Best wipes for actually cleaning a baby’s face

[GoldenCagedBird]

My child is usually covered in snot and crisps.

We use water wipes, which work great for changes, but have zero abrasion for getting off crusty mucus or carrot puffs. Baby hates having her face cleaned so usually results in her screaming her head off whilst I wipe crumbs and bogies around her face.

Can anyone recommend any wipes or another solution that would be suitable for a baby freshen-up?

I just used a face cloth and warm water.

I used to use cut up muslins. So just have a load of squares of them under kitchen sink. Use once/twice and throw in the washing machine pile.

they dry so quickly. Often used to just wash them after with some soap and leave on radiator.

I just use a reuseable flannel which is soft and I can use warm water. It's not nice to have a cold wipe.

Cheeky wipes win hands down.

Literally anything that aren’t water wipes. I get it for delicate newborn skin but they’re crap for toddler gunk. The cheaper the better. Kudos to those who do flannels but I’m not adding the laundry pile or carrying snotty wipes around in my bag all day.

Cheeky wipes are the best. They are essentially small facecloths so you could make your own easily but cheeky wipes does it all for you. They are the most effective way of cleaning a baby and the most environmentally friendly too.

I personally didn’t find it a faff to use them when out - I carried some pre soaked ones in a little pouch or had dry ones and a bottle of water. But tbh even if you only use them when at home that will cover the vast majority of meals anyway so still well worth it imo.

Cut up muslins for sure
Or a big stack of flannels. Wash them with the towels.

Why would you waste money on wipes for face.... if you are out maybe it's different but at home cloths are better by miles.

Thanks for the the suggestions all- but cut up muslins and warm water aren’t doable when I am out and about.

i will look at the cheeky wipes

I don’t really want to walk around with a sandwich bag of wet cloths either!

Face flannel. I used to put a very wet one in a plastic bag to take out with me, stayed wet all day. You can always take more than one. I understand why some people would not want to do that but it worked for me!

We have resealable silicone pouches. They're about the same size as a packet of disposable wipes would be, but much better for cleaning faces with - I don't see what the problem is!

(we have generic unbranded reusable wipes instead of Cheeky Wipes, but it's the same thing - just a small flannel essentially. Also much more effective for wiping bums).

For out and about I always buy these, specifically face friendly.

What is the practical difference between this and walking around with a pack of water wipes?! A full pack of water wipes is actually much heavier than a couple of damp flannels and it doesn’t have to be a sandwich bag - there are lots of cases/pouches you can buy.

But as I said even if you only use cheeky wipes/equivalent at home it will be cheaper and more effective than using wipes all the time, and better for the environment too.

What is the practical difference between this and walking around with a pack of water wipes?!
Forget about a pack of wipes in your bag and they’re still a pack of wipes, maybe a bit dried out if it’s been ages. Forget about a sandwich bag of wet, dirty cloths and the results are pretty grim. No comparison really?

It’s greater that reusables work for you but based on the number of times I’ve forgotten about a dirty dribble bib and ended up throwing it out because it was so disgusting, I definitely don’t think I have it together enough for reusable wipes!

You just put them in the washing machine and they come out good as new (as would a dribble bib).

It does create extra washing of course and that might be too much for some people but given the amount of washing babies generate anyway I didn’t find it made any real difference.

Thank you!

Honestly, take damp washable cloths out with you, or cloths and a bottle of water, SO much more effective - the woven disposable type are really inefficient at actually cleaning - presumably so you need to use heaps of them.
You won't notice how effective till you compare the effort needed.

Cheeky wipes or a flannel! Baby wipes so bad for the environment

Small wet bag with some cloth wipes or flannels in - I wouldn’t use a disposable wipe on my face ever so definitely wouldn’t use on a baby.

What on earth is the difference between carrying around a sandwich bag with a wet face cloth and a pack of wipes? The face cloth is so much more effective (something to do with the texture I think) and it’s zero effort to empty the bag out into the washing machine! I even rinse and reuse the sandwich bag but I am a bit obsessed…

Cheeky wipes. I just take them out dry. Then wet at sink or using water bottle as needed. Small wet bag for wet/ dirty ones.

We also used for baby bum. Wet wipes are so harsh and expensive. Never had nappy rash. And 3 year on we still use cloths for Ds face and hand a lot as he still makes a mess. Buying wet wipes for 3/4/5 years seems bonkers

Hi @GoldenCagedBird thanks for your thread! If you're still looking for ideas, you might like to read our round-up of the best baby wipes - it's based on Mumsnetter recommendations. If you have any thoughts or feedback on the article, do let us know🙂

Why does it have to be wipes? Muslin squares in a ziplock bag is better for the environment and for their little faces. No different carrying that than a pack of wipes.

Cheeky wipes or a flannel.