What do baby wipes have in them

The unscented claim means that the product may contain chemicals that mask the smell or odor of other ingredients of baby wipes. Fragrance-free means there no masking chemicals in the wipes, and, thus, potentially no hidden ingredients. See the difference? So fragrance-free is what you want to look for.

To learn more surprising information about this, please read my post about natural fragranc e. You might have heard about the Water Wipes brand. Some people believe that they are the best baby wipes. In fact, they claim to be the purest baby wipes. Sounds good? Not so fast! I questioned them a lot about citrus grandis grapefruit seed extract. I wrote about my investigation in a post. As a result, they now disclose a previously hidden ingredient in citrus grandis grapefruit seed extract. Please read the full story in my WaterWipes baby wipes post.

In fact, there might be other baby wipes that contain citrus grandis grapefruit seed extract as a preservative. Please read the ingredients and consider avoiding it so you do not run the risk of another hidden ingredient in the wipes you use on your child. This concludes our discussion about the worst hidden ingredients in baby wipes, such as cloth ingredients, formaldehyde, ethylene oxide, 1,4-dioxane, and phthalates.

Please read the ingredients, contact companies, and ask questions. Do not rely on marketing claims and advertisement. And if you are busy, choose the best baby wipes for your baby with the help of my latest Baby Wipes Rating List which I update annually so as to keep abreast of the latest developments. Additionally, check out my shop for non-toxic products and my other e-books. Contact me for a consultation if you need any help with healthy living. Finally, join my Savvy Consumer Circle for additional knowledge and fun.

Are you fed up with disappointing products, being confused by product descriptions, and not knowing what questions to ask of companies? You can learn simple techniques to get healthy non-toxic baby products with confidence! And yes, you can transform into a relaxed consumer. This was an interesting article. What are the methods available to test for ingredients in wipes and can any test determine specific concentration of certain ingredients? Thank you for the information! I was worried because we use those all the time, just not on the baby.

Thank you, Megan, for heads up! Let me revise the post. Since I started reviewing wipes, I have seen lots of improvements! Hi, Sydney, I normally either buy pictures from rf. You can choose the best baby wipes for your baby on the go. Hi, Marsela: I am sorry about this misunderstanding. Importantly, baby wipes use sensitive ingredients to avoid irritating your baby's skin, and usually contain at least one moisturizing and soothing ingredient.

For these reasons, baby wipes are perfect for cleaning both number 1 urine and number 2 poop off your baby's private parts. Most baby wipes are made from cotton, polyester, bamboo, or a nonwoven blend of multiple fibers that are saturated with water, oil, cleansers, and preservatives.

Instead of using a time-consuming fabric weaving process, baby wipe manufacturers use a non-woven fabrication process similar to how dryer sheets are made. This video shows the process starting with the giant rolls, then the wetting, folding, and packaging process:. Each giant roll of non-woven fiber can produce thousands of packs of baby wipes in a matter of a few hours!

Baby wipes usually contain a combination of water, oil, cleanser, and a preservative. Some have a much simpler formulations, for example only water and a mild preservative, and some have relatively complex formulations with multiple oils, cleansing agents, and preservatives.

Remember the wipe wetting process we described above? The question is what exactly is in the saturation mixture that is doused all over the wipes?

Whenever we consider a new baby wipe for inclusion in our list of the best baby wipes , we spend a lot of time researching the ingredients. You'll be using the wipes several times a day, so definitely pay attention to the safety of each ingredient.

Here is a non-exhaustive list of the good, bad, and ugly ingredients commonly found in baby wipes:. The best source for determining the risk levels of individual ingredients is the Environmental Working Group's EWG SkinDeep Database , which rates each ingredient on a scale from based on cancer risk, developmental and reproductive toxicity, and allergies and immunotoxicity. These ratings are used when we're determining which ingredients to avoid.

For these estimates, we assume that about half of the diaper changes are soiled during the first 6 months, about a third of diaper changes being soiled during months , and about two soiled diapers per day once your baby is over 12 months of age. For a wet diaper, you will probably only need one wipe. For a soiled diaper, you will probably need at least two or three. If you consider that newborns can poop upwards of times a day, that's a lot of diapers and wipes! Each package of baby wipes usually contains about 50 wipes.

So expect to use about three packs per week for the first six months, two packs per week for the next six months, and about a pack and a half per week onward. Of course, remember that you'll likely realize how great baby wipes are for cleaning up other things on your baby and around the house. They're great for quickly wiping your baby's hands and face after a feeding, wiping the tray of a high chair , wiping down the diaper changing pad , and maybe even using them on yourself!

The package must also prevent the towelettes from drying out. Thermo-molded plastic tubs are the packaging choice for most manufacturers. One common design features a hinged lid that allows easy access to the towelettes. These tubs are produced on injection molding equipment by pumping molten polyethylene plastic into a two part mold.

Pressure is applied to the mold externally until the plastic cools. When the mold is opened, the plastic tub is ejected and stored until ready for filling. There are two primary methods of assembling non-woven fabrics: the wet laid process and the dry laid process. Each component used in baby wipes must pass a series of quality check points during the manufacturing process. The plastic packaging must be free from mold defects that could cause leakage or improper closure.

The non-woven fabric must be uniformly formed and must meet specific tear-strength requirements. Furthermore, prior to manufacture, the cleansing solution must be thoroughly tested. Development chemists evaluate the product to ensure that it is shelf stable and will not undergo any undesirable chemical reactions.

They must also test the formula to ensure that it satisfies the requirements for mildness. In this test an ingredient, or series of ingredients, is applied to human volunteers usually on the inside of the forearm.

The area is then occluded with a patch material and the spot is evaluated by dermatologists or clinicians after a specified time. Any redness or irritation is assigned numerical value and the scores of all the panelists are averaged. A low average score, such as 0 or 1, indicates that the product is essentially non-irritating.

Before ingredients are added to the batch tank, they are assayed to ensure they conform to all relevant specifications. During manufacture, each ingredient is check weighed before it is added to the batch. Then final batch is tested again for basic specifications such as pH, viscosity, and microbial content. Get it free when you sign up for our newsletter. Our dedication to safety. Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology.

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These choices will be signaled globally to our partners and will not affect browsing data. We and our partners process data to: Actively scan device characteristics for identification. I Accept Show Purposes. Gear and Products. By Maya Polton. Our Top Picks. Best Overall:. The wipes are 20 percent thicker than regular Pampers wipes and tend to stay more moist than competitors. Best for Sensitive Skin:. Effectively clean even the most irritable skin without causing extra irritation thanks to the chemical-free, water-based formula.

Best for Newborns:. The pH-balanced aloe and Vitamin E formula work together to keep diaper rashes at bay without causing irritation. Best for Toddlers:. Best for Diaper Rashes:. Formulated from 97 percent plant-based ingredients that help soothe irritated skin. Best Organic:. Made from ultra-soft bamboo cloth a more sustainable material than the plant-based fabrics used in other wipes. Best Eco-Friendly:. Besides being great on the environment, these also eliminate the use of harsh chemicals.

Pros Readily available Pop top container Thick and durable. Cons Not environmentally friendly Hard to pull out just one wipe.