What’s the green alternative to baby wipes & wet wipes?

Looking for the best reusable baby wipes so you can reduce your use of single-use items? In this post, you'll find out about different types of washable, reusable wipes and other green alternatives to wet wipes such as biodegradable wipes.

Having a baby and raising children can mean the use of many single-use items which contain plastic such as nappies and baby wipes. There are simple ways to be a shade greener though which will also save you money, as well as helping to save the planet. In May 2018 the government announced it wants to ban wet wipes which contain plastic following a report that a staggering 93% of sewerage blockages in the UK are caused by wet wipes. The Marine Conservation Society's Great British Beach Clean discovered that the number of wet wipes has more than doubled between 2013 and 2014. It's important that we try to make our use of wet wipes more eco-friendly. So what's the green alternative to baby wipes and wet wipes? The ideal solution would be if you could find a reusable alternative.

Greenest – use a reusable alternative to baby wipes

Best reusable baby wipes

Reusable baby wipes cloths are the best eco-friendly option and you can buy various types. If  you're out and about with your baby or young children, take a damp face cloth, flannel or muslin cotton cloth in a re-sealable plastic bag or a slim tupperware box. If you prefer, you can take dry cloths and a bottle of tap water with you. It will save you money and is more effective. It also reduces the number of chemicals your baby comes into contact with and cuts down on waste going to landfill as you can wash and re-use the cloths.

Handmade Tales reusable baby wipes

These cute giraffe reusable baby wipes (see image above) are handmade from brushed cotton making them soft and gentle on baby's skin. Different designs are available.

Buy from Handmade Tales and use this exclusive discount code for 20% off (“20OFFBEASHADEGREENER”) or from her Etsy shop

Naturally Evergreen Organic Hemp Baby Wipes

High-quality organic hemp wipes made from a sustainable source of hemp fabric. These hemp pads will soften with each wash and will last you years. They can be used for babies and children, make-up, surfaces or anything you would normally use a wet wipe or cloth for.

Buy from Naturally Evergreen on Etsy

Make your own reusable baby wipes

Make your own reusable cloths by cutting up old T-shirts or towels. If you don't have any at home, you can probably pick up some from a charity shop.

Muslin cloths

My favourite organic, unbleached muslin cloths are from Green Fibres (buy from Amazon) and I use these to cleanse my face. You can also buy muslin cloths from Balance Me.

 

Greener – Eco-friendly baby wet wipes

If you try the ideas above and still prefer disposable baby wipes, you could make your own or give these organic and natural baby wipes a go. Although some of these are flushable, it's better not to flush as they can still cause blockages in your toilet and the sewerage system.

Aquaint Happy Planet Biodegradable Wipes

Biodegradable, plastic-free, fragrance-free baby wipes from Happy Planet, made from dispersible cellulose plant fibres and designed to be used from birth. The wipes contain purified water and apple extract making them suitable for sensitive skin, and they are completely free from any fragrances or alcohol. The wipes are made with 0% polyester and free from plastic, helping to remove plastic waste from our waterways and oceans.

Buy Aquaint Happy Planet Biodegradable Wipes from Ethical Superstore

Eco by Naty Unscented Flushable Wipes

Eco-friendly flushable baby wipes containing natural aloe vera making them gentle against your baby’s sensitive skin. The extra thick wipes are made of harvested unbleached wood pulp and moistened with purified water, completely free from chlorine, alcohol, parabens, silicone and phenoxyrthanol while also being biodegradable and approved with the Swedish Society for Nature Conservation.

Buy Eco by Naty Unscented Flushable Wipes from Ethical Superstore

Beaming Baby Organic Baby Wipes – Fragrance Free

Fragrance-free, hypoallergenic, 100% biodegradable and totally chlorine-free, these Beaming Baby organic baby wipes are not only kind on your babies skin but are good for the environment too! Ideal for sensitive skin and made with organic Aloe Vera which heals, moisturises and nourishes delicate skin.Use on bottoms, faces and sticky fingers too! Lotion contains over 95% organic ingredients. Free from chlorine, alcohol, paraben preservatives and sodium laureth sulphate.

Buy from Ethical Superstore

Storksak Organics Face and Hand Wipes

These organic baby wipes are perfect for cleaning hands and faces on the go and can be used to wipe up spillages anywhere. They're 100 per cent biodegradable and made with 100 per cent organic cotton. Hypoallergenic and dermatalogically approved, they are suitable for all skin types. Mildly fragranced by experts using only natural ingredients creating the delicate and soothing scent of English pear, honey and chamomile.

Buy Storsak wipes from Ethical Superstore

Nature Babycare ECO Sensitive Baby Wipes – Unscented

Earth Friendly Baby Gentle Aloe Vera Wipes – 100% biodegradable as made from sustainable wood pulp and starch.

CannyMum Bamboo Dry Wipes are homemade organic wet wipes for sensitive skin, baby wipes, travel wipes, face wipes, intimate hygiene wipes or simply add water to have fresh water wipes. Biodegradable as made from organic bamboo.

a wide range of baby wipes, including Naty, Earth Friendly and Jackson Reece, is available from Ethical Superstore and Big Green Smile which often has special offers

Amazon also has eco-friendly wet wipes for sale

Make your own single-use baby wipes

Try this recipe from Wellness Mama which uses kitchen roll and various ingredients such as witch hazel and aloe vera.

Never flush baby wipes – even “flushable” ones

Although many of these brands provide flushable baby wipes, please put even flushable baby wipes or wet wipes in the bin. Your toilet is not a bin. It's much better to just use toilets for toilet paper and the associated activities. If you've ever walked on the beach and seen it littered with plastic sticks from cotton buds, you will understand how much of our sewerage ends up in our seas and on our beaches. Take a look at my post about what you can flush down the toilet.

If you have any other ideas or recommendations for an alternative to baby wipes and wet wipes, please post them below.

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Updated: June 2020, Original: March 2015