Many adults prefer to wash their skin with warm water. When water that we assume to be warm or lukewarm turns out to be cold, it can be an unpleasant shock to our system.
So then, if we don’t like the unexpected chill of cold water or cloth, then why do so many adults repeatedly wipe down the sensitive skin of their babies (and in their most sensitive areas) with cold baby wipes?
A similar question was asked by the inventor of the baby wipe warmer, and its logic has inspired many parents to begin looking for the best baby wipe warmer for their child.
Advantages of using a warmer
The primary benefit of a baby wipe warmer is obvious: it provides your baby with the increased comfort of a warm baby wipe.
This warmth can be especially comforting as the baby is changed, a process that can be especially stressful for both babies and parents. In fact, many parents consider their diaper wipe warmer to be an integral part of their changing stations—just as important as the wipes themselves.
The best diaper wipe warmer for your baby will not only provide increased comfort, it may also include features that increase the freshness and hygienic properties in the wipes themselves.
Some studies have shown that just the increased temperature alone can provide a cleaner experience.
The only major potential drawback of baby wipe warmers is the simple fact that they are a piece of electrical equipment that heats up and is often in close contact to water and wet surfaces.
As with any such product, a certain degree of caution should be exercised.
Before you buy
When buying a diaper wipe warmer, here are some factors to consider:
- Size – How many wipes does it hold? If you and your baby are loyal to a particular brand of baby wipes, you may want to make sure an entire package will fit inside the warmer you choose.
- Disposable or Reusable Wipes – Which kind do you prefer? Reusable cloth wipes are increasingly popular and some wipe warmers are designed specifically for these cloth wipes.
- Heating source – Some wipe warmers heat their wipes from a heating source on the top, while other designs place the heating source at the bottom. Still others place multiple heating sources throughout the device. Which style is best is debatable, but you may come to prefer one style over the others.
- Lighting – Since babies sometimes need changing at nighttime, some wipe warmers include a light to make this easier. Lights vary in style and function from model to model, and some warmers don’t include a light at all. Depending on how often you change your baby at night, this is definitely a feature you will want to consider.
Before we share the research on our top picks, check out the table below for a quick overview.
Quick comparison: Best baby wipe warmer
Wipe warmer | Features we love | Rating | Buy it now |
|---|---|---|---|
Munchkin Warm 
| - Pop-top lid provides | ||
Bundle Tumble ComfyClean Baby 
| - Wipes are less | ||
hiccapop Wipe Warmer and Baby Wet 
| - Has built-in light for nighttime changing | ||
Prince Lionheart Warmies 
| - Only cloth wipe warmer | ||
Lil' Jumbl Baby 
| - Large capacity - | ||
Babies R Us Wipes Warmer with Light 
| - Holds 100 wipes |
Keep reading for the nitty gritty on the best warmers for wipes.
Munchkin Warm Glow Wipe Warmer
This wipe warmer was definitely designed by someone with experience.
There are several features about this model that demonstrate a practical understanding of what parents really need in a wipe warmer.
Its design includes a see-through window on the front so parents can see how many wipes are left in the warmer.
The plug-in warmer also includes a light that automatically shuts off after 10 minutes; this automatic 10-minute light can be particularly beneficial for night-time changing situations when babies can be disturbed by sudden changes in lighting.
Any warmer that helps a baby sleep easier is definitely in the running for best baby wipe warmer.
Some users of this product have reported that its design can allow air in to cause dry wipes, while others have mentioned that it is difficult to fit an entire package of wipes inside at once.
The top-down warming system is effective for most users, but some have found it understandably frustrating to find the wipes getting progressively cooler in those common situations when more than a few wipes are necessary.
Overall, most have had great experiences with this wipe warmer.
Pros
- Top-down warming system
- Automatic 10-minute light for night-time changing
- Holds 100 wipes
- Flip-top lid
- Affordable
- View window
- Lead free
Cons
- Gaps may allow air in causing dry wipes
- Top wipes warmer than others
Our favorite feature
The best features of this wipe warmer are the design features that make it so convenient. The pop-top lid allows for easy access to wipes, and the view window lets you know exactly when you have plenty of wipes left and when you need to restock the warmer. The 10-minute automatic light is another incredibly practical feature, as it takes into consideration the soothing effect that this lingering light can have on a baby who’s just been changed in the middle of the night.
Bundle Tumble ComfyClean Baby Wipe Warmer
This wipe warmer offers a unique design that helps make sure your baby’s sensitive skin isn’t shocked by frigid wipes.
This model’s warming mechanism is a soft pad at the bottom on the inside of the wipe warmer; all you have to do is keep it moist. As the wipe warmer heats up, the water on the pad turns to steam and heats the wipes (up to 80) that you placed on top of it. With this system you can conveniently transfer wipes to and from the container using different lids.
A large lid pops off for you to refill your stock of wipes; you then pull the wipes out through a smaller slit. In this way, this wipe warmer model effectively mimics the design of most store-bought plastic wipe containers and helps keep the wipes from drying out.
Pros
- Steam-warming system
- Large lid for refills
- Small lid to pull wipes
- Status indicator light
- Holds up to 80 baby wipes
Cons
- Must keep pad adequately moist
Our favorite feature
Wipe warmers that are only able to warm a few wipes at a time are inevitably disappointing when a messy job calls for about a dozen wipes. This product’s steam-warming system that starts from the bottom solves that problem by creating consistent temperatures throughout the container. While some have reported difficulty keeping the heating pad adequately moist, most have found that the steam-warming method is a great way to heat all of the wipes in the warmer. The status indicator light is also a great feature: it lights up when the temperature is just right, taking out the guesswork.
hiccapop Wipe Warmer and Baby Wet Wipes Dispenser
This wipe warmer features a top-down warming system that uses a silicone seal to trap heat and moisture inside the container and keep wipes fresh.
