I have always bought name brand diapers, because once upon a time I worked in a daycare and really noticed a difference between diaper rashes in kids who wore the name brands and those who wore generic. For some reason, though, I always felt the need to buy the name brand wipes as well. In the last year or so, however, I’ve taken advantage of a few deals on store brands that were too good to refuse. I thought I would pass along some observations.
Overall, Huggies Supreme Wipes are my tried and true favorite. I have used these since my first daughter was born almost eleven years ago. I love them because they are thick and fragrance-free. I guess, from an environmental perspective, that they are probably a bit more wasteful than some because they are so thick, but I think I use fewer wipes per change. At $3.29 for a tub at drugstore.com, they are very affordable. Huggies also puts out lots of coupons (although fewer for wipes than diapers).
I like the Pampers Sensitive wipes fairly well also. These are fragrance-free, but they are very thin. I feel like I have to use a lot to get the job done. They are comparably priced to Huggies– $2.99 at drugstore.com. I find that many store brands are actually fairly close to Pampers in quality and texture. I have recently used the Target Up & Up unscented and like them quite a bit. They aren’t sold online, but they are about $1.50-$1.99 a tub. CVS’s Playskool Cottony Cloths (cvs.com) are pretty good, too, but I find the scent of the regular to be horrid.
Lansinoh Clean and Condition cloths are one of my favorites for newborns. They help protect the bottoms of breastfed babies, who tend to make a few more messes than their formula-fed counterparts. These are super soft and strong, but like the Pampers wipes, they are very thin. They also have a rather strong fragrance that I could do without. At $3.99 for a soft pack (drugstore.com), they are also one of the most expensive options. I have tried the Target brand of these, which I find to be a close match, but not quite as good as the original.
In times of greatest diaper-guilt, I’ve also tried Seventh Generation Unscented Wipes. These are a great more environmentally-friendly alternative to traditional wipes–although I think this is mainly due to their lack of chemicals–I don’t think they are biodegradable. At $4.65 a tub, they are fairly pricey for what they are. You can purchase them at drugstore.com, and more stores are starting to carry them as well.
I know many who use reusable cloths as a truly eco-friendly alternative. My daughter’s old daycare used this method, and I found it fairly agreeable when I changed her diapers there. It has not been something I’ve done at home, though. You can use regular washcloths, or purchase special cloth baby wipes, such as these from Lil’ Melon, which retail for $12.95 at lilmelon.com.