The 9 best baby wipes of 2023, per experts

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Baby wipes: they’re a mindless purchase you typically don't give much thought to but, after much research, you surely should.

Of course, there are the brands you’ve heard of and love — much like your hunt for the best baby lotions on the market.

However, when it comes to your baby (especially when it comes to your baby) you want to ensure that products are dermatology-backed and well-received to preserve your baby's ultra-soft skin.

"There are so many options for baby wipes that it is a rather personal decision," Maryellen Flaherty-Hewitt, MD, medical director for Pediatric Primary Care at Yale New Haven Children's Hospital and associate professor of pediatrics at Yale School of Medicine, told the New York Post. "Because infant skin is generally sensitive, an unscented/sensitive or hypoallergenic wipe tends to be a good choice to start, particularly if you are not sure if your infant is truly sensitive or not." Our team of experts also share more intel about baby wipes in our in-depth FAQ section.

"Baby wipes are traditionally used to clean the bottoms of babies after they go to the bathroom," Joshua Zeichner, MD, associate professor of dermatology at Mount Sinai Hospital, told The Post. They’re popular because they are easy to use, convenient, and disposable.

Ahead, find the 9 best baby wipes of 2023 that are expert-recommended and worth looking into for your little one. Not to mention, they’re always needed.

Editor's note: At large, baby wipes are primarily water based and then have varying skin benefit agents and preservatives. Cost is likely a major factor for many families and then personal preference for texture, scent and environmental friendliness, according to Dr. Flaherty-Hewitt.

"These are hypoallergenic and contains plant-derived skin benefit agents and mild preservatives," Flaherty-Hewitt notes. What's great about this brand is the diverse size offerings, which is great to correspond with your budget.

And, wow — 1,080 wipes! Even better, this brand carries wipes made without alcohol, synthetic fragrance, phtalates and parabens.

Flaherty-Hewitt deems the Kirkland Signature Ultra-Soft Unscented Baby Wipes as "similar to Hello Bello." As a budget-friendly option, they’re also infused with aloe and vitamin E to provide that looked-for hypoallergenic note.

"The Costco brand Kirkland never disappoints, and these wipes are no different," Zeichner adds. "The fragrance-free wipes effectively remove soiling from the skin without causing irritation or dryness."

"These wipes are primarily water based with a small amount of preservative," Flaherty-Hewitt says. "They expire one month from opening," she notes, so this bundle is great if you go through baby wipes quickly — or care for more than one baby.

Flaherty-Hewitt deems the Huggies Simply Clean Fragrance-Free Baby Wipes as "similar to Hello Bello and Kirkland," much ado to its plant-based nature. Even more impressive, this 704-count bundle is backed by nearly 39,000 rave reviews and are fragrance-free.

For another hypoallergenic option, the Pampers Sensitive Fragrance-Free Baby Wipes are a score. As Flaherty-Hewitt points out, there is no indication that this kind is 100% plant-based, but they are fragrance free and applauded by a whopping 212,000 satisfied caregivers — and counting.

Seventh Generation "closely resembles Pampers," according to Flaherty-Hewitt, in that they’re as gentle as water and are hypoallergenic and dermatologist-tested. More, they’re safe for your baby's hands and face, with its dispensing flip-top lid ensuring each wipe is moist and fresh.

Not to mention, Seventh Generation is a sustainable brand that's adored by more than 15,000 happy customers.

"These wipes are similar to pampers," Flaherty-Hewitt points out. "I did try to compare Amazon Unscented and Amazon Sensitive ($25) and they appear to be similar. Unscented should truly not have any scent at all- others seem to have some mild plant based scents (citrus, cucumber) but not ‘perfumes.'"

Additionally, these wipes are void of fragrancs, alcohol, bronopol, dyes, parabens and phtalates.

What makes Burt's Bees unique and purchase-worthy is its nod to sustainability while maintaining sensitive skin-minded ingredients.

"The brand states packaging is recyclable on website," Flaherty-Hewitt says. Not to mention, they’re ultra-soft and gentle to use on your baby's driest skin areas.

"The gentle wipes contain aloe and vitamin E to protect the barrier," Zeichner adds, approving the product. "This maintains skin hydration while removing dirt and other soiling."

Thank you, Jessica Alba, for offering the Honest Sensitive Clean Conscious Wipes in one ready-to-order motion. Specifically, these baby wipes are made with more than 99% water and are gentle on sensitive skin.

"They seem to be plant-based," Flaherty-Hewitt adds.

