Baby wet wipes are pre-moistened towels, used to clean up infants. Traditionally soft cotton/muslin cloth, dipped in water, were used as reusable baby wipes. These days many parents opt for disposable baby wet wipes.  It conveniently cleans up without the need for water. But is usually made of single-use plastic and laced with chemicals, to make it convenient & easy for cleaning. Also, these disposable wipes can be a frequent expenditure in the wake of a new baby’s arrival.

This post is about why a reusable baby wipe is a safer, easy-to-use, sustainable and pocket-friendly way to clean a baby. 

Why avoid using disposables wet wipes

The wet wipes/cleaning wipes are usually made of non-woven fabric containing plastic. Hence they are non-degradable and harmful to the environment [1]. During the manufacturing of these baby wet wipes several chemicals in the form of fragrance, preservatives, antimicrobials etc. are added to make the wipes soft, moist, easy to clean & last longer[2]. Also, often there are hidden contaminants formed as by-products of manufacturing & chemical interactions [3]. The synthetic fibre and the chemicals can cause rash, skin irritation etc. on baby’s sensitive skin.

Also remember, the claim of hypoallergenic or fragrance-free, used by many manufacturers, does not guarantee the product is chemical free or causes no skin reactions [4][5].

Following are few important reasons why you should avoid disposable baby wipes:

  • Non-baby friendly: Chemicals/cleansing agents/fragrance/preservatives/moisturisers in wipes can cause severe rashes/irritation on baby’s sensitive skin
  • Non-eco friendly: Made from non-degradable synthetic fibres & can choke sewers if not disposed of correctly
  • Non-pocket friendly: Frequently required for 1-2 years & hence not cheap

Opt for reusable wipes which are a safer, sustainable and pocket-friendly solution to clean your baby.

How disposable wipes are not really pocket-friendly

The use of baby wet wipes go hand in hand with diaper use. These days many babies are in diapers for 2 years. For the initial 6 months of his life, a baby needs around 6-8 diaper changes daily. After which it gradually comes down to 3-6 diapers daily. Each diaper change consumes about 1-4 disposable wipes.  Leading Indian brands sell a tub of 20 wet wipes for approximately Rs. 60/-. So just in the first year, expense on only diaper wipes would be around Rs. 15000 – Rs. 30000! Add to that another year of diaper cleaning or using wipes to clean his spills, wipe hands etc.

Reusable baby wipes – Best cleaning wipes

Our previous generations used soft cotton wipes, muslin cloth or cotton balls dipped in water for cleaning a baby. They are safer, cheaper, convenient and eco-friendly.

Advantages for a baby:

These cleaning wipes are free from chemicals and hence safe for baby’s sensitive skin. Hence no fear of wipe induced rash or skin irritation.

Many paediatricians encourage parents to ditch disposable wipes and use reusable cloth wipes instead, especially if baby is prone to diaper rashes.

Advantages for parents:

reusable baby wipes; soft muslin napkin; cotton balls with waterReusable cloth wipes are inexpensive. Just a few, even if used daily, can last until your child is potty trained. My set of 10 muslin reusable baby wipes are still going strong after 2 years. 

The cloth wipes or cotton/muslin wipes are highly absorbent and give you the flexibility to use water as needed. Hence lesser number required for each diaper change compared to disposable wipes.  

Reusable wipes are easy to make and use. Our moms usually got them stitched from old and soft cotton sarees or dupattas. Also, now you get soft cotton or muslin cloth, size of a wipe, in any baby store.

The cleaning efforts are minimal. Just scrub off the mess under tap water and toss in your washing machine with other clothes for washing. Even during travel you can hand wash and dry them easily.

Using reusable wipes instead of disposable wipes means one less effort for parents of frequently shopping for disposable wipes

Environment-friendly:

Reusable wipes help reduce waste; one piece can last 100s of washes. Also, made from natural fibre they are biodegradable.

Making/Buying reusable baby wipes

Here are a few ways of using reusable cloth wipes:

1. DIY – dry reusable wipes

These are very Simple to make. Just need soft cotton or muslin napkins approximately 15cmx15 cm (or a size slightly bigger than your palm).  Dip in warm water to clean diaper area, face etc. Some parents prefer a thicker wipe; in which case stitched together multiple layers (3-5) of same-sized muslin/cotton cloth. You can also multi-fold a bigger piece of cloth and stitch it into a smaller, thicker wipe.

Tip: When the diaper changes are frequent, every morning keep warm water ready in a thermo-flask near your diaper changing area. That way, during diaper changing emergency, all required things are handy.

2. DIY – reusable wipes & cleansing solution

Just need soft cotton or muslin napkins approx. 15cmx15cm. Add 2 cups of clean water to 1 tsp baby body wash, 1 tbsp coconut oil into a spray/squirt bottle. Mix the solution well. You can prepare the solution to last for a few days. Personally, I feel water is the best and easiest liquid to clean. 

Tip: Use a ‘wet bag‘ to store the wipes and solution/water in one place, especially useful while travelling.

3. Buy Reusable cleaning wipes 

If you do not want to make reusable wipes at home, you can now even buy one. Brands like Wonder Care & Superbottoms are the popular brands which sell reusable baby wipes.

Disposable wipes which are chemical free and eco-friendly

1. Sterile cotton as a baby wipe

If you are keen on a disposable wipe, you can opt for sterile cotton. Just dip it in water for cleaning and throw off. Although it is better to spray off the mess before disposing of the soiled cotton ball/sheet.

2. Biodegradable baby wipes or Water wipes

Brands like Mamaearth and Mother Sparsh have baby wipes made of biodegradable natural fibre. 

Mother Sparsh has recently launched water based baby wipes which are also biodegradable.

Conclusion

Disposable wipes expose infants to chemicals. Also, they are made from synthetic non-degradable fibre and are not eco-friendly. Baby-care involves a lot of expenditure. Disposable wipes add to it.

Switch to reusable baby wipes which are safe for baby’s skin, eco-friendly, cost-effective & easy to use. If opting for disposable wipes, opt for cotton balls dipped in water to choose biodegradable water wipes which are chemical free.