Whether it’s a short road trip to your in-laws’ house or a cross-country flight with multiple layovers, traveling with a baby or young children can be exhausting. Did you remember to take the pack n’ play sheet out of the dryer? Is 5 pacifiers enough? Or should you have packed 10? And which of the 7 tote bags stuffed full of toys did you throw her favorite lamb into? With all of these questions swirling around in your head, the last thing you should be thinking about is whether you have the right kind of baby wipes to bring with you. So next time you’re shopping for travel wipes, here are 6 quick tips to keep in mind.

1. Look for wipes that come in compact travel-sizes. Most wipes come in packs of 50-60, which is great when you’re stocking up your diaper changing station. But when it comes to being on-the-go, you’re going to want something a bit smaller–a pack that will fit in the crevice between your cell phone and a pair of extra socks in your carry-on bag. Our travel wipes are a great choice in this regard. They come in packs of 18 that are folded neatly to save room, and can be placed strategically throughout your luggage so that there’s always a pack within arms reach no matter how many kids you’re juggling. Pro tip: the crunchy packaging also makes for a great toy when you’re trying to change a wiggly baby on the floor of Terminal C.
2. Kill two birds with one stone, and get a wipe that does it all.The name of the game when traveling is reduce, reduce, reduce. And you know you won’t be eliminating anything from the baby’s checklist that promises even 30 seconds of quiet time–which means it’s your packing list that gets slashed. Luckily you don’t need to compromise your skincare routine for the sake of extra space. Leave your makeup remover at home, and just use a baby wipe to take your face off at the end of the day. We’re big fans of our soft wipe, enhanced with premium cotton and moisturizers, for this. Similar to our water wipe but just a little softer to the touch, our soft wipes are packed with skin-hydrating moisturizers and emollients that aren’t just good for baby’s skin, but yours too.
3. Consider the ingredients in the wipes.No matter if you’re traveling by air, land, or sea (invite us onboard your yacht, please), any trip can be tough on your baby’s sensitive skin. That’s why choosing a water wipe free of harsh ingredients like alcohol, parabens, and phthalates, which can strip the skin of it’s natural oils and lead to diaper rashes, is extra important when traveling. You might also want to consider using wipes with added moisturizers, like our soft wipe for cleaning baby’s face (and likely their whole body, too) after a meal on-the-go. Our wipes have the seal of acceptance from the National Eczema Association, and are also EWG Verified, which means that they’ll be gentle on your baby’s skin and minimize the risk of irritation and other skin reactions. So instead of worrying about giving them eczema from wiping them down every time they touch a public toilet, you can just go back to worrying about the fact that their hand is still in said public toilet.
4. Make sure you’re storing the wipes properly.It’s not always easy to keep your wipes in a temperature controlled environment when traveling, but as much as you can, try not to leave packs of baby wipes sitting out in the sun for long periods of time. Heat can cause the wipes to grow mold or mildew, and the last thing you want to do in the middle of a family vacation is drag your kids to the nearest supermarket for backup wipes. Similarly, cold temperatures can dry up the wipes, causing the active ingredients to be less effective. So if you’re planning on going skiing with your baby strapped to your front and a diaper bag on your back [not that we recommend this :)], consider leaving the wipes down at the lodge.
5. Remember travel regulations around baby products.If you plan on traveling through an airport at any point during your trip, it’s important to keep in mind what you can (and can’t) bring through security. Baby wipes of any kind are fortunately not considered a liquid by TSA, so you don’t have to worry about packing them in a carry-on. We recommend keeping at least 2 packs of our travel wipes on you through the airport, just in case one should mysteriously disappear between security and baggage claim. Breast milk, formula, and baby food (along with any ice packs needed to store them) are also allowed in carry-on baggage and exempt from the 3-1-1 liquids rule. Keep in mind they may need to be removed from the rest of your luggage and screened separately, so having an organized diaper bag with all liquids in their own compartment is your best bet.
6. Make sure you’re stocked up for future trips.You never know when the urge to get away might strike again, so make sure you have a healthy supply of travel wipes ready to go at home. Even if you don’t end up using them for a dream vacation to the Swiss Alps, they’ll come in handy around your house, in the stroller, and in your car’s glove compartment. After using them as makeup remover wipes on vacation, you might even want to keep a couple packs in your bedside table at home. Wherever you choose to store your travel wipes, Coterie makes it easy to ensure you don’t run out. Our subscription program lets you choose how many wipes you need, and delivers them to your door monthly so that you never have to make a last-minute drive to pick up wipes the night before an early flight ever again.