Diapering & Baby Care

Baby Wipes

A baby wipe is two things: a cloth and the liquid it is soaked in. Very few are certified organic as a whole. Most cleaner wipes are mostly water on a plant-fiber sheet, with a third-party mark such as EWG Verified. Check which part any organic claim refers to, and whether fragrance is added.

A babys diaper and its contents on a blue background — Photo: Unsplash

What organic means here

The FDA regulates baby wipes as cosmetics and does not define "organic" for them. This page accepts wipes with a named third-party mark: an organic certification that the brand states for the cloth and formula, or EWG Verified. We say which part the mark covers, and we flag any added scent, including essential oils.

Look for

A full ingredient list for the liquid, which the FDA requires on retail cosmetics
The fiber the cloth is made of, stated by name
"Fragrance free" in those words, not "unscented"
A named certifier or mark next to any organic claim

Be wary of

"Unscented": the FDA says such products may contain masking fragrance ingredients
"Organic" on the front when only one extract in the liquid is organic
"Flushable" taken as a general property of wipes: the FDA notes only some are labeled that way
"Natural" with no ingredient list to back it

Products that carry the certification

We have not tested these products. Each one was checked against the brand’s own page and the certifier’s records. Product links may be affiliate links: if you buy through one we may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you. How we choose.

Photo: Natracare press kit
1NatracareOrganic cotton cloth
Organic Baby Wipes
- Soil Association Organic
Natracare lists the cloth as 100% certified organic cotton and states the wipes are Certified Organic by The Soil Association. The brand describes them as plastic free, biodegradable and compostable, made without alcohol, synthetic fragrance, parabens or methylisothiazolinone.
Good to know: Not fragrance free: the ingredient list includes essential oils and names limonene. The AAP advises fragrance-free wipes. The pack itself is recyclable plastic. Soil Association is a UK certifier, not the USDA seal.
Checked against: natracare.com
View at Natracare
natracare.com
Photo: Kudos
2KudosPlastic-free lyocell sheet
100% Skin-Loving, Sustainable Wet Wipes
- EWG Verified
Kudos describes these wipes as EWG-verified, with a liquid that is 99% filtered and purified water and a sheet made of plastic-free fibers including VEOCEL Lyocell from wood. The product page lists every ingredient in the remaining 1%.
Good to know: No organic content is claimed. The compostability certificates the page cites belong to the lyocell fiber, not to the finished wipe.
Checked against: mykudos.com
View at Kudos
mykudos.com
3ATTITUDEFragrance-free, four ingredients
Baby Wipes - 99% Water
- EWG Verified
ATTITUDE marks these wipes EWG VERIFIED and describes them as fragrance-free, made with 99% water and dermatologically tested. The ingredient list on the product page has four entries, and the brand says the sheet is viscose.
Good to know: No organic content is claimed. The liquid contains hydrolyzed soy protein, which matters if your child has a soy allergy. EWG Verified is not an organic certification.
Checked against: attitudeliving.com
View at ATTITUDE
attitudeliving.com
4CoterieNo fragrance or essential oils
The Wipe
- EWG Verified
Coterie states The Wipe is EWG Verified and has the National Eczema Association's Seal of Acceptance. The brand describes 100% plant-based fibers, including lyocell and viscose, with 99% purified water, and lists it as made without fragrance, essential oils or dyes.
Good to know: No organic content is claimed. Viscose and lyocell come from wood but are processed fibers.
Checked against: coterie.com
View at Coterie
coterie.com

Products with a photo are shown first; otherwise the order says nothing about quality. Certifications can lapse: check the certifier’s database before you buy.

What can be organic in a baby wipe

The FDA says wipes meant for cleansing skin, including baby wipes, are regulated as cosmetics. It also says it has no definition of "organic" for cosmetics. The USDA does regulate the word for agricultural products, and a cosmetic made from agricultural ingredients can be certified under its rules.

A wipe has two candidates for that: the cloth, if it is cotton, and the plant ingredients in the liquid. Most of the liquid is water, which does not count toward organic content under the USDA rules. So an organic claim on a wipe usually means an organic cotton cloth, a few organic extracts, or both. One pick here states a certification by a UK organic body. The others claim no organic content and rely on EWG Verified.

Scented, unscented and fragrance free

The FDA has no regulations governing these three words on wipes, though labels must be truthful. It explains the usual meanings. "Unscented" typically means no noticeable scent, and the product may still contain masking fragrance. "Fragrance free" should mean no added fragrance ingredients.

Fragrance can also be listed as the single word "fragrance" on an ingredient list. Essential oils are a scent too, organic or not. If you want none, read the list instead of the front of the pack.

What pediatricians say about wipes

The American Academy of Pediatrics advises choosing wipes that are free of alcohol and fragrance. It adds that you can clean with water and a gentle non-soap cleanser, which may hurt less if the skin is irritated, and that plain water works too.

What the sheet is made of

The FDA lists the materials wipes are made from: polyester, polypropylene, cotton, wood pulp or rayon fibers. The first two are plastics. Brands that use cotton, lyocell or viscose usually say so, and a brand that names the fiber is easier to check than one that says "plant-based" and stops.

A plant-fiber sheet still goes in the trash unless the pack says otherwise. For what goes on after the wipe, see diaper cream. For the same label questions on the diaper itself, see disposable diapers.

Questions people ask

Are organic baby wipes really organic?

Sometimes part of them is. A wipe can have an organic cotton cloth and organic plant extracts in the liquid, and a certifier can stand behind that. The FDA does not define the word for cosmetics, so look for the certifier's name. If the pack says organic and names nobody, treat it as the brand's own description. Our guide to what organic means explains the rules.

Is unscented the same as fragrance free?

No. According to the FDA, "unscented" typically means the product has no noticeable scent, but it may contain masking fragrance ingredients that hide the smell of other ingredients. "Fragrance free" should mean no fragrance ingredients were added. The FDA has no regulation fixing either term on wipes, so the ingredient list is the place to confirm it.

Can I use plain water instead of wipes?

Yes. The AAP lists fragrance-free baby wipes or plain water as options for the diaper area. For irritated skin it suggests water with a gentle non-soap cleanser, or a squirt bottle of water for severe rashes so you can rinse without rubbing, then patting dry. Ask your pediatrician if a rash is not clearing.

What does EWG Verified mean on baby wipes?

It is a mark licensed by the Environmental Working Group to products that meet its criteria for that product type. Brands that carry it say it restricts ingredients of concern and requires fuller ingredient disclosure. It is not an organic certification, and none of the EWG Verified wipes on this page claims organic content. Our labels section explains each mark.

Are baby wipes flushable or compostable?

Do not assume either. The FDA notes that only some wipes are labeled flushable and says to discard them as the label directs. Compostable claims we read for this page were tied to the fiber or to the maker's own description, not to a certification of the finished wipe. If the pack does not say flushable, it goes in the trash.

Sources

Each page was opened and read on October 11, 2026.