Baby Wipes
One might assume wipes are safe since they are used on babies’ sensitive skin. Unfortunately, most baby wipes contain fragrances, harmful preservatives, and ethoxylated compounds leading to diaper rash and exposing babies to toxic ingredients.
Ingredients To Avoid In Baby Wipes
First, look for wipes that are free of fragrances. Companies are not required to disclose what ingredients are in “fragrance” and it often comprises many unnamed ingredients. Fragrances emit volatile organic compounds and studies have found toxic chemicals in fragrance like endocrine-disrupting phthalates.
Other ingredients commonly found in baby wipes include the following:
PEGs (polyethylene glycols) - penetration enhancers that may be contaminated with 1,4-dioxane and ethylene oxide which are associated with reproductive, developmental, and endocrine effects, cancer, and DNA damage.
Phenoxyethanol – preservative that is skin, eye, or lung irritant. In 2008, the FDA warned consumers not to use Mommy’s Bliss Nipple cream because it contained phenoxyethanol which was harmful to infants. The statement indicated phenoxyethanol could “depress the central nervous system and may cause vomiting and diarrhea, which can lead to dehydration in infants.” Phenoxyethanol remains a controversial ingredient and even “green” beauty products continue to use it as a preservative.
Fragrance - mix of fragrance and chemicals associated with allergies, dermatitis, respiratory distress and potential effects on the reproductive system. Can contain unnamed toxic ingredients like phthalates which disrupt the endocrine system. Read more about why you should avoid fragrance here.
Malic acid- used to control ph, but can be irritating to skin.
Grapefruit seed extract - while used a preservative, the antibacterial properties of grapefruit seed extract have been attributed to contaminants of harmful antibacterial agents like benzalkonium chloride and benzethonium chloride.
Avoid These Baby Wipes
Huggies Natural Care contains phenoxyethanol, malic acid, and PEGs.
Pampers Sensitive Baby Wipes contains PEGs.
Water Wipes contain grapefruit seed extract and trace amounts of benzalknonium chloride.
Babyganics Wipes
Babyganics wipes are free of fragrance and toxic ingredients and are gentle on skin. They are wet enough to effectively clean but not drip or leave foam on skin. The fabric is on the thinner side but does not tear. Babyganics wipe have a mild smell and work well on hands too.
How to Buy
Price at the time of publishing was $14.94 for 400 wipes. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Tips
Want smaller, lightweight packs to fit in your purse? Look for Babyganics travel size packs of 20 wipes.
References And Resources
https://www.herbalgram.org/resources/herbalgram/issues/94/table-of-contents/qualcontrol_gfse/
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/11887595_Identification_of_Benzethonium_Chloride_in_Commercial_Grapefruit_Seed_Extracts
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4505343/
https://www.fda.gov/cosmetics/potential-contaminants-cosmetics/14-dioxane-cosmetics-manufacturing-byproduct
https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/causes-prevention/risk/substances/ethylene-oxide
