warm water.
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