Wipes or cotton wool and water for a newborn?

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I'm currently 31+2 with my first baby and went to an all-day antenatal class on Saturday. The MWs said that they only recommend cotton wool and water for cleaning baby bottoms as wipes have so many chemicals and can cause problems.

If that's really true, I'm more than happy to stock up on cotton wool, but would love to hear what all you 'normal' mums think. Are wipes really that bad? Even, for example, ones like Pampers sensitive?

All views appreciated!

Their skin is so delicate when they're little, I'd stick with water and cotton wool.

Definately water and cotton wool for a newborn. Save the wipes for when lo's a few months old

cotton wool and water definitely

I always did cotton wool and water. The skin is much more permeable at that age and it just made sense to me to stay away from chemicals for as long as possible.

I did use wipes out and about but tbh at home it's just as easy to use cotton wool. You can also use Plenty kitchen towels for a more "wipe-like" experience .

Anyway, after having my first baby I developed a painful allergy to all wipes, even sensitive, so I am v suspicious of what's in them! I use paper towels and water at home all the time now - though mainly for me rather than the kids!

Have started out with cotton wool and water for all 4 of mine, and the shift to wipes has grown progressively shorter for each subsequent child, eg 3 months with dd1, 2 months ds1 etc. Have always used eco friendly style/sensitive ones and never had problems though.

Water and cotton wool. Wipes are for your convenience - even when they're older, if they have a nappy rash you should only use water and cotton wool

Meconium is quite hard to get off with just cotton wool and water, I used wipes.

All wipes gave my DS nappy rash until he was several months old so we used cotton wool & warm water.

I have to say - I think sensitive wipes are a marketing con.

If you look at the list of ingredients they're really not that different and - as I say - I am equally allergic to both kinds.

Cotton wool sets my teeth on edge so I bought loads of facecloths and used them with warm water

a good tip for meconium is to wipe their bottoms with olive oil before you put on the clean nappy.

Then the meconium slides off much more easily. DON'T use baby oil though - that's also a no-no for new borns.

i used wioes for both of mine from day one and never had any problems. no skin sensitivities of any kind in our families so we may be just lucky.

Cotton wool and water for the first few weeks but after that you might get driven mad picking cotton wool threads off your bubba. Cheeky Wipes are brilliant as don't irritate skin :-).

Never had any problems with Huggies Pure wipes, but I daresay that makes me an awful parent. Good luck whichever you choose

I used wipes in hospital from newborn and neither of mine had a reaction. I did use some cotton wool and water at home but it was a bit more of a faff (cotton pads shed less fibres than the stuff you have to rip apart). I used Boots wipes suitable for newborn skin to start with and then pampers sensitive then whatever was on offer.

I used wipes.

Water and cotton wool made ds break out.

Trial and error imo.

the nurses in hosp were all using johnsons baby wipes by the time I had my 3rd, so i just followed suit. So much easier.

I used water and cotton wool. Tbh that's all I used generally anyway, even when they were older, unless we were out and about or I'm not well and too lazy ill to be faffing about with the water and cotton.

Used wipes with all of mine from day 1 - never heard any advice to the contrary. Have never had any problems with sore bottoms.

I used wipes from day one....my dd never had nappy rash.

Although she got random bumps when I used baby oil on her.....

Washable wipes+water are brilliant IMO- much better than getting poo off than either disposable wipes or cotton wool. Maybe I've tried the wrong types but whenever I use disposable wipes they just move the poo around without cleaning it off.

The only thing I would add, is if you do start with cotton wool and water, then buy the pads, not balls. The fluff off cotton wool balls will drive you mad!

FWIW I used cotton wool and water to start with on DD and don't remember having any problems getting her clean. You can always use the tiniest drop of baby bath liquid in the water if you find your baby gets irritated from residue pee or poop.

Good luck with everything though!

I used cotton wool and water until I got so infuriated with trying to hold crying baby, fill pot of water up etc.

I moved to wipes after a couple of weeks

Cotton wool and water, when they are tiny.

I had a spray bottle which I filled with water, to wet the cotton wool, left one by the change mat and one in change bag.

Cotton wool sets my teeth on edge too, but the pleated stuff is not as bad as the balls or roll, and doesn't shed as much.

When older, I usually use the Waitrose own unfragranced wipes - they dn't seem to have as much stuff in them, and don't feel oily like the others.

This time (dc3) I am going to buy a big piece of fleece to chop up and make washable wipes.

With DD1 & DD2 I used wipes, never considered cotton wool, always thought the midwifes were being a bit over the top. With DD3 started with wipes but she cried so much when we changed her, and got nappy rash, we decided to use cotton wool and warm water. She did not seem to object to this and so have continued (she is now 7 months). Once I started it was no harder, kept a small bowl on change mat and used cotton wool pads. Only just considering changing to wipes now, bought Huggies Pure this week which claims to be as good as cotton wool and water and I must say they are good. Will continue to use warm water when change nappy for dream feed as less likely to wake her too much. Good luck!