Ahead, our experts give us the 411 on baby wipes — including what to look for and other important notes on use.

"Baby wipes are often used from the time a baby is born to help with soiled diapers," Flaherty-Hewitt begins to explain. "They can be particularly useful for the poopy diaper to help clean the infant's sensitive skin after contact with potentially irritating bowel movement."

According to Flaherty-Hewitt, infant skin in general is very sensitive, but skin in the diaper area is particularly sensitive due to the contact with urine and stool and the wiping and diaper changing this entails.

"There is potential for overuse of the baby wipe and possible contact dermatitis from the wipe itself, which can be seen as redness and skin irritation in the diaper area," she adds.

Purely defined, hypoallergenic truly means no added fragrance, perfumes or additives have been infused into the product that could potentially cause an allergic reaction.

"Often we will recommend that because newborn skin is particularly sensitive, sometimes just warm water and a hypoallergenic soap and washcloth are best," Flaherty-Hewitt notes. "Beyond that, there is no recommendation to choose a different wipe based on the age of the infant or toddler."

Additionally, Zeichner doesn't recommend using wipes on a newborn, but rather disposable towels that you wet yourself before use. "Newborn skin is extremely sensitive, so wipes are not advised," he shares. "After a few weeks, if it is OK with your pediatrician, and you can consider fragrance free baby wipes."

One thing to note: there are so many options for baby wipes that it's a rather personal decision.

"Because infant skin is generally sensitive, an unscented, sensitive or hypoallergenic wipe tends to be a good choice to start, particularly if you are not sure if your infant is truly sensitive or not," Flaherty-Hewitt says. "Cost is also a very important consideration; generic or non-name brand wipes are often just as effective as the name brands" (Related: Best Amazon items under $25).

When cost is a concern, warm soapy water with a washcloth can be as effective as a baby wipe, per Flaherty-Hewitt. "Ease of use and packaging are sometimes concerns for families, and some families gravitate towards the wipes that are easy to pack to be used on-the-go."

Environmental impact is also a concern. "Looking for baby wipes that are biodegradable and easier on the environment is another factor," Flaherty-Hewitt adds.

Per Flaherty-Hewitt, evidence showed that the major contributors to skin irritation were the methylisothiazolinone (MI) and phenoxyethanol so recent efforts have focused on removing these substances from baby wipes.

"There are five clinical studies that have shown that modern baby wipes are superior to just water and cloth," she adds. "Recommendations from the European Roundtable Meeting on Best Practice Healthy Infant Skin Care in 2016 stated that infant wipes should be pH-balanced to maintain the mildly acidic pH of infant skin, free of potential sources of irritation and contain well-tolerated preservatives."

Water alone is not sufficient to remove some water-insoluble residue from feces and prevent the growth of bacteria on infant skin, too. "Therefore, it's important for baby wipes to have a mild detergent or cleanser to help remove this residue," she adds.

More, ingredients like lanolin, glycerin, ceramides and squalene are known as skin benefit agents and help to minimize friction on the skin and also to help moisturize the skin with use. "Chamomile and aloe are other types of skin benefit agents that can be included in baby wipes," Flaherty-Hewitt notes.

The goal of cleansing is to remove soiling from the skin without compromising the skin barrier. "The same type of hydrating ingredients contained in moisturizers are also found in baby wipes," Zeichner adds. "Hyaluronic acid and gylcerin act like sponges to pull in water to plump and hydrate the outer skin layer. Ceramides act like grout to fill in cracks between skin cell tiles. in the outer layer. Squalane is an emollient ingredient that directly softens and moisturizes rough, dry skin."

Unfortunately, many traditional baby wipes still contain plastics that can take years to break down and have negative effects on the environment.

"Some of the additives in regular baby wipes can be detrimental to plant and marine life as well," Flaherty-Hewitt says. "Baby wipes should never be flushed, but many families are not aware of this and when wipes are flushed, they create many problems for plumbing and sewage systems." Note: New York Post Shopping spoke to an expert at the New York City Department of Environmental Protection who also emphasized no wipe is flushable.

"Biodegradable wipes are easier on the environment, and some are compostable as well," she adds. "Many of these companies also focus on the packaging to use renewable materials rather than the plastic that many baby wipes are packaged in."

An important note: baby wipes that contain more than 90% water may be more susceptible to bacterial overgrowth, so the addition of mild preservatives can be necessary. "It is important especially in this type of baby wipe to make sure that one pays attention to the expiration date of the wipe," Flaherty-Hewitt advises.

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