Mirror, mirror, on the wall. Who has the greatest wipe of all?
Ahh, baby wipes. No parent’s arsenal is complete without a couple (thousand) packages of wipes, ready to spring into action and clean up that mess at a moment’s notice.
These things clean everything – from innocent sticky fingers to far more disgusting scenarios at the changing station (“how did he get poop on his feet!?”). They can be real lifesavers for all the various yucky situations young families inevitably encounter.
They also live everywhere; One for the car. One for the changing station. One forgotten about, stuffed in the travel crib bag.
When it comes to baby wipes, I’m like Oprah with the new cars; “You get a wipe! You get a baby wipe! Aand you get some wipes!”
A product I could have cared less about before children, as a parent it now seems I can’t go a minute without having them at arm’s reach. I somehow have become intimately familiar with baby wipes and the various nuances of every brand.
So which is the best? I’m glad you asked.
Grading on a Curve
What are the factors that make a great baby wipe? I came up with 4 variables that I think matter most:
Price
Talking dollars and cents just makes, well, sense.
Thickness
Are they paper thin or hefty-hefty?
Environmentally Friendly
The solution is less pollution.
Sponging
How well do they absorb and truly sop up the mess?
The List of Best Baby Wipes
1. Kirkland Signature Baby Wipes Fragrance Free – Overall Best
Price. Price. Price.
Either get a Costco membership or ask a friend who does to hook you up – because you’re not going to find a better bang-for-your-buck than Kirkland Baby Wipes (shh – non-members can also purchase them online with a surcharge, and to be honest it’s still the most cost-effective wipe on the list).
Let’s get real, with the sheer volume of baby wipes I’m going through on the daily over here, costs add up quickly.
Kirkland Baby Wipes have good size, they are ‘dump-worthy-durable’, and the price is right – $20.00 gets you a 900 count of wipes (about $0.02 per).
I found with my youngest, a boy, it was more of a numbers game. It’s about having multiple wipes rather than having the perfect wipe – experiencing numerous diaper blowouts per week, he is a little more, shall we say, messy.
His skin was not as sensitive as my daughters, and for our family, the price of purchasing these wipes from Costco was too good to pass up.
Beyond price, Kirkland wipes earn great performance scores as well. They are among the best for thickness and sponging, plus they come packaged with the flip-top that I love.
The con’s would be they are not biodegradable – so low marks for lack of environmental friendliness.
For newborns or babies with sensitive skin, I may opt for a different brand, especially if you start to notice any chafing or rashing.
Another con – sometimes the ‘mega-ulta-large’ Kirkland package won’t fit in tight spaces.
I love using the Kibou, which is more of a chic crossbody diaper bag than a clunky backpack – and these Kirkland wipes stand no chance at fitting in my Kibou due to the ‘100 per pack’ colossal size.
Since the pack is massive, I like to use these wipes in stationary areas. One lives at the diaper changing table, one stays in the vehicle.
I also don’t do heavy. For me the lighter the better, every ounce of weight I can keep out of my diaper bags the better. At about 1.5lbs per 100 wipe pack, my Kirklands stay parked while lighter options travel with me in the diaper bag.
2. Honest Clean Conscious – Honestly Good
My second favorite on the list, these have always been my other go-to brand when it comes to baby wipes.
I make sure I always have a few packs on hand as they are both strong and gentle.
My daughter (seemingly more than my son) dealt with a lot of irritation and diaper rash, Honest wipes seemed to never upset her sensitive skin.
One great perk about Honest, they give you options. Although the standard for Honest is 72 wipes per box, you have the ability to purchase them packaged as a 10, 36, or 60 count.
This may allow buyers to give them a spin in a 10 pack before committing to a larger bulk buy, or buy a specific sized package for a specific use.
More choices come with all the various patterns to choose from, which I must say are pretty stylish when compared to other brands. One wipe to match the crib room, a different pattern to match your car interior.
