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The 8 best baby wipes 2024: plastic-free wipes that work
As far as baby essentials go, they don’t come much more necessary than wipes. Used for everything from nappy changes to mealtime clear-ups, baby wipes will become your new best friend in no time. Here are the ones we think work best - all plastic-free.
By Poppy O'Neill | Last updated Jun 26, 2024
Messy jobs require a reliable solution and there aren't many messier tasks than a nappy change. The best baby wipes are the kind you'll want to keep within reach at all times for the first few years of your children's lives.
We research a lot of baby products here at Mumsnet - from the best highchairs to the best sterilisers - and there aren't many products more essential to a parents' changing bag kit than the humble baby wipe. You’ll get through a lot of wipes when your child is a baby, but the best baby wipes are easy to use, don’t dry out and won’t inflame your baby’s bottom. Add eco-friendly into the mix and you have yourself a winner.
To help you choose the right baby wipes for your family, we first turned to the UK's biggest network of parents - the Mumsnet Talk forums. Alongside Mumsnet users' authentic, tried-and-tested recommendations, we consulted experts on baby skin health like the NHS to bring you our pick of the UK's top plastic-free baby wipes.
These are the best baby wipes to buy.
Completely biodegradable and recyclable
Good for sensitive skin
Not as moist as some wipes
Price on writing: £18 for 12 pack | Suitable for newborns: Yes | Scented: No | Biodegradable: Yes
These plant-based, plastic-free and Mumsnet Rated Mum & You baby wipes are 100% biodegradable and the packaging is completely recyclable. They’re made from naturally derived, sustainable viscose, which itself is made from the most renewable wood fibre on earth. They’re even vegan.
All in all, a lot of thought has gone into making these wipes as planet-friendly as possible. But do they do the job? Absolutely. They contain 99.4% water and are hypoallergenic and dermatologically approved, so they’re as gentle as cotton wool and water, and mild enough to use on your baby’s hands and face too. We especially like the different colours and designs on the packs that give your baby something to look at while you’re changing them.
Read next: The best changing mats to buy, as tested by parents
Great for sensitive skin
Eco-friendly
Pricey
Price on writing: £40 for 24-pack | Suitable for newborns: Yes | Scented: No| Biodegradable: Yes
Unscented and gentle, these wipes from Jackson Reece feel soothing on delicate skin. More than 99% of the ingredients used come from natural vegetable and plant extracts, and there are no nasties at all in sight.
They’re pH-balanced, hypoallergenic and dermatologically approved so are kind to eczema-prone skin, but they’re compostable and biodegradable so they're kind to the planet too. Parents also report that the wipes are moist enough to clean up mucky faces.
Read next: The best nappy bins, as tried and tested by parents
Easy to care for
Environmentally-friendly
Not as convenient as disposable wipes when on the go
Price on writing: £13 for 20 | Suitable for newborns: Yes | Scented: No| Biodegradable: No, but reusable
Parents can get through a lot of baby wipes in a day. If you’re serious about the environment or just prefer to use good old-fashioned warm water, reusable cloth wipes like these from Little Gubbins might be for you.
These quick-drying squares are made of bacteria-removing microfibre so are easy to wash and dry, and will last for years. They can be used wet or dry and are as useful at mealtimes as they are for nappy changes, and they come with a laundry bag you can use while out and about.
Read next: The best nursing chairs, as recommended by mums
Biodegradable
Gentle on sensitive skin
Expensive
Price on writing: £9 (50 pack) | Suitable for newborns: Yes | Scented: Yes| Biodegradable: Yes
These organic cotton wipes from Natracare are infused with natural plant extracts and organic essential oils – including camomile, apricot and sweet almond – rather than parabens and other nasties, so they’re ideal for newborn nappy changes as they are gentle on sensitive skin.
They’re also biodegradable and approved by the Soil Association, so you can rest assured you’re doing the best thing for the future of the planet as well as your baby’s bum.
Read next: The best nipple shields, as rated by mums
Biodegradable
Compostable
Not flushable (but we wouldn’t recommend flushing wipes anyway)
Price on writing: £16 (12 pack) | Suitable for newborns: Yes | Scented: No | Biodegradable: Yes
Pura Wipes are completely plastic-free, and even the packaging is recyclable. Made from PEFC-certified plant fibres, the wipes can be composted but will also biodegrade quickly in landfill.
The lotion is made from only 99% water and organic aloe vera, so the wipes are great for new babies as well as those with sensitive skin or eczema.
Read next: The best potties and toilet training seats, as tested by families
Hypoallergenic
Can be composted or put in food waste
Wipes don’t separate well and you end up pulling several out at once
Price on writing: £2 per pack | Suitable for newborns: Yes | Scented: No | Biodegradable: Yes
Bamboo feels soft but is also super strong, so it’s an ideal material for baby wipes. It also has antibacterial properties, which can help reduce the risk of irritation.
