Baby Wipes: What Actually Matters
Baby wipes are one of the most frequently used products in the first year — used multiple times a day, often on sensitive or irritated skin. Which is why ingredients matter more than marketing claims.
Most wipes are labelled “gentle” or “for sensitive skin,” but many still contain fragrance, preservatives or additives that can irritate — especially with repeated use.
- • ~99.9% water (one of the simplest formulations available)
- • Very short ingredient list (water + grapefruit seed extract)
- • Fragrance-free
- • Works well for newborn and sensitive skin
- • Low friction on irritated skin
- • Contains grapefruit seed extract (used for preservation)
- • Very saturated — can require more wipes per change
- • Less grip vs standard wipes
- • Can bunch when dispensing
- • Basic packaging - can dry out if not sealed properly
- • ~99% water base
- • Fragrance-free (Simply Water variant — check label)
- • Thicker wipe with better grip for everyday nappy changes
- • Balanced moisture — cleans well without feeling overly saturated
- • More affordable than premium minimal wipes
- • Longer ingredient list than WaterWipes and Joonya (includes preservatives, surfactant, aloe)
- • Includes botanical ingredient (aloe), which may irritate very sensitive or eczema-prone skin
- • “99% water” can be misleading — remaining ingredients still matter
- • Can occasionally pull out more than one wipe
- • ~99% water base
- • Fragrance-free
- • Plant-based wipe material (softer feel than some standard wipes)
- • Moist and soft — often fewer wipes per change
- • Packaging seals well — less likely to dry out
- • Longer ingredient list than WaterWipes (includes aloe, chamomile, jojoba + stabilisers)
- • Includes botanical ingredients which may irritate very sensitive or eczema-prone skin
- • “99% water” can be misleading — remaining ingredients still matter
- • Marketed as biodegradable/compostable, but not something you can realistically compost at home
Most babies will be completely fine with standard supermarket wipes.
But if your baby has sensitive skin — or you just want to minimise exposure — switching to a simpler, fragrance-free option is an easy win.
In the newborn phase, we kept it even simpler and used cotton and water, and only moved to wipes as baby got older.
For us, Curash Simply Water is the one that makes the most sense. It’s widely available — you can grab it at Woolworths or Chemist Warehouse without thinking ahead — or, like us, buy in bulk on Amazon and not worry about running out.
The formula is still relatively simple (around 99% water with a small number of added ingredients for stability) and it avoids the higher irritation risks you tend to see in more heavily fragranced or processed wipes.
It’s not the most minimal option — but it’s a practical middle ground: clean enough for everyday use without the price or inconvenience of premium brands.
