When you welcome a new baby into your life, the number of decisions you have to make can feel overwhelming. One of the most crucial of those choices revolves around your diapering routine. While some parents may consider using dry wipes or a washcloth doused in water, the benefits of using baby wipes are tough to overlook. Here, we’ll fill you in on why baby wipes, like our water wipes and moisturizing wipes, are a game-changer during those first few years and beyond.

1. The convenience factor. One of the biggest advantages of using baby wipes is how convenient they are. They’re designed for quick and easy clean-ups, making them ideal for diaper changes. Imagine yourself in this situation: you have a screaming 3-month-old baby laying on the changing table in front of you, and he’s just projectile pooped all over the brand new nursery wallpaper you made your husband painstakingly install as you, heavily pregnant, yelled instructions at him from the glider across the room. Now try to imagine yourself, in this moment, rummaging around for a spare wash cloth to wet in an attempt to get any of it under control. It would be pure chaos. That’s why baby wipes exist–so that no matter what kind of messy situation you find yourself in, you have a pre-moistened wipe ready to tackle it. Coterie wipes, specifically, are crafted with the highest quality ingredients to ensure they’re soft, effective, and easy to use. They come in a resealable pack that allows for one-handed dispensing, making it super easy to grab a wipe even if you’re in the middle of wrangling a very wiggly baby.
2. They’re gentle on sensitive baby skin. Baby skin is delicate, which means that using anything other than a high quality baby wipe can result in irritation or a diaper rash. We always recommend choosing hypoallergenic and fragrance-free wipes, as they’re suitable for even the most sensitive skin. In addition, you’ll want to stay away from wipes with harsh and potentially irritating chemicals like alcohol, parabens, and phthalates. In case of a diaper rash, these ingredients will only make the irritation worse.If you’re not sure whether or not your wipes meet these criteria, check for certifications on the packaging. Organizations like the EWG (Environmental Working Group) only certify products that meet the strictest criteria for transparency and health, whereas groups like the National Eczema Association only give their seal of approval to products that can be safely used on sensitive, eczema-prone skin. In case you’re wondering, Coterie’s wipes have certifications from both.
3. The best ones are environmentally friendly. As sustainability becomes increasingly important, a lot of parents are looking for products that have minimal impact on the environment. One benefit of a good baby wipe is that it is biodegradable–meaning that unlike standard tissues or paper towels, when you throw away a baby wipe it doesn’t stick around in a landfill forever. And since you’ll probably be using a lot of them throughout those first few years of parenthood (or much longer if you have more than one), that’s a huge benefit. Look for baby wipes that are made with plant-based fibers, are biodegradable, and use natural preservatives. These three factors will ensure that you’re getting a wipe that has little to no lasting impact on the environment, so you can feel confident that you’re making a choice that’s good both for your baby and the planet.
4. Using baby wipes promotes good hygiene. Probably the most obvious benefit of using baby wipes is that they keep your baby (and your stuff) clean. Not only will they clean up a 5-alarm blowout with ease, but they also help prevent the spread of germs and bacteria. Leave a pack in your kitchen under the sink and use them to wipe down your countertops instead of an old sponge. Throw a pack in your purse so that you can clean off a restaurant table before your toddler eats a cookie directly off said table. They’ll make any situation cleaner and more sanitary for your entire family. Plus, because Coterie wipes are 30% bigger than most generic options, they’re more efficient in controlling the chaos constantly happening around you. With just one Coterie wipe, you can clean the dog’s spit off of your baby’s face, and then fold it in half and use it to tactfully remove all traces of dog fur from the hands they’re about to eat with.
5. They’re good for other stuff, too. While baby wipes are essential during diaper changes, their uses extend far beyond that. Below are some other ways we find ourselves using our wipes:

• At mealtime: As your baby starts to eat solid foods, you’ll quickly realize that about 20% of mealtime is your child attempting to eat food, and about 80% is you cleaning up after them. Baby wipes can quickly clean hands, faces, and surfaces, saving you time, hassle, and many rolls of paper towels.
• While traveling: Whether you’re headed to the park or across the country in an RV, baby wipes are a travel must-have. Ours come in compact travel-size packs that 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.
• For makeup removal: Baby wipes are formulated to take care of the most sensitive baby skin, which means that they’re fully qualified to take care of yours too. Don’t worry about buying expensive makeup wipes anymore, just steal one of our Soft Wipes from your baby’s nursery the next time you need to take your face off after a long night.

Navigating the world of parenting can feel like a whirlwind of making half-educated choices, but there’s one thing you can be sure of: baby wipes are an indispensable part of any diapering routine. They’re more convenient than the alternatives, gentle on even the most sensitive skin, and have tons of uses besides the obvious. Plus, with environmentally friendly options like our water wipes and soft wipes, you can feel good about your choice to use a product that won’t end up in a landfill forever. So please, we beg you, don’t try to use a wet paper towel to clean up after your baby. You’ll risk a serious diaper rash and, more importantly, your friends will almost definitely make fun of you.