Have you ever found an old packet of baby wipes hidden in a random place and wondered if they were still safe to use? Have you considered whether using old baby wipes could be harmful, or asked yourself do baby wipes expire? Well, the truth is that many brands of baby wipes do not expire, at least, not in the same way that food does.
Baby wipes that have gone past their expiration date are still likely to be safe for use on your baby’s skin, however, they may not be as effective. Most manufacturers agree that an unopened packet of baby wipes will be safe to use for up to 2 – 3 years after manufacturing, whereas packets where the seal has been broken should be used within 3 – 4 weeks.
What you should know if you plan to use old baby wipes
There’s more to using old wipes than simply asking yourself, do baby wipes expire? Baby wipes may not expire in the same way we would usually associate with perishable products – such as food going bad – but that does not mean that there aren’t other factors that you should be aware of. Many manufacturers do state that baby wipes remain safe for years when left unopened, however before choosing to use old baby wipes on your child’s skin, there are a few things you should know.
- Baby wipes can dry out
- They can develop mould and harbour bacteria
- Baby wipes can lose effectiveness over time
- Natural baby wipes won’t last as long as other brands
Let’s look at each of these problems individually.
Baby wipes can become dry when opened.
Typically speaking, the moisture in a packet of baby wipes is 90% water and the remaining 10% is made up of mild, skin-friendly moisturisers, preservatives, and other ingredients that help to keep your baby’s skin clean and healthy. Because water makes up such a large part of baby wipe formulas, a packet of wipes can very quickly become dry if the packet is not closed tightly. This is due to evaporation and occurs when wipes are exposed to warm conditions.
To remedy this, try purchasing baby wipe packets that come with flip-top lids instead of sticky tabs. Baby wipe packets that incorporate a flip-top lid are more efficient at preventing the moisture from evaporating over time than the packets with adhesive sticker tabs. Other tips to prevent your baby wipes from drying out are to keep your baby wipes out of direct sunlight and store them upside down in an airtight container.
Baby wipes can develop mould and attract bacteria.
Many parents have asked themselves “do baby wipes expire?” after being greeted by a strong, mildewy smell upon opening a packet of wipes. This leads us to the next factor that needs to be taken into consideration when deciding whether or not to use old baby wipes on your child’s skin. Baby wipes that have been sitting around for a while, especially in a warm place, can attract bacteria and mould.
Most people will notice something is not right straight away due to a musty, mildewy smell that is very pungent. The smell is likely to be accompanied by black spots of mould growing both on the inner packet, and on the wipes themselves. If you notice that your packet of baby wipes has mould growing in it, throw it away immediately and do not use it on your baby’s skin.
Sometimes you may notice that the edges of your wipes have started to turn yellow. This is not mould, but simply a reaction to the wipe being left in the air. This is a common occurrence on packets that feature an adhesive sticker tab because the adhesive seals often lose their effectiveness, leaving the edges of the next wipe free to react with the air.
Baby wipes can lose effectiveness over time.
Many manufacturers include moisturisers, oils, and fragrances in their baby wipe formulas. When packets of baby wipes are left open for a long period of time, this beneficial formula which usually helps to keep your child’s skin soft and healthy, could evaporate making them less effective.
Another reason old baby wipes become less effective over time is because, instead of evaporating, the formula sinks down to the bottom of the packet. The wipes sitting at the bottom will be coated in baby wipe formula, whilst the wipes at the top of the packet will become dry and no longer be coated in the cleaning and moistursing liquid.
Natural brands of baby wipes probably won’t last as long.
Natural baby wipe brands, such as WaterWipes, are not likely to last as long as other brands, even when they are unopened. This is due to the natural, no-nasties formula that these brands use. It’s likely that natural based baby wipes will not include as many preservatives or antibacterial components as other brands, which leaves the moist environment of a baby wipe packet unprotected from mould and bacteria.
Whereas other brands suggest that the wipes should be used within 2 – 3 years of production, WaterWipes suggest that their natural wipes should be used within 15 months of production, and within 1 month once opened. The good news is that natural brands are, as a result, much more likely to print the expiration date on the underside of their packets.
- MULTI-BENEFIT PACK: 18 packs; 56 water-based wipes per pack
- PERFUME FREE: Fragrance-free, pre-moistened wipes
- FOR SENSITIVE SKIN: Gently formulated and hypoallergenic for baby’s delicate skin
- VERSATILE: For hands, face and the diaper area
- SOOTHING INGREDIENTS: Made with aloe vera and chamomile
- Gentle on the skin – Huggies Pure Baby Wipes are formulated with skin loving natural fibres for your baby’s delicate skin.
- Skin loving ingredients – Enriched with 99 Percent Pure Water and skin loving essentials our wet wipes gently cleanse your baby’s skin.
- Hypoallergenic – Our wet wipes are fragrance-free meaning they are gentle enough for sensitive skin – and can be used on newborns.
- A hygienic clean every time – Pure baby wipes are strong yet soft giving your baby a hygienic yet gentle clean.
- Bulk buy 18 packs – Be prepared for a lot of gentle cleaning from the moment your little one arrives with over 1,000 baby wipes. Evenly split across 18 packs – containing 56 wipes each – running out shouldn’t be an issue.
