As you equip your diaper bag with all of the newborn essentials, you’re likely imagining what adventures await. New parents often find that hypoallergenic diaper wipes are their best friend when it comes to every surprise or accident in those first few years.

It can be difficult to choose which baby wipes are right for you. From little spills to diaper changes, these wipes will find their way all over you and your baby, so their ingredients and feel can make a world of difference.

What to Look For In a Baby Wipe Brand

From the moment your baby is born to their first two months of life, you will have completed upwards of six hundred diaper changes, on average. For wet diapers, you may find you really only need one wipe, but for soiled diapers, you could need several more, multiple times a day, every single day—that can really add up!

Despite being disposable, baby wipes are an investment—the right baby wipe can help keep your baby clean and help make diaper changes run smoothly. Also important to consider, newborns have delicate skin, especially for their first two months of life–in fact, many doctors often recommend only washing your baby with water until they are four to six weeks old. Many parents prefer to choose a wipe that uses a gentle cleansing solution.

In this guide, we’ll walk through common questions and concerns surrounding baby wipes so that you can find the right baby wipe brand for you.

Plant-Based Fibers in Wipes: Do They Matter?

When you start looking at baby wipe brands, many parents would prefer to choose one that is made with plant-based fibers. Often, fibers in many baby wipes contain plastics. Baby wipes that are made with fibers that are 100% plant-based can be made without plastics in the fibers.

Some baby wipes are made from synthetic materials, using nonwoven fabrics such as polypropylene and polyester. Other wipes also contain parabens. Wipes that contain fragrances could potentially be irritating for some babies.

Additionally, plastics could potentially contain chemicals like phthalates and BPA. If you want to limit potential exposure to plastics, look for a wipe made with 100% plant-based fibers that are plastic free.

Chemicals: The Good and The Bad

Not all chemicals are created equal, and even ones labeled as 'all-natural' and 'organic' can cause irritation for some! To some extent, all wipes contain chemicals—even water is a chemical!

If you want to err on the side of caution, look for a short ingredient list that is tested and proven hypoallergenic. If you’re dealing with particularly sensitive skin, you may want to try eliminating things like fragrance and dyes to see how that works for you.

A cleansing solution that is primarily water is usually a good bet—wipes that use 99% water in their cleansing solutions could be the right choice for your family.

Surface Area: Do More With Less

You can expect to go through a ton of wipes within the first year of having your child. When your wipes have a smaller surface area or are made with low-quality materials, you can wind up with a big mess on your hands and blow through your wipes…fast!

Strong, large, and soft wipes can do the trick to get those big jobs done without stress at the changing table.

Safety Reports and Certifications

There currently aren’t strict standards or regulations for baby wipes in the U.S. To mitigate your risk of exposure to potentially harmful chemicals, opt for a baby wipe that is transparent with their safety testing—even better if they’re endorsed or certified by a reputable third party. You can also look for words like ‘dermatologist tested’ and ‘hypoallergenic.’

Check The Boxes with Coterie

Coterie’s The Wipe is up to 30% larger than other baby wipes, and is made of 100% plant-based fibers.

The Wipe has received the National Eczema Association’s Seal of Acceptance and is EWG-certified. These soft baby wipes are free of more than 200 potentially harmful chemicals and use a 99% purified water cleansing solution for a great changing experience!