18 best baby wipes to clean up any mess, expert-tested

Score: 92/100

If you’re going through wipes like there’s no tomorrow, then this buy-in-bulk option from Amazon is a great choice. The wipes are hypoallergenic and fragrance-free, making them suitable for newborns, and they can be used all over, even on the face. They’re also pH-balanced, approved by dermatologists and include soothing chamomile and aloe vera extracts. “They're a strong enough to not rip during use, but soft enough to not irritate the skin”, said one tester. The perfect combination.

The interleaved wipes mean it's easy to pull out a bunch in one go for those heavy-duty changes. And they’re made from FSC-approved fibres (the Forest Stewardship Council manages production to strict economic, social and environmental standards), so they score some points for sustainability efforts. However, note that they do include some plastic and aren’t flushable, so if this is important to you, keep scrolling.

Score: 92/100

Unlike any other wipes on our list, these come dry. Made from bamboo, the brand claims they are completely biodegradable, and chemical- and plastic-free. You can use them dry or dip them into warm water for nappy changes and quick clean-ups.

They are the wipe equivalent of the cotton-wool-and-water method recommended by midwives for newborns, so a good option if you want to be as gentle as possible on your baby’s skin.

The box opens easily and looks like a box of tissues, with the wipes interleaved and easy to pull out. Although the cost may seem high, you're getting 12 boxes with 100 wipes in each one, which is about double the size of normal packets.

Score: 88/100

You know that classic baby smell we all want to bottle? This is exactly what you get in these wipes, which have a flowery, talcum powder scent. They feature camomile and aloe vera, ingredients that soothe the skin and help to prevent nappy rash, and they're dermatologist-approved and pH-balanced. Plus, they’re made from 100% plant-based fibres and are biodegradable, too.

Though we found it a little tricky to find the opening of the pack at first, the wipes come out easily and are interleaved for ease. They have good levels of stretch and wetness and a decent thickness, making them great for cleaning up mess easily – at a bargain price. “Strong enough. Big enough. Wet enough”, was one panellist’s catchy summary. One to add to your supermarket shop.

Score: 88/100

These wipes can be flushed down the toilet for ease and are approved by Water UK as ‘fine-to-flush'. They’re 100% biodegradable and made from plant fibres, making them plastic-free, too. And as well as being kinder to the environment, they contain 99% water along with natural aloe vera, making them gentle on your baby’s skin.

As for performance, they’re a good size and have a decent amount of stretch, plus they are interleaved in the pack, which makes them easy to grab. They’re also fragrance-free, which means they're good for sensitive skin, and they scored full marks for their cleaning ability.

Score: 88/100

Pampers’ wipes are developed to protect your baby’s natural skin pH, with no artificial perfumes or alcohol. Instead, they’re made from a soft, thick OEKO TEX-certified material (this means it’s free from toxic substances) that cleans up mess quickly and helps care for sensitive skin. But don’t just take our word for it, as they’ve been approved by the Skin Health Alliance.

One at-home panellist liked that they’re wet enough for cleaning up mess, without drenching surfaces. Another said they did a “good job of cleaning baby’s bottom half”, which is exactly what you want! The pack opens easily, allowing you to pull out wipe-after-interleaved wipe. However, note that they are non-flushable as they contain plastic.

Score: 88/100

These wipes (which come here in a starter pack alongside the brand's nappies) are made from 99% water, and leave out any nasties including parabens, alcohols, and most common allergens. They’re also plastic free and come in packaging that’s 50% recycled. Plus, with every pack bought, the brand donates money to the Kit and Kin foundation, which works to protect rainforests and helps women and children living there to gain access to healthcare, family planning and education. That’s a lot for a small wipe!

The wipes come out of the pack easily and are interleaved, so nighttime nappy changes with one hand are a breeze. Our tester found them soft, thick and stretchy, and they’re approved by dermatologists too.

All our panellists agreed that they cleaned well, while also being gentle on the skin.

Score: 88/100

It’s impressive how such small humans can go through so many wipes, which inevitably comes at a cost. However, this affordable bulk buy from Aldi should help soften the blow. Our at-home testers praised the performance and price, with one saying they were both “good value and kind to skin.”

Suitable to use from birth, these wipes made of 94% water claim to be “as mild as cotton wool and water” and are unscented. They’re also midwife-approved, endorsed by the Skin Health Alliance, and plastic-free – a triple win. Though a little on the thin side, we found them simple to take out of the pack and stretchy.

Score: 86/100

You can never have too many wipes during nappy changes, making the generous 64-pack a practical buy. In testing, they excelled at cleaning, effortlessly handling food spillages without leaving behind residue. One tester praised their effectiveness for both cleaning up sticky faces and fingers and difficult nappy changes.

Containing only water and aloe vera, these wipes are ideal for sensitive and eczema-prone skin. Though the interleaved design made it tricky for one tester to remove a single wipe, they found them sturdy and effective. Ensuring the packet is securely sealed helps prevent drying out.

The brand also donates a portion of its profit to the Great Ormond Street Children’s Hospital.