- MULTI-PACK CONVENIENCE: 18 packs; 56 water based wipes per pack
- FRESH SCENT: Pre-moistened wet wipes with clean, fresh fragrance
- FOR SENSITIVE SKIN: Hypoallergenic, dermatologically tested, PH balanced, and suitable for baby’s sensitive skin
- MULTI-USE: Use on hands, face, and nappy area
- SOOTHING INGREDIENTS: Made with aloe vera
- Gently cleans while providing Pampers’ trusted skin protection
- The unique pH balancing formula helps protect your baby’s sensitive skin from irritation
- Dermatologically tested, they are suitable to use from the first day
- With moisture protect closing system
- Want to know more about the components Pampers uses? Visit pampers.co.uk
- MULTI-PACK CONVENIENCE: 18 packs; 60 water based wipes per pack
- UNSCENTED: Fragrance free pre-moistened wet wipes; contains no perfume, parabens or phenoxyethanol
- FOR ULTRA SENSITIVE SKIN: Gently formulated and hypoallergenic for baby’s delicate skin
- MULTI-USE: Use on hands, face, and nappy area
- SOOTHING INGREDIENTS: 99.5% naturally derived ingredients (99% water)
- PURE, SIMPLE FORMULA: Our unscented Original baby wipes gently clean and help protect baby’s delicate skin with just 2 ingredients: 99.9% purified water and a drop of fruit extract.
- SAFE FOR PREMATURE & NEWBORN SKIN: Made using minimal ingredients, our wipes are suitable for delicate, premature & newborn skin. Whether you use them as nappy wipes or for everyday purposes, WaterWipes are ideal for all skin types.
- PLANT-BASED WIPES: Our Original baby wipes are plant-based and plastic-free**. Plus, they’re unscented, and contain no artificial fragrances or colours.
- TRUSTED BY DERMATOLOGISTS: Suitable for use on eczema-prone skin and allergy sufferers, WaterWipes are approved by Allergy UK & the Skin Health Alliance and registered by the Vegan Society.
- MORE EVERYDAY USES: WaterWipes are versatile for adults, pets, and surfaces too. These disposable wet wipes are ideal for cleaning small messes, refreshing skin, and wiping pets’ paws, making them a convenient travel essential for on-the-go use.
- Made with skin loving natural fibres
- 99 percent pure water
- Gently clean and protect baby’s delicate skin; safe from day one
- Hypoallergenic with no perfume
- British skin foundation recognises Huggies research into healthy skin
- Gentler than cotton wool & water
- Unique formula that helps restore natural skin pH and protect against irritation
- Delicate lotion with 99% water
- Made with 0% alcohol, perfume or dyes
- Suitable for extra delicate newborn skin
- 12 x 60 wipes
- Made with 99.5% natural ingredients
- Chemical free with no perfumes, parabens or phenoxyethanol
- 100% plant-based fabric that’s kind to soft skin
- 100% Recyclable packaging: at Mama Bear, we care about the planet and have removed the plastic lid from our wipes for full recyclability
- Huggies Baby Wipes made with even more skin loving natural fibres
- Huggies Natural Care Wet Wipes contain Aloe Vera
- Wet Baby Wipes are gently clean and protects baby’s sensitive skin; Safe from day one
- Hypoallergenic water wipes with no perfume
- British Skin Foundation recognises Huggies research into healthy skin
How do I store baby wipes in order to keep them fresher for longer?
Perhaps instead of asking, do baby wipes expire?, we should be asking, what is the best way to store baby wipes? We’ve seen that, despite most manufacturers stating that baby wipes do not have an expiration date, they can still become less effective and even habour bacteria. The good news is that there are a few small steps that you can take in order to maxmise the shelf life of your baby wipes.
- Keep your baby wipes sealed in an airtight container to prevent bacteria and mould growth
- Always ensure that you close the packet of baby wipes properly to keep them moist
- Storing baby wipes upside down can help prevent the formula from settling at the bottom of the packet
- Do not leave baby wipe packets in direct sunlight or in hot rooms
What can I use instead of baby wipes?
If you’re looking for ways to save money, become more eco friendly, and use a formula that’s gentle on your baby’s skin, you may wish to ditch baby wipes all together and look into this alternative. Many parents choose to use wash cloths in place of baby wipes. In order to do this, use a plastic tub and fill it with wash clothes that have been soaked in sterilised water. When a wash cloth is needed during a nappy change, it’s used in the same way a baby wipe would be and then put into a designated tub for dirty cloths. These are collected and sanitised at the end of the day, ready for use again.
Do Baby Wipes Expire?
To answer the question, do baby wipes expire?, you need to think about the brand of baby wipe you’re using. In most cases, the answer is no, baby wipes do not expire – at least not in the traditional sense. Although it’s unlikely they will become dangerous, all brands of baby wipes are susceptible to drying out and growing mould. Natural baby wipe brands do feature an expiration date on their packaging and state that baby wipes should be used within 15 months of production, whereas other brands recommend using wipes within 2 -3 years of production.