These wipes from Mama Bamboo are made from 100% sustainable bamboo, making them gentle on the planet’s resources as well as your baby’s skin. They decompose in around six months in landfill, and they can also be put in compost or even food waste bins. They’re hypoallergenic, so are good for babies with sensitive or eczema-prone skin.
Dermatologically tested
Compostable and biodegradable
Expensive
Price on writing: £3 per pack | Suitable for newborns: Yes | Scented: No | Biodegradable: Yes
The Cheeky Panda Baby Wipes are designed by a couple who couldn’t find a biodegradable wipe for their new baby, so they invented one! There’s entrepreneurship for you.
These wipes are made from 100% bamboo with 99% water and 1% aloe vera so there are no nasties at all. They are biodegradable and compostable, and the packaging can be recycled through Terracycle. They’re hypoallergenic so are good for babies with sensitive skin and are great for removing makeup for mums too.
Can be used for many jobs
Partly reusable
Biodegradable
Need to add water or lotion to them so less convenient than other wipes when on the move
Price on writing: £14 for 200 wipes | Suitable for newborns: Yes | Scented: No | Biodegradable: Yes
These clever wipes from CannyMum are purchased dry. You add your own product to them, whether that’s a lotion of your choice or just plain water, and they can be used dry too. They’re essentially a replacement for cotton wool but less messy, less squeaky and much easier to use. They’re great for wiping hands and faces, and removing makeup too, so a box covers a multitude of jobs. They can even be used as nappy liners.
They can be hand-rinsed and reused up to three times, making them much better value than many similar ‘disposable’ products. And when you do come to throw them away, they contain no plastics so are 100% biodegradable.
What are the safest baby wipes?
The safest baby wipes are those that clean up well and also are kind to your baby’s skin. We think the wipes that tick both those boxes best are Mum & You's 100% Biodegradable Baby Wipes. They’re super gentle, even on sensitive skin, and the next best thing to pure water as far as we can see. They’re also great for the planet, being completely plastic-free and biodegradable.
What wipes should you use for newborns?
Many midwives still recommend only cotton wool and water for newborn babies, but these days even the NHS says wipes are OK to use. Many wipes are formulated to be kind to delicate newborn skin. When buying baby wipes for your newborn, look for non-scented wipes made from natural ingredients.
How to choose the best baby wipes
Decide whether you want reusable or disposable baby wipes – reusable means more washing, but they’re much better for the planet. Your decision might be informed by what type of nappies you’re going for too.
Think about your baby’s skin’s needs – if they have particularly sensitive skin (or are newborn), you’ll need to choose baby wipes are hypoallergenic and recommended for sensitive skin. If they suffer from eczema, you'll want a wipe that won't inflame it further.
Consider where you’ll be buying from – bulk-purchasing is always cheaper and you can order your wipes on Amazon or buy as part of your regular grocery shop. But if you only want to buy a couple of packs at a time, you’ll want to go for a supermarket brand or one you know you can get in a shop near you with no problems.
Look for wipes that are strong and moist – a lid that sticks or snaps shut really well will prevent your baby wipes from drying out. A nice thick weave will put as much space as possible between you and baby poo – always a bonus. Equally, a large surface area helps, particularly where reusable wipes are concerned.
Try out a few different brands see which wipes you like most – some wipes tear easily or feel too greasy on your baby’s skin. Once you’ve tried a couple, you’ll get a feel for what works for you.
How we chose our recommendations
We first looked up best advice from the NHS and NCT to see what medical professionals recommended. Then we went straight to the experts and consulted the Mumsnet forums to find out which wipes parents rated and which wipes didn't impressed them much.
We also looked at which products they said were good for hands, faces, spills and other general baby-related cleaning tasks because, as any parent will tell you, a packet of baby wipes has all manner of uses.
Next, we looked at reviews on other parenting and consumer sites to see which of those products had also won awards, accolades and recommendations from real parents in order to draw up a shortlist.
From that shortlist, we selected eight brands of baby wipe that we think offer what's needed for every lifestyle and budget.
Why you should trust us
We sometimes earn revenue through affiliate (click-to-buy) links in our articles. This helps us fund more helpful and independent review pieces like this one. However, we never allow this to influence our coverage.
Our recommendations are always made entirely by our journalists without input from our commercial team, and our writers are never made aware of any business relationships.
About the author
Poppy O'Neill is a Content Editor at Mumsnet and a mother of two. She's been researching and reviewing baby and child products for 2 years, with a particular focus on baby essentials, toys and books for toddlers and outdoor play equipment. From potties to paddling pools and bunk beds to bedtime stories, she loves to deep-dive into research and find the best products out there.
Poppy is also an award-winning, best-selling children's and parenting author of books such as Don't Worry, Be Happy, The Extraordinary Book That Makes You Feel Happy and Mother Power. She specialises in children's mental health and her books are used by therapists, teachers and SENCOs across the UK. She won a The Week Junior Book Award in 2023, her books have been translated into several languages and she's been featured in The Guardian, The Sunday Times and The Sun.