I find the snap top on Honest baby wipes a bit more heavy duty than others. Although this is a package where multiple wipes can easily sneak out with one pull, the pop top is sturdy enough to open and close one handed.
At about $0.06 per wipe, Honest Clean Conscious baby wipes are reasonably priced. They are also plant-based making them compostable and an environmentally safe choice.
3. Coterie The Wipe – Incredible…But Incredibly Expensive.
I am in love with Coterie diapers, so I figured I’d give their wipes a shot — and they did not disappoint!
Coterie is a brand that goes over the top to be environmentally safe and super gentle.
Coterie Wipes are a bit more expensive (okay a lot more expensive), but that might be the only drawback here. They are much larger (size-wise) than the competition and they seem to sponge up the mess better than others as well.
With a surface area of 8 x 7.5 inches they are the largest baby wipe — the next closest being Kirkland at 7.1 x 8 inches.
Coterie wipes are the Rolls-Royce of wipes in my opinion, there is no wipe on this list that performs better.
Because of this, I use them sparingly (real, nerdy mom talk here). The Coterie wipes are reserved for five star situations, I hide them from my husband who will non-chalantly consume an entire package in one diaper change (let’s be honest his non-stop consumption goes far beyond baby products).
If you want the best, and you’ve got deep pockets, go for Coterie.
At about $0.13 per wipe (a bit less when paired with a diaper subscription), these puppies aren’t cheap. But you won’t find a brand that is stronger, larger, or more durable – with accolades like hypoallergenic and 100% plant based, they really do outshine the rest.
Coterie also offers a neat travel size (a little mini-square-shaped package), a perk you won’t find with other brands.
Coterie introduced a new wipe in 2025 called The Soft Wipe. It’s everything we love about the original (huge surface area, high performing) but with added emollients and moisturizers – it’s quickly been dubbed “the softest”.
Although expensive, I found due to their peak performance, I actually use way fewer wipes in general with a package of Coterie. One Coterie can do what requires two if not three ‘other brand wipes’.
Over the course of time, this can actually balance out the lofty price tag (or at least help me convince myself I’m saving money while buying the absolute most expensive option possible).
4. WaterWipes Original Baby Wipes – Delicately Smooth
I would say supreme in gentleness, these are one of my favorites for newborns and babies with sensitive skin.
WaterWipes claim to fame is only having two ingredients; water and a drop of grapefruit extract.
Because of this I find these safer for not just on bottoms, but little hands and faces as well. Over time however, that’s really all they’ve become used for in our house.
They seem to lack a great sponging factor that helps absorb poop from little bottoms – especially as children get older and the viscosity increases (more poop or more substantial poop).
I reach for them more often to soak down a stained shirt or sticky face rather than to clean a booty.
Baby cheeks, yes. Baby buttcheeks, not so much.
#1, sure. #2, gimme a couple Kirklands please.
WaterWipes do however have this weird ability to never go dry.
Sometimes you’ll leave a package of ‘other brand’ baby wipes open on the changing table or a package will just be in use for months – the wipes inside will dry out and lose that wet feel.
It just seems to never happen with WaterWipes. They are always moist and ready to go, which is a plus for me since I use them somewhat sparingly. The package just lasts and lasts.
The brand is also very environmentally friendly, plastic free, and accredited by the Vegan Society – another big plus in our book.
5. Kinder By Nature – Bonus Fave from Across the Pond
Similar to WaterWipes, this is a very health conscious and earth conscious brand. They are also a bit smaller in surface area and package size, making them a good travel option.
I came across Kinder By Nature at the ABC Expo for Kids and actually landed a few freebies. I didn’t think twice about it until the need came for a diaper change, and these were all I had with me.
They didn’t just get the job done but surprised me with how well they performed.
These wipes compete well in both thickness and sponging. At $0.06 per wipe, they are also reasonably priced. Offered in both a plant-based and water-based option, parents are sure to find the one that suits their family best.
Being based in the UK, there is also something to be said about non-USA companies. When I did a deep dive into the best organic baby formulas, the realization that we (in the United States) did not have the safest options with the finest ingredients was an eye opener.