Score: 84/100

These wipes are made with 99% water and contain no perfume or alcohol (although our tester noted that they do contain a fairly long list of ingredients, including preservatives). They're also dermatologically tested and paediatrician approved for newborn and eczema-prone skin.

They’ve got the right amount of wetness for effective cleaning, but our tester found they didn't have much of a stretch, and some residue was left behind after cleaning up spilt baby food.

These wipes also include chamomile and aloe vera extracts, which are good for soothing nappy rash. Note that they can't be flushed, though.

Score: 84/100

Endorsed by the British Skin Foundation and Allergy UK, these biodegradable, plastic-free wipes boast both eco- and skin-friendly credentials. They’re also approved by midwives and paediatricians, making them a good choice for sensitive skin.

Made entirely in Britain from plant fibres, they're also suitable for vegans. The pack opens easily, and the tab is fused on, so you can’t accidentally pull it off. The wipes are interleaved, so you can get them out easily, which helps when you're cleaning up particularly messy nappies.

Score: 84/100

Mama Bamboo was founded by parents concerned for the future of the planet and their children. It's a certified B Corp with a mission to help parents while reducing their impact on the environment.

The wipes come in a recyclable pack that’s easy to open and are interleaved, making them easy to pull out. They have a good amount of stretch, are soft yet robust, and are made from bamboo viscose. They’re also moistened with 99.4% purified water, and feature aloe vera and coconut extract to soothe little bottoms. Plus, they're hypoallergenic, naturally anti-bacterial and vegan-friendly.

Score: 84/100

It’s hard to beat these Lidl wipes on price, and they also put in a good performance on test, scoring full marks for leaving behind no residue during a nappy change. They’re pH neutral, so won’t dry your baby’s skin, and include no alcohol or scent either. In fact, with a 99.4% water content, they include little else.

The pack opens easily and there’s a handy arrow to remind you which way to pull – invaluable when you’re sleep-deprived. The wipes are small but quite stretchy, combining a pocket-friendly price with biodegradability – making them both economical and more environmentally-friendly. One of our testers liked how they didn’t bunch up and come out in one huge lump when running low, which avoids any waste. Just be sure that the pack is fastened properly to avoid any drying out.

Available in-store only.

Score: 84/100

These smaller wipes are easy to open but are quite fragile, so take care not to tear them when pulling them out of the packet. Our panellists found you need a few for a full clean-up; some used as many as five per nappy change.

They’re interleaved for ease of use, made from natural fibres, and moistened with 99% water. They’re also fragrance-free, hypoallergenic and approved by the British Skin Foundation, with one of our testers telling us they left their skin “soft and refreshed.”

Score: 84/100

ASDA recently made these wipes plastic-free, a switch it claims removed 2.5 billion pieces of plastic each year. They are also paediatrician-approved, dermatologically tested and made from sustainable viscose, a semi-synthetic fibre that is biodegradable. All our at-home home testers said they’d recommend them to a friend too. Tick, tick, tick.

The pack is easy to open, and the wipes are interweaved, though the aperture is a little on the small side. Our tester found they had a good amount of wetness to help with cleaning, too.

Score: 80/100

These wipes scored full marks for cleaning due to decent moisture levels, with are preserved by a resealable tab. Though slightly tricky to open initially, once you're in, access to stretchy, interwoven wipes is easy.

The coconut oil provides extra nourishment to the skin, but has a strong scent, likened by one tester to a Bounty bar. That’s one way of disguising stinky nappies we suppose!

Use with caution on newborns though, as there’s a warning to avoid the eyes.

Score: 80/100

Boots is another company that’s working to improve its environmental footprint, making its standard baby wipes not only thicker than they were before, but biodegradable, too. They’re also suitable for newborns and sensitive skin, containing 98% water and no artificial fragrance.

It’s a little hard to see where the pack opens at first, as the tab is transparent, but it’s easy once you know how. The wipes are interleaved and stretchy but a little on the small side, so you’d probably need a few per change. But that’s not too much of an issue thanks to the pocket-friendly price tag. They’re “great for all kind of wipe clean moments,” confirmed one at-home tester.

Score: 78/100

These robust and generously-sized wipes have a whole slew of accreditations from Allergy UK, The Vegan Society and the National Eczema Association. They’re designed to be very gentle on your baby’s skin, making them a good choice for skin concerns such as sensitivity and eczema. They also contain fruit extract, which has antibacterial properties.

The wipes, which are simple to pull out, are completely plastic-free and developed to biodegrade in 12 weeks. The pack opens easily but the tab tends to come off if you’re not careful. They're pricey, but a good investment for your baby’s skin.

Score: 76/100

Cheeky Panda's hypoallergenic wet wipes contain 99% water, plus 1% fruit extract and aloe juice for their skin-soothing properties, and a trace of anti-bacterial food preservatives.

Soft and delicate, they’re wet and stretchy enough for good clean-ups, yet gentle enough even for your baby’s face. The pack opens easily but the wipes are not interleaved, so they can be a little tricky to get out one-handed.