I love our Thirsties cloth wipes. I use them exclusively and since we’re already washing cloth diapers it’s super easy to throw them 
in wet bag and wash them. But I have to admit I’ve been using them because I feel it’s less wasteful and because it’s cost efficient. Out of curiosity, I did quick online search for the chemicals found in common brands of disposable baby wipes. I was shocked when I learned about the following common ingredients:
Methylisothiazolinone: This is what is known as a biocide. It is used to kill microbes or bacteria in solutions that contain water. It’s used a preservative of sorts in wipes. Full strength it can cause chemical burns, skin irritation and contact dermatitis. Some babies may actually have an allergy to this type of biocide and their skin may react accordingly. Methylisothiazolinone has been banned for use in cosmetics in Canada but not for use the in U.S.–and that includes baby wipes!
Iodopropynyl butylcarbamate: This nasty chemical, also used as a preservative and biocide in disposable wipes, is also a neurotoxin. Though it was first used in paint and wood treatments, it is a common ingredient in both cosmetics and personal hygiene products. Because it’s so noxious, it is either banned or highly regulated in many countries, though not in the United States. This chemical is also a contact irritant. Why would it be added to baby wipes, of all things?
Dioxins: If the disposable wipes are made from a material such as a paper or other fiber that has been bleached, the wipes will contain dioxins. These are also present in any bleached disposable diapers. Dioxins are highly toxic and have been linked to cancer and fertility problems. They can negatively affect the immune system and the endocrine system (hormones). Babies that wear disposable diapers and are wiped with disposable wipes are being exposed to these dioxins almost all day long.
You can easily make your own homemade solutions for cloth wipes using inexpensive non-toxic ingredients, you can use a pre-made solution like Thirsties Booty Luster or in a pinch, you can use water. Any of these options are better than wiping off baby with a cocktail of chemicals on a non-biodegradable wipe.
After my baby girl was getting diaper rash pretty often, I switched to cloth wipes and a cloth-safe spray. I could tell the disposable wipes were totally irritating her skin. She could scream every time the wipe touched her bottom.
Almost immediately after switching the rash cleared up and has pretty much stayed away. Using cloth diapers also made a big difference.
This makes me so glad that I’ve switched to cloth wipes!
Wow I’m glad I’m already planning on using cloth wipes. I even put that down as a baby gift request to have some handmade.
I love Thirsties cloth wipes!! I have them, and we also sell them through Diaper Parties!!
Some daycares use disposable wipes (not the non-toxic kind) to clean the kids up instead of having to take them to the sink to wash. It is a horrible waste, and harmful to the skin. If your child is in daycare, make sure that they do not use wipes to clean up the kids face and hands.
Ugh. Also makes me glad we’ve recently switched to cloth wipes! It’s so sad that we can’t trust anything to be safe for our children!
I hate sposies!
We mostly use cloth wipes, but sometimes buy disposable wipes for when out and about. We try to buy the “greener” disposables wipes. Now there is no way I would buy the more conventional wipes.
I just made a bunch of wipes for our baby due in December. They are a little “special” looking, more rhombus shaped than square per say but I think that she won’t care! Not to mention they are so easy to make and there are such cute fabrics available, I like the flannel one side and terry cloth on the other. What are some of your favorite materials?
We are a CD family but I haven’t used cloth wipes, would love to make the switch!
We use family cloth in our house. We are expecting our 9th, so it saves a lot of money on toilet paper, with soon to be 11 members in our house. We are already doing cloth diapers for two in cloth and cloth wipes, so we thought we give it a try, thing is we LOVE it!!! Flannel is super soft. Try it on yourself and you will want to use it on your little ones. No chemicals like packaged wipes and we save sooo… much $$$. You can make them with old flannel blankets too, you know you have a bunch laying around somewhere! Make the switch!!!
Wow some really good info here. Did not know wipes had all those chemicals in them.
Cloth wipes just make so much sense… you’re already washing the diapers, what’s a wipe added to that? So easy and nice on his skin, too!
I find that I very much rely on disposable wipes. I use them for everything. But I recently took one of my old receiving blankets and turned it into cloth wipes. I haven’t figured out the best wetting method yet, but I use them to clean up the majority of poo and then use a disposable to clean the rest off my boy’s bum.