Especially if you’re noticing rashing on your baby’s bottom, a European brand may offer a different feel as they are held to different (unfortunately, often better) standards.
The company offers a product for faces only called Nose Nuzzles that I love for restaurants. They also sell a fabulous Baby Soap made with shea butter.
6. Pamper Pure
At a nickel ($0.05) per wipe, the Pamper Pure comes in as a top three option in price. Unfortunately, they also received the lowest marks for thickness.
There is something unique about the pop-top on these that really ensures only one wipe comes out at a time – they very rarely if ever clump together and come out in bunches, which is a plus.
The downside on the Pamper Pure wipe is lack of texture and thickness.
Similar to WaterWipes, as children get older and those messes get more substantial, I’m looking for a heftier wipe.
With newborns or a particular skin irritation these may very well be worth a try. I also like the 56 count per package, making Pamper Pure a tad slimmer to carry around when on the go.
Outside of these couple positives, Pamper Pure graded as middle of the pack.
7. Huggies Natural Care
Not being biodegradable or compostable, Huggies Natural Care wipes scored low on their environmental friendliness. The story here is similar to Kirkland, money talks.
Or I guess it’s lack of money talks? Depending on how many you buy at once, these typically equate to about $0.03 per wipe, making them the second least expensive brand on our list.
They have that unique flip top that I think makes grabbing wipes one-handed easy.
While they lack thickness, Huggies Natural Care wipes score great in sponging. I typically end up using less, as the unique pattern layout of the wipe seems to help them absorb more mess.
Bonus points; Huggies are partnered with Disney so you get some sweet characters on the packaging, which currently features Winnie the Pooh.
8. Kudos Premium Wet Wipes
Kudos to these wipes for making the list, and performing very well in comparison.
They’ve got the pop top, which I love, and there’s something about the quilted texture that really makes Kudos tougher than the competition.
Kudos scores high across the board. They are strong, thick enough to handle bad blowouts, and absorbent so you don’t fly through a whole pack quickly.
Kudos wipes are also compostable and biodegradable, a big plus for the environmentally conscious shopper. You will have a hard time finding a better compostable wipe.
The only lacking factor, the price tag.
Regardless of how bulky your purchase, you probably won’t purchase Kudos wipes for under $0.10 per wipe – making them the second most expensive baby wipe on the list, right behind Coterie.
If you have the means and are dedicated to the environment, you can easily end up trying and falling in love with Kudos.
9. Happy Little Campers
Happy Little Campers baby wipes claim to be super environmentally friendly.
Beyond their commitment to the environment, their other noteworthy accolade is the addition of aloe vera.
Some parents rave about the cooling and moisturizing element this adds to the wipes, others complain about a ‘super plastic’ smell associated with Happy Little Campers.
I for one found the smell unique but very pleasant.
Price-wise these land in the middle of the pack. When you buy in bulk you can save a penny per wipe – a box of 864 for $42.00.
That means depending on how you buy Happy Little Campers, they will run you $0.05-$0.06 per wipe.
The website for Happy Little Campers is no longer live, which I find a little sketchy. They claim to be a Polish company, but there is now a California Facebook page claiming to represent the brand. I’ve also heard these are actually made in China.
Regardless of their origin, the wipe itself is a bit small surface-area-wise. Performance was also lacking, as I frequently found myself using three or more wipes at a time.
Just Missed The List
10. Eco By Naty
Great for the environment, not the best at cleaning bottoms – and pretty expensive.
11. Target Up & Up
Low price and big surface area – sadly I’m down & down on the performance.
12. Babyganics Baby Wipes
Kind of like a wet drier sheet with a peculiar smell. Good price point though.
13. Caboo Tree-Free Wipes
Made of Bamboo and well sized. Worth a try on sensitive skin.
The Baby Wipe Breakdown
Safety and Ingredients
Scented means chemicals.
