Baby Wipes or Quilted Tissue Paper - New Trend is Healthier

More Americans concerned with health issues, real cleanliness and even saving trees are changing what cleans and protects their bottoms. Paper is losing favor.

For years Americans have been pushed to buy tissue paper for bathroom use by large corporate paper companies. Even encouraging you by offering moisturizers or lotions added to toilet tissue for a softer, less irritating feeling.

Although other countries use bidets or other cleaner, better sanitizing and less irritating methods. Americans have continued to use paper, even though the citizens maintain they are more civilized than most other countries.

While more affluent individuals install bidets or bidet seats in their homes, a growing trend is baby wipes or moisturizing wipes.

Some may find this trend surprising, yet Americans do not have any conflict using them on infants and toddlers, only with themselves. Parents are aware of the cleansing and rash reducing effects, not to mention the odor reduction associated with using baby wipes, yet only recently are adults using them for themselves.

Adults using baby wipes or moisturizing wipes use less product to do the job, and cut down the use of paper products by 80% in the bathroom. Another advantage, less plumbing problems and a greater sense of cleanliness.

Baby wipes or moisturizing wipes? Although this is the growing and most popular trend, as with any product, check the ingredients and product ratings.

Here are two examples of the best products in relation to ingredients and biodegradability. Scroll to use the GoodGuide link to discover over 300 products and their ratings.


Bum Booza Bamboo Baby Wipes

   Ingredients: Water, Polysorbate 20, Vegetable Glycerin, Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Oil, Citrus Sinensis (Sweet Orange) Oil, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf (Organic Aloe Vera), Calendula Extract, Tocopherol Acetate (Vitamin E), Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Citric Acid

   Notes: Those who have tried these have testified they are soft and work well. They’re also made with bamboo so they are biodegradable and a highly renewable source.


Earth’s Best Tender Care Baby Wipes

  

Ingredients: Water (Purified), Glycerin (Vegetable), Alkyl Polyglucoside, Aloe Vera (Aloe Barbadensis) Leaf Juice, Citric Acid, Vitamin E, Sodium Hydroxymethylglycinate (broad spectrum antimicrobial)

   Notes: Not bad and they don’t treat the wipes with chlorine or alcohol.  The antimicrobial is a little questionable but it only rates a 2 in Skin Deep. Overall these aren’t the worst and better than conventional wipes any day. They work just as well as any other baby wipe. (They also make flush-able Toddler wipes).

Forget the larger manufacturer brands if you can, they usually contain high chemical amounts, too wet, and more often flush inhibiting. CVS, Walgreen RiteAid brands are far better on your skin and environment than major name brands. Remember: Less fragrance means less chemicals. Seek products that do not contain controversial ingredients.

GoodGuide provides a filter to select fragrance-free products. Often found in baby wipes and hygiene products, fragrance is a catch–all term on ingredient lists that can conceal chemicals tied to allergies, hormone disruption, and neurotoxicity. Look for products from companies that state their products do not contain phthalates or parabens. These compound classes contain specific chemicals that have been linked to health concerns like cancer and developmental problems in babies. Since manufacturers in many baby product categories aren't required to disclose what their products contain, company marketing claims are often the only information a consumer has to make these selections.

On the horizon

As the continuing demand grows for wipes vs toilet tissue, manufacturers are facing the issues addressed by individuals and meeting those issues. Keep in mind,moisturizing wipes are considerably more costly than baby wipes, even though they contain similar chemicals. Manufacturers will be forced to reduce"Adult Wipes" prices as more individuals make the switch to wipes, rather than paper use.

Editors Note: My personal preference is a bidet, at least I know I am completely clean, chemical free, non messy and require paper for drying only. Fast, effective and simple.