We love our Thirsties wipes!
I love my cloth wipes! I just keep a spray bottle on baby’s changing table to wet them, no chemicals added!
I can’t wait to start cloth diapering my son. And why stop the cloth at the diapers? Why not cloth wipes as well. YES PLEASE!
so glad I use cloth wipes!!!
I don’t really have any problems with disposable wipes (they have their place), but I find that a diaper change that requires three cloth wipes would require at least twelve disposable wipes. I bought tan flannel at Joann’s, cut it into 8×8 squares and sewed two squares together using a zigzag stitch. We have about 50 wipes, which is about right for two kids in cloth.
What great information! I used to make wipes from paper towels, but now that we cloth diaper, I use wipes I made from flannel scraps. So glad that we made the switch!
We use cloth wipes. I have a bunch that were WAHM made, and some from online sites. I make up a wipes solution to use on them and keep it in a spray bottle
Well…. I’ve been wondering what route to take… cloth wipes or disposables. I think you just helped me make up my mind! Yikes!
We first started using disposable wipes since we had so many as shower gifts. After we ran out I started using washcloths and a solution I made up of soap and baby oil with water. I am so happy we did. It is just so easy if you already cloth diaper!
I knew it was bad, but didn’t have the details. Thanks for sharing this info. Glad I use home made flannel wipes.
I completely changed to cloth for my third son. I also use cloth wipes because I can just throw them in the wash!
EEEW! Scary stuff – you may have convinced me to switch!
We initially used disposable wipes on my son until I bit the bullet and tried cloth wipes. His skin looks less irritated, we’re not making more garbage and the wipes just go in the diaper pail! Total win.
I have developed a negative Immune Response from using Baby Wipes. My Gynocologist/Urologist told me the ingredients in these products are a challenge to the Immune System. Use a baby wash cloth and some water. Not as handy, but so much safer! Better for the environment.
Our son is due in November, & we’ve already decided to cloth diaper & use cloth wipes. Our Thirsties wipes are all ready to go!
Why in the world would they put such awful stuff in a baby product? Crazy!
Wow, I had no idea there were such poisonous chemicals in my baby’s wipes! I used to use baby wash cloths with my first two cloth diapered babies. It was easier than fishing out disposable wipes from my cloth diapers- that’s what I did when I first started cloth diapering. That didn’t last but more than a few times.
Currently I have a newborn and we’re using up the disposable diapers and wipes we were given by family and friends before we switch to cloth so I have a bit more time to heal up from my c-section. I didn’t want to have to haul a diaper pail to the garage so soon after surgery but I’m tempted to start now anyway after reading this.
We love Thirsties wipes!
I use them as a backup (had the same package for about 3 years now, they stay wet if they are kept closed).. right now my baby has a bad rash (from no one telling us at a party that she was dirty REPEATEDLY. ACK!) because they aren’t as ‘rough’ as cloth wipes made of terrycloth, which seem to open her skin up more. We do use cloth 99% of the time, though.
i have heard so many stories of children in cloth and disposable diapers with terrible rashes and the common denominator is very often the use of disposable wipes. we absolutely love our cloth wipes, and i love not worrying about whats “in them”
Thisties cloth wipes are soooo soft!
I have disposible wipes for our little one due in December but after reading the article, I’m thinking about trying cloth wipes. I definitely don’t want all of the chemicals on my baby’s skin (never thought about what was in the wipes like I did with diapers).
Thank you so much for this post. I knew once I started using cloth wipes with homemade solution there was something not so funny about disposable wipes. Alot of things about disposable products I really haven’t noticed until after I switched to cloth!
Im always surprised by the fact the the US is supposedly state of the art in so many ways, and yet allow lots of things in food, cosmetics, baby products, etc. than many other countries have banned!
Has anyone tried Bum Boosa wipes?
eww just read the list of ingredients on pampers sensitive Alcohol free and they have alcohol in them who do these people think they are fooling??
Just bought and used my first batch of Thirsties Cloth Wipes and Booty Luster! Loving it so far!!
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