Dosh 41 - Schita on Clothes 6 - Baby Wipes (Klal 14 Siman 12) Hilchos Shabbos - S0403

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Dosh 41 - Schita on Clothes 6 - Baby Wipes (Klal 14 Siman 12) Hilchos Shabbos - S0403

We are continuing in siman 12, where the Chayei Adam discusses schita from cloth. Today, we will discuss the question of using baby wipes on Shabbos.

Baby wipes are made from soft tissue which is impregnated with a cleansing liquid. First, we must define that the purpose of using a baby wipe is to extract liquid from the wipe in order to clean. Therefore, the purpose of the schita is not to discard the liquid, but to use the liquid. Thus, we are dealing with a question of dosh/mefareik, in that one is extracting something absorbed in order to use it.
In order to determine whether the squeezing is dosh mideoraysa or not, we have to define whether it is gidulei karka or not. Practically, many baby wipes are made from paper, and cotton, and would be deoraysa, although some are petroleum-based materials.
Another question would be whether the material absorbs the liquid or only traps it, as if it only traps the liquid, it would also only be an issur derabanan. Practically, baby wipes are made to be so soft such that they do absorb, and it is therefore a question of dosh deoraysa.

The basic argument of those who permit baby wipes is that there is enough liquid on the surface of the wipe which can be accessed without squeezing it. This liquid is sufficient in and of itself to clean the child. Therefore, even if one argues it is inevitable that one will squeeze the wipe, it is not necessary, so it is a psik reisha d’lo nicha lei. We pasken that psik reisha d’lo nicha lei is assur miderabanan, based on Tosfos, although the Aruch disagrees and holds it is muttar. Rav Moshe is on record as permitting a certain type of towelette which was made of a hard paper and did not absorb well. Therefore, it is no longer a psik reisha that one would squeeze liquid from the towelette, and the liquid was primarily on the outside. Based on this teshuva of Rav Moshe, those who permit baby wipes assume that it is no longer a psik reisha.
Additionally, one could argue that if the liquid inside the wipe of a regular baby wipe is not necessary (because there is so much on the surface), even if one were to squeeze the wipe, and even if it were a psik reisha, it is not necessary. Therefore, one could argue that the liquid is being squeezed to discard it, so it will be a melacha she’eina tzricha legufa (s398). Thus, these two points are the source for those who matir using baby wipes.

Those who hold baby wipes are assur on Shabbos understand that, practically, most of the liquid of the wipe is absorbed within the wipe, so one’s intention is to squeeze out the liquid absorbed within the wipe. Therefore, if the wipe is made of natural fibers, it is an issue of dosh deoraysa, and if it is not natural, it is dosh miderabanan.

On a practical level, people either use baby wipes to extract the liquid within it, or because it is made of a stronger material which will not tear when cleaning a baby. If one is using the wipes for the second reason, they do not need to be wet. Therefore, one can dry baby wipes before Shabbos, spray water or baby oil directly onto the child, and then use the dry wipe to clean the child. This use is completely muttar.
If one dries out wipes but they are still moist, the Rema discusses whether one can use something which is still moist, or whether Chazal were concerned that one will become lax in drying out items completely before using them. This discussion is based on a discussion in hilchos Yom Kippur, regarding using a damp cloth to cool oneself or whether Chazal made a gezeira out of concern for rechitzah on Yom Kippur. The poskim conclude that the gezeira is made in both places, and therefore the wipes cannot be used unless they are completely dried out.

Summary
It is assur to use baby wipes on Shabbos unless one dries them out completely before use.