6 of the best baby cotton wool pads/balls 2025
WHY DO YOU NEED COTTON WOOL FOR BABIES?
Cotton wool and water can be used instead of baby wipes to clean your baby during nappy changes. It is also useful for topping and tailing your child instead of a bath, keeping the umbilical cord stump clean before it falls off and cleaning any gunk from a newborn baby’s eyes with cooled boiled water.
What’s better? Baby wipes or cotton wool?
New parents used to be advised to use cotton wool and water instead of baby wipes with their newborn baby for the first few weeks because of how delicate a newborn’s skin is. But there is now a wide range of wipes which are around 99.9% water, for example, WaterWipes, making them just as gentle.
Some still prefer cotton wool though and if your baby hates the feeling of cold wipes, using warm water with the cotton wool will prevent any nappy changing crying.
Cotton wool baby changing tips
If your baby prefers being cleaned with warm water, it might be useful to keep a flask of water in your changing area.
A baby’s first poo, which is called meconium, is very thick and tar-like. It can be hard to clean with just cotton wool and water. So some suggest using olive oil to help clean it off. You can also apply olive oil or petroleum jelly (like Vaseline) to your baby’s bottom before their first bowel movement and this will also make the meconium much easier to remove.
If you are using cotton wool instead of baby wipes, it might be more economical to buy it in large rolls.
Is cotton wool better than baby wipes for the environment?
Baby wipes have improved a lot over the years and many are now plastic-free and biodegradable. Cotton wool is also 100% biodegradable (as long as no synthetic fibres have been added) but it is not a very sustainable material as it requires such a huge amount of water to grow. Plus if it’s not organic, pesticides and fertilisers will have been used on the crop.
It’s hard to find any definitive research into which is the most eco-friendly and it will depend on the individual product. Even though cotton wool and water seem like the most natural option, there are biodegradable, bamboo wipes which probably have a similar or more positive impact on the environment.
WHICH IS THE BEST COTTON WOOL FOR A BABY?
This list has been narrowed down to the very best with thorough research and the following considered:
Consumer reviews
Best-seller lists
Recommendations from industry experts
Award-winning products
Personal experience and the products loved by other parents.
The list is updated annually. It was last updated on December 4th, 2024.
If you buy through a link, we may earn a small affiliate commission. 5% of profits are donated to UK Baby Banks to help parents in need of essentials.
1. Boots baby cotton wool balls
These balls are made from 100% GOTS certified organic cotton. The bag is a minimum of 30% recycled plastic.
2. superdrug My little star large cotton wool pads
Soft, 100% cotton pads from Superdrug’s My Little Star baby range.
3. Robinson Cotton Wool Roll
A 500g roll of 100% pure cotton wool.
EVERY CHANGING PRODUCT - IN ORDER OF POPULARITY
4. Johnson’s baby cotton balls
100% cotton balls which have been designed for use on delicate skin.
5. Sainsbury’s Little Ones Square cotton pads
50 square cotton wool pads designed to be soft and gentle on a baby’s skin. Made from 100% cotton.
6. Simply gentle organic cotton balls
Large, soft 100% certified organic cotton balls. Also available in pads.
What you actually need for a baby
In order of popularity
MORE OF THE BEST:
Changing bags • nappy bins • reusable nappies • disposable nappies • changing mats • baby wipes • bath baths • baby towels • baby washcloths
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