Baby wipes contain chemicals that are hazardous if ingested in large amounts, but the choking hazard they pose for babies is more crucial.
Questions frequently pop up that relate to baby wet wipe safety. It’s almost inevitable that your little one will get hold of a wet wipe and chew on it at some time or another. We know it can’t be good, and the safety issues linger.
Babies will put anything they can get their hands on into their mouths, and almost every mom will go through scares at some point.
Wet wipes are no exception; if the opportunity arises, your little one will pop a wet wipe into their mouth.
When this happens, many questions will usually fuel anxiety, and some moms will act instinctively and call for help.
Mothers and caregivers should be aware of the dangers associated with things babies chew on or push into their mouths.
Let’s delve into the nitty gritty of wet wipes and state some facts while dispelling a few myths about the dangers of wet wipes.
Wet wipe safety overview
Wet wipes are pretty much a staple in every home where there are infants and young children.
We rely on our trusty wipes to clean away just about any mess on and around our little ones. Wet wipes are our go-to disposable cleaning cloths designed to do just this.
If you think logically about what goes into the perfect wet wipe, you’ll realize that although they contain some disinfecting chemicals, the amount in a single wet wipe is still safe for sensitive skin.
Babies have sensitive skin prone to rashes, especially from wet diapers or during bouts of diarrhea.
👉 In short, wet wipes are minimally toxic but pose a choking threat if your little one pushes one into their mouth. However, not all wet wipes use the same chemical ingredients or the same volume to make up the cleaning agent.
Naturally, some wet wipes are better than others, and choosing a household brand name is not necessarily the wisest decision.
Still, on the logic behind the toxicity of wet wipes, let’s look at household cleaning products that your little one will come into contact with while chewing on everything in the immediate vicinity.
Furniture polish, dishwashing liquid, floor and tile cleaners, washing detergent and softeners, bleaching liquids, hand sanitizers, and the chemicals in mom’s makeup.
The list is endless, but I’m sure you get the picture. The word chemical relates just as much to good health as it does to health risk, and we must be careful when distinguishing between the two.
Wet wipes are designed for sensitive skin, so any chemicals used will be mild enough to be universally used for all sensitive skin types.
In addition, water is the most significant ingredient in wet wipes, and a damp cloth cleans much better than a dry one.
Wet wipes are disposable, avoiding the build-up of germs and bacteria that one would expect from a face cloth or material nappy that is used repeatedly.
Here are a few symptoms you can expect if your little one chews on a wet wipe:
- Your baby will soon let you know about the unpleasant taste, which will draw your attention to the fact that they are chewing on a wet wipe. If this happens, wipe your baby’s mouth out with a wet cloth to get rid of the bad taste and any wet wipe liquid that might still be in your baby’s mouth.
- A minor upset stomach may occur if your baby has sucked on the wet wipe long enough to ingest some of the liquid. Generally, there is no cause for alarm, but you must be aware of what chemicals are used in the wet wipes. You may want to call your doctor or pharmacist to double-check with them and be updated on related symptoms to look out for. In the meantime, if your little one is old enough, a serving size of water will help to settle their tummy.
- The biggest threat is choking, which can happen in a flash when we least expect it. Moms and caregivers should always keep wet wipe sachets sealed and out of reach of their little ones. Once used, a wet wipe should be properly disposed of.
Pampers wet wipes
Pampers wet wipes and diapers use common chemicals that are proven to be safe for babies. In addition, their wet wipes are fragrant-free and hypoallergenic.
Clinical tests found Pampers wet wipes to be as gentle on the skin as a face cloth and water alone.
Although Pampers wet wipes were specifically designed for diaper change use, they are safe to use on other body parts as well, like wiping your little one’s face and hands.
In essence, what you’re getting is a small disposable damp cloth that comes with the assurance that the wipes can be used for any person with sensitive skin, more specifically, babies
Pampers Sensitive Water Baby Wipes is rated as one of the top baby wet wipes due to being mild, hypoallergenic, and free of alcohol, perfume, parabens, phenoxyethanol, and dyes.
These wipes are 20% thicker than standard pamper wipes. What’s impressive is that they are 97% water-based. The wipes also contain citric acid, castor oil, benzyl alcohol, and aloe barbadensis leaf juice.
Lower on Pampers range of wet wipes is the “Complete Clean Baby Fresh Scent Wipes,” which are best avoided.
They are polypropylene-based wipes containing toxic petrochemicals PEG-40 and PPG-16 and a mystery fragrance.
Huggies wet wipes
Huggies Natural Care Baby Wipes are made of 99% triple-filtered water. These unscented wipes are specifically created for newborns.
Huggies Natural Care Baby Wipes are strong, moist, and free of fragrances, alcohol, and parabens. In addition, they are pH-balanced and contain aloe and vitamin E, which keeps skin healthy.
Huggies Pure Wipes are gentle on baby skin and feel like cotton wool and water.
They are ideal for newborns as they are hypoallergenic and don’t contain perfume, alcohol, parabens, or phenoxyethanol.
Huggies Nourish & Care wipes are scented, and the wipe material is made from polypropylene and wood pulp which is less than ideal for infants.
Other baby wet wipe options
Many top brand names produce wet wipes that contain potentially toxic chemicals, while some wet wipe types are made from polyester or plastic-based cloth derived from petroleum.
However, several brands offer baby wipes manufactured from products like chlorine-free wood pulp, which are free of toxic chemicals.
The Jackson Reece baby wet wipe range is highly rated as they are made with chlorine-free wood pulp and non-irritating ingredients; however, they offer a scented wet wipe that uses organic ylang ylang essential oil as a fragrance, but these are also highly rated.
Other top-rated brands are:
- Attitude
- The Honest Company
- Burt’s Bees Baby
- Cloud Island (Target brand)
- Babyganics
- Earth’s Best
- Bloom Baby
- Eco By Nati
These are just a few of the good brands out there that have been highly rated. When it comes to the health and well-being of your little one, relying on big brand names is not always the best option.
Yes, they do produce good quality products, and we mentioned two big brand names with great products in this article, but like any business, market share equates to revenue. Need I say more?
Like everything else that involves your bundle of joy, be vigilant and do your homework. You’ll be surprised by how much you will learn in the process.
The convenience of disposable baby wet wipes cannot be overstated enough. They come in small resealable sachets and are easily dispensed.
Researching the manufacturer and the ingredients used to produce the wipes can save you a lot of potential heartaches.
Conclusion
Baby wet wipes are made from different ingredients/materials, and not all baby wet wipes will be ideal for your little one’s sensitive skin.
Besides, some wet wipes do contain toxic chemicals, and as a concerned parent, the onus is upon you to make wise choices.
Big brand names offer great products at affordable prices, but they also produce questionable products.
Be aware of this and treat every business the same. Scrutinize their product offerings and find what is best for you and your little one.
