Washable, generic or natural baby wipes: what's the difference?

Washable baby wipes

Washable baby wipes are an eco-friendly alternative to disposable wipes. The washable versions come in different materials, like bamboo and cotton. You moisten the wipes yourself, so you can choose whether to clean the bum with lotion, oil or plain water.

At first glance, washable wipes may seem like a lot of work, but the amount of extra laundry done by washable wipes is equal to about one extra load of laundry per week. Always wash your dirty wipes in a full drum, because the wipes can go with your other laundry. We also recommend air drying the wipes rather than putting them in the dryer. This saves on costs and is also better for the environment.

Apart from the fact that washing costs electricity and water, this is of course still the most sustainable alternative because nothing is thrown away. But we understand that the washable variant is not always feasible for everyone and that disposable wipes are a bit easier to use in that respect. But even if you choose disposable wipes, you can still choose consciously!

Baby wipes made of eucalyptus fibres

Sometimes, disposable wipes are just a little more practical, like when you're on the road, or when you have a babysitter over, for example. At home, too, disposable wipes always come in handy. But many disposable wipes contain plastic and can therefore contribute to the growing plastic soup. It's important to think about this and make a more conscious choice. The Naïf baby wipes contain no plastic, no alcohol and no perfume.

Our baby wipes are made of eucalyptus fibres. They're biodegradable in 8 to 10 weeks, and are thereby a sustainable alternative. This way, you can do your part in reducing single-use plastic.

The packaging has also been thought of: it is made of bio-plastic with sugar cane as the main ingredient and the box is made of FSC cardboard. To best care for sensitive baby skin, the lotion consists of 99% water and contains no alcohol and perfume. The wipes are also free of the 26 most common allergens. 

What about generic baby wipes?

Well, standard baby wipes... It's a dirty business. And by that we don't mean cleaning babies' bums. In fact, most baby wipes contain plastic. Not just the packaging, but also the baby wipes themselves. One pack of generic baby wipes contains about 58 grams of plastic. That's roughly equivalent to 2 PET bottles of plastic per pack! So you can imagine that this can have a big impact on the environment.

What else is in those wipes? Research into these wipes has been conducted by the Consumers' Association. Fortunately, no really dangerous and harmful ingredients for the baby were found. However, many baby wipes are full of perfume and other allergens.