This model also recognizes that babies often need warm wipes in the middle of the night by including a built-in changing light that automatically shuts off after 10 minutes.
A convenient viewing window is placed on the front of the container so parents always know about how far away they are from needing more wipes.
Though some have reported the viewing window to fill with condensation and thus become difficult to see through, the model does come with an additional, replacement lens. A low voltage power adapter is included to provide electrical safety.
Pros
- Top-down warming system with silicone seal
- BPA free
- Holds 75+ wipes
- Built-in changing light automatically shuts off
- Lifetime warranty
- Viewing window with additional lens included
- Low voltage power adapter
Cons
- Top wipes warmer than others
Our favorite feature
This baby wipe warmer’s design definitely goes the extra mile to accommodate those difficult, middle-of-the-night diaper changing sessions. The built-in changing light is designed to provide a soft light that limits its disturbance to the baby. The light automatically shuts off after 10 minutes to ease the baby’s environment back to normal. As all parents know, diaper changes don’t run on a fixed schedule—this baby wipe warmer understands and tries to make the process a little easier when both babies and parents are tired.
Prince Lionheart Warmies Wipes Warmer
With the increasing popularity of reusable cloth wipes (and cloth diapers), there was bound to be a baby wipe warmer designed specifically to heat these wipe; this baby wipe warmer is it.
While this warmer doesn’t hold as many wipes as other wipe warmers, that’s only because of its compatibility with cloth wipes, which are generally larger. Of course, because they are reusable, you simply don’t need as many cloth wipes as you would need disposable wipes.
The design of this product incorporates a three-part heating system. Three different heating sources are placed at different points on the container, allowing the heat to be distributed evenly throughout. An anti-microbial, micropore pillow at the bottom of the container is provided to help keep the wipes moist and fresh.
The brand selling this wipe warmer also sells cloth wipes themselves; though the brand understandably markets this warmer for use with their own specific wipes, it would be suitable for use with any cloth warmer.
Pros
- 100% rayon (material made from bamboo)
- Designed for cloth wipes
- Micropore pillow
- No dyes or bleaches
- Three-part heating system
Cons
- Not designed for disposable wipes
Our favorite feature
What stands out about this wipe warmer is its specific design for cloth wipes. People use cloth wipes for different reasons. Some choose cloth wipes for the environmental benefits of producing less waste, while others focus on saving money over time by reusing wipes. If you only use cloth wipes, regardless of the reason, this may be the best baby wipe warmer for you.
Lil' Jumbl Baby Wipe Warmer
This wipe warmer utilizes a warming device at the bottom of the wipe container to provide heat up through the wipes.
Also at the bottom of the device is an anti-microbial cotton pad—keeping this pad damp helps ensure that the wipes in the warmer remain fresh and clean.
It includes a green light on the front that lights up to let portents know when the device has heated the wipes to the right temperature for their baby’s comfort and hygiene.
Pros
- Holds 100 wipes
- Hygienic pad
- Low voltage power adapter
- Temperature light
Cons
- Bottom wipes may overheat/burn
Our favorite feature
The amount of wipes that this wipe warmer is able to hold at one time is impressive. Its ability to hold 100 wipes, compared with others that hold closer to 75 or 80 wipes, may not seem like a significant feature at first glance. The increased storage capacity, however, increases the odds that it will hold an entire package of wipes.
Babies R Us Wipes Warmer with Light
This model warms up baby wipes on two different heat settings.
It has several features designed to increase convenience and practicality.
It includes a nighttime light that emits soft light. The light on a baby wipe warmer needs to strike a balance between strong enough for parents to see what they’re doing and soft enough to avoid disturbing babies; this warmer really makes an effort to achieve such balance.
Its 100-wipe capacity, along with a wipe count viewing window, gives you the peace of mind that comes with knowing you have enough wipes.
Pros
- Two heat settings
- Automatic nighttime light
- View window
- Holds 100 wipes
Cons
- Trouble keeping all wipes warm
Our favorite feature
The two heat settings are this model’s distinguishing feature. Many of the problems people have with wipe warmers stem from having trouble finding that perfect wipe temperature. A warmer with two heat settings simply increases the odds you will find a temperature that works for you and your baby. Some babies are more sensitive than others, and a baby’s sensitivity level may change with the seasons or when they are sick; providing multiple heat settings helps address this and helps make sure a baby is as comfortable as possible.
After reading through hundreds of wipe warmer reviews, it can still be difficult to tell just which product is perfect for you. The truth is that there are more similarities between the various baby wipe warmers than there are differences. As a result, its important to focus on one or two aspects of a wipe warmer that are the most relevant for your situation.
For example, if you’re lucky enough to have a baby that sleeps through the night, then you can feel free to disregard the reviews that take issue with a warmer’s nighttime changing light—since you won’t be using it often. Of course, you would also be free to pick a model without a light at all.
While the process of finding the right baby wipe warmer can be stressful, it’s helpful to remember that the overall concept of wipe warmers is definitely important.
There is no doubt that using warm wipes from any wipe warmer can be more comfortable for many babies than cold wipes.
Some studies indicate that warmer wipes may even be more hygienic.
Improved health and comfort for your baby is definitely worth the investment in time and money that it takes to find the right warmer.
Featured image: Kevin Phillips - Diaper Change
