The 8 best baby wipes 2026: plastic-free wipes that work

Messy jobs require a reliable solution and there aren't many messier tasks than a nappy change. The best baby wipes are the kind you'll want to keep within reach at all times for the first few years of your children's lives.

We research a lot of baby products here at Mumsnet - from the best highchairs to the best sterilisers - and there aren't many products more essential to a parents' changing bag kit than the humble baby wipe. You’ll get through a lot of wipes when your child is a baby, but the best baby wipes are easy to use, don’t dry out and won’t inflame your baby’s bottom. Add eco-friendly into the mix and you have yourself a winner.

To help you choose the right baby wipes for your family, we first turned to the UK's biggest network of parents - the Mumsnet Talk forums. Alongside Mumsnet users' authentic, tried-and-tested recommendations, we consulted experts on baby skin health like the NHS to bring you our pick of the UK's top plastic-free baby wipes.

These are the best baby wipes to buy.

What are the safest baby wipes?

The safest baby wipes are those that clean up well and also are kind to your baby’s skin. We think the wipes that tick both those boxes best are Mum & You's 100% Biodegradable Baby Wipes. They’re super gentle, even on sensitive skin, and the next best thing to pure water as far as we can see. They’re also great for the planet, being completely plastic-free and biodegradable.

What wipes should you use for newborns?

Many midwives still recommend only cotton wool and water for newborn babies, but these days even the NHS says wipes are OK to use. Many wipes are formulated to be kind to delicate newborn skin. When buying baby wipes for your newborn, look for non-scented wipes made from natural ingredients.

How to choose the best baby wipes

• Decide whether you want reusable or disposable baby wipes – reusable means more washing, but they’re much better for the planet. Your decision might be informed by what type of nappies you’re going for too.

• Think about your baby’s skin’s needs – if they have particularly sensitive skin (or are newborn), you’ll need to choose baby wipes are hypoallergenic and recommended for sensitive skin. If they suffer from eczema, you'll want a wipe that won't inflame it further.

• Consider where you’ll be buying from – bulk-purchasing is always cheaper and you can order your wipes on Amazon or buy as part of your regular grocery shop. But if you only want to buy a couple of packs at a time, you’ll want to go for a supermarket brand or one you know you can get in a shop near you with no problems.

• Look for wipes that are strong and moist – a lid that sticks or snaps shut really well will prevent your baby wipes from drying out. A nice thick weave will put as much space as possible between you and baby poo – always a bonus. Equally, a large surface area helps, particularly where reusable wipes are concerned.

• Try out a few different brands see which wipes you like most – some wipes tear easily or feel too greasy on your baby’s skin. Once you’ve tried a couple, you’ll get a feel for what works for you.

How we chose our recommendations

We first looked up best advice from the NHS and NCT to see what medical professionals recommended. Then we went straight to the experts and consulted the Mumsnet forums to find out which wipes parents rated and which wipes didn't impressed them much.

We also looked at which products they said were good for hands, faces, spills and other general baby-related cleaning tasks because, as any parent will tell you, a packet of baby wipes has all manner of uses.

Next, we looked at reviews on other parenting and consumer sites to see which of those products had also won awards, accolades and recommendations from real parents in order to draw up a shortlist.

From that shortlist, we selected eight brands of baby wipe that we think offer what's needed for every lifestyle and budget.

Why you should trust us

We sometimes earn revenue through affiliate (click-to-buy) links in our articles. This helps us fund more helpful and independent review pieces like this one. However, we never allow this to influence our coverage.

Our recommendations are always made entirely by our journalists without input from our commercial team, and our writers are never made aware of any business relationships.

About the author

Poppy O'Neill is a Content Editor at Mumsnet and a mother of two. She's been researching and reviewing baby and child products for 2 years, with a particular focus on baby essentials, toys and books for toddlers and outdoor play equipment. From potties to paddling pools and bunk beds to bedtime stories, she loves to deep-dive into research and find the best products out there.

Poppy is also an award-winning, best-selling children's and parenting author of books such as Don't Worry, Be Happy, The Extraordinary Book That Makes You Feel Happy and Mother Power. She specialises in children's mental health and her books are used by therapists, teachers and SENCOs across the UK. She won a The Week Junior Book Award in 2023, her books have been translated into several languages and she's been featured in The Guardian, The Sunday Times and The Sun.