The Amy Babys list does not include any scented baby wipes due to the fact that they typically include more chemicals.
We chose to review unscented wipes only. I see them as safer for your precious little bundle of joy, but again, no judgement if you opt for scent.
Parents, of course, want to look at safety and ingredients. If your super interested in the exact ingredients, I would recommend a recent study from Consumer Reports, which gets into the nitty gritty on harmful chemicals in baby wipes.
Not all skin is the same, and sometimes getting your hands on free baby stuff is easier than you think. Registry boxes are the jackpot. The pediatrician’s office or the hospital may have some extras to offer if you inquire about your child’s skin irritation.
Try a few different brands to see if any particular wipes or ingredients seem to affect your baby’s skin.
Ease of Use – The Flip Top
How easy are the wipes to use?
WaterWipes and Kinder By Nature for example are super environmentally conscious (which I love). Being plastic free means all those microplastics stay away from little hands and tushies.
But due to this, these brands don’t have that plastic ‘pop top’ or ‘flip top’ many parents have become accustomed to – meaning no ‘one-handed’ wipe grabbing.
This can be frustrating (like, really, super frustrating) when you’re in the middle of a rambunctious temper tantrum while trying to change a diaper.
Some brands have the flip top, but it still seems like you have to use two hands – especially once the pack is almost empty. Happy Little Camper fell into this category of flip tops.
Other brands have really nice flip tops – even when there’s only one or two wipes left in the package, you’re never going to need two hands. Coterie would fit this description.
Rubber Band Baby Wipe Hack
One way to remedy the ‘no-pop-top’, is by placing a rubber band around the package of baby wipes.
I hate when I reach for one wipe, and instead start flailing my hand around as two or three (or forty) wipes come spilling out of the packaging all clumped together.
“Don’t you realize I’m dealing with poop here!”
The rubber band hack works great on any wipe package, flip-top or not.
By securing a tight rubber band snug around the wide end of your baby wipes, you’ll ensure only one wipe comes out per attempt. This can make one handed grabs much smoother – extremely helpful when you’re in the heat of the battle.
Quite the Haul
Consider how well the wipes will travel.
The WaterWipes or Kinder By Nature are typically in my diaper bag as opposed to in the crib room — because of their packaging, they are compact and take up very little space.
If you buy a big 100 case of wipes, enter the Kirkland brand, you won’t be left with a lot of space in your travel bag for other necessary baby items. It may seem like not that big of a deal, but every ounce counts when you’re lugging around loads of baby essentials, and your precious back pain is on the line.
60 wipes per package is the sweet spot in my opinion. Kudos is 60 per package. Huggies Natural Care contains 64 wipes per box.
You’ll find most brands on the list fall right in line with this magic number of around 60 wipes per package.
Lower pricing per wipe typically means they are packaged in larger quantities. Having at least a couple slim packaged brands that are more for ‘on-the-go’ is my advice.
Infant Info
Although many brands state they are safe for newborns, I would still use them sparingly, both to be environmentally conscious but also to avoid irritating delicate skin.
With newborns, prematurely born babies, and those with sensitive skin try cotton wipes with water – especially for newborns with a pee diaper.
Sometimes a Rag Works Best
Don’t rely on baby wipes for every scenario (guilty as charged). A wet rag works just fine for cleaning messy hands and faces after a meal.
Try to use wipes for diaper changes, and try to use them as sparingly as possible. Even though they may say ‘completely alcohol free’, there is something in there beyond just water. If water and a paper towel can do the trick, save the wipes for the real messes.
Wrapping (and Wiping) Up
So, is your wipe worth all the hype?
Depending on your child’s skin or your dedication to the environment, my suggestion would be to try as many brands as possible to find your favorite.
I’m glad I could dig into the muck and get my hands dirty so you don’t have to.
The best thing about dirty hands – having 12 brands worth of baby wipes to help get them clean.
Happy hunting in your quest for the perfect wipe! May your crib rooms stay stocked and your bumpkin rashes stay gone.
