Baby Wipes vs. Washcloth: Which is Better?

Baby Wipes - a Convenient Tool

Given the amount of time moms today are spending outside of the home, baby wipes are a valuable tool for diaper changes, as well as for cleaning children's hands or faces due to their portability and convenience. In fact, more than 86 percent of U.S. moms say they always/often use wipes when changing a diaper outside of the home.

One reason that moms choose wipes over other cleaning methods is convenience – wipes are easier to take on the go than a washcloth and water. Pop-up packs add to this convenience because they are easily portable so that wipes are always within reach, and they are easy to close and open with one hand.

A Sustainable Solution

Parents can be assured that using baby wipes is not worse for the environment than other methods of gently cleaning their babies. In 2010, EDANA (the European Disposables and Nonwovens Association, which is an international association of nonwovens and related industries) completed a life cycle assessment comparing baby wipes, washcloths and cotton balls to gain understanding of their comparable environmental impact.

This evaluation looked at the entire life of a product, from the creation of its raw materials, manufacturing, consumer use, and on through its disposal to gauge the potential environmental impacts. The results found that baby wipes and washcloths had similar environmental potential impacts and are better than using cotton balls when it comes to the environment.

When it comes to diaper-changing practices, every mom has an opinion about which product they prefer for their baby. Personal preferences aside, Pampers Sensitive baby wipes have been shown to outperform traditional washcloth and water in terms of gentleness on the skin and convenience to on-the-go moms. What's more, wipes are just as kind to the environment as washcloth and water.

Gentle to the Skin

For many years, Pampers Sensitive baby wipes have been proven to be safe and effective cleaning products that are even milder than washcloth and water .

Clinical evidence published in Dermatology Nursing in 2001 found that Pampers Sensitive wipes were milder to the skin than simply using a cotton washcloth and water. Pampers ongoing clinical work demonstrates that this continues to be true today.

A Neonatology clinical study published in 2009 found that Pampers alcohol-free, fragrance-free wipes actually helped maintain the health of babies' skin better than cotton gauze and water in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).

The NICU study included both premature and full-term babies, and the use of wipes actually showed less erythema (redness) in the perineum as compared with cotton gauze and water after just five days of use. Key features in Pampers Baby Wipes that help make them gentle and mild to the skin include: