Blogger Dad Reviews – Parent’s Choice Baby Wipes
(Note – this is the first in a series of Blogger Dad Reviews. I have not received any compensation for this review, though it sure would be nice if someone did pay me. This review is based on my experiences with stuff we buy. And while most online reviews are pretty vanilla, I try and spice mine up with some humor so even if you don’t like the product, you’ll enjoy reading the review.)
If you have a child, you don’t need to be told how much stuff you have to buy. I’ll bet it’s a lot more stuff than you thought you’d have to buy. One of the biggest expenses for us is poop removal. Or as you might call it, diapers and wipes.
We spend roughly $12 million a year on poop-related products. Or at least it seems that way.
So when we found Walmart’s Parent’s Choice Baby Diapers and Wipes, we were thrilled. Both products are several dollars cheaper than the name brands (when you buy in bulk) and my wife has been buying them for nearly two years now. While we love the diapers, which are equal to the name brands at almost half the price, the wipes are another story.
It’s not that the wipes are awful, they are strong and sturdy and damp enough to clean up the toughest of stains. However, and here’s my biggest gripe with the wipes, they are not threaded.
Nearly every other wipe we buy comes threaded together, folded in such a way that when you pull one wipe through the top of a container, the next one is sticking out and ready to go. Pretty simple concept, right?
When you’re wrist deep in poopy diapers and you have an infant or toddler that would rather squirm around than let you clean them up, you NEED quick access to as many wipes as you can get. With me, it’s roughly 20 sheets per wipe… What? I don’t want to get poo on my hands.
With Parent’s Choice wipes, you need to manually open the box top, dig inside, then spend precious moments slowly peeling one wipe from another by which time, you can have a real disaster on your hands. We’re talking FEMA teams in Hazmat suits, folks. The only way they could have made it more difficult to get wipes out would be if you had to solve some puzzle to get access to each individual wipe.
So, please for the love of all that is Holy, Parent’s Choice, MAKE YOUR WIPES MORE EASILY ACCESSIBLE!! Your product is so close to perfect but fails in the most important category for most parents – convenience.
Normally when doing a review, I would provide a link to where you can get more information about the product online.
Oddly enough, when I searched for Parent’s Choice wipes on the web, I couldn’t find a site devoted to the products. They have a formula site, but nothing for diapers or wipes. If you click on Walmart’s site and do a search for baby wipes, Parent’s Choice doesn’t even come up. So finding Parent’s Choice on the web is as difficult as using their product.
A better wipe
If you are looking for a good wipe which is also threaded, I would suggest Target’s generic brand (whatever they’re calling it these days – don’t even get me started on Target, they can’t even master the fine art of ringing up customer orders in a timely manner). Target’s wipes are not as strong a wipe as Parent’s Choice, and they costs a bit more, but they get the job done and more importantly…
they dispense conveniently.
If you have a baby wipe horror story or want to suggest some good alternatives for readers, or simply want to tell me how awesome/lame this review was, feel free to leave a comment.
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14 Responses to “Blogger Dad Reviews – Parent’s Choice Baby Wipes”
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We tried the cheap wipes. They work for the most part, but are not as their nane brand counterparts. Maybe it’s just my children’s poop.
Even with the threaded wipes, I know that I need to work fast when changing the kids diapers. I put them on our 1500 sq/ft changing table and have to pull out between 5-6 wipes for the job. I lay them down like I’m ready to perform surgery and need the required tools ready to go.
Oh, and wipes also works on the bird poop on your vehicle.
Eric ´s last blog ..Eric Bolton’s Memorial Services
Hi BloggerDad!!! I’m going to forward your blog post over to the folks at Parent’s Choice. I work closely with their PR team and I know they’d love to hear your comments!!! Thanks so much for the review!!!
Monica Brady´s last blog ..Review & Giveaway: Thermos Intak
I like the Walgreens diapers too, and the wipes are ok I guess. But I have found that the diapers work just as well as the name brand. They are just a little less…. soft. Like on the outside. But they still work. Oh, and they run a little smaller than the Pampers brand. But I have found that Pampers run bigger than most of the other brands anyway.
Jennifer´s last blog ..Wake Up Call
Convenient dispensing when you’ve got a squirming, poop-covered bum to deal with is essential.
MommaSunshine´s last blog ..Time to Lighten Up with a Giveaway!!
I’ve been using Parent’s Choice wipes through two kids now. The trick is to pull out two or three and separate them before you ever open that dirty diaper. Guesstimate wipes number of wipes needed based on the length at which you hold the child away from you to avoid the smell.
What I really love is that you can buy a case of these wipes for $12 and that lasts a very long time.
However, I do agree that if the wipes dispensed easily, it’d be a huge plus to an already great product.
tjwriter´s last blog ..I Love Me A Squishy Newborn
I would have to agree with my hubby on this. While I have more patience to deal with “wipe separation”, it would be so nice to have them “threaded” so that when placed in a dispenser, it’s an easy grab. I love that they are so affordable and hope that if the folks at PC do redesign their product, it doesn’t hurt the pocket of the thrifty consumer. Especially in times like these.
i like this review in fairness. as a young dad, i learned to personally compare different baby wipes with different considerations in mind like the price, quality and if my baby’s skin has no bad reaction towards it.
elmot´s last blog ..The Blogger Who Showered Me With Stars
Great review and FUNNY! Kirkland brand isn’t too bad, either; no refills required. Easy access to wipes is definitely important. I agree, there is no great advantage to having to open the top of the dispenser to grab wipes during times of crisis. You’d think you were adding hot coals to their bums or something! Just trying to clean you, kid. I have to say that I have that trouble with Huggies brand wipes, too. I have ripped the lid off before. Thank goodness there is a new one each time you buy a case. My other pet peeve is the scent; I made the mistake of buying scented ones from 2 different brands because they were on major clearance. The scent does helps to remove the poop smell, but when it’s just a wet diaper, I have to hold my breath to avoid smelling the wipe. Ack! Guess that’s why they were discontinued.
Bubbles n’ Cups´s last blog ..Castle Craig Tower in Hubbard Park, a Hidden Gem in CT?
We bought all our wipes at the dollar store. WAY cheaper than even WalMart, but alas they weren’t threaded either. Sucks for sure.
Writer Dad´s last blog ..How to Think Like a Black Belt in Parenting
i’ve used parents choice through both of my kids diaper days (one of whom is STILL going through his. dont get me started on that) and the type i buy are threaded. they are the unsented gentle ones. they are more clothlike and softer than the other type, and cost the same, however, you do get a few less wipes per package. just thought you might want to try them
I am also a huge fan of the Parent’s Choice brand. I found that when I buy the wipes in the plastic dispensers or the replacement packs they are a pain to try and deal with not being threaded. However I have switched to their 3-pack of Sensitive Real Cloth Wipes which oddly enough are threaded. They work wonders too. My daughter doesn’t react so well to regular wipes so I was thrilled to find that their sensitive wipes are easier on her skin and easier on my patience since I don’t have time for the other ones in a “poop emergency”. You should check them out.
Liz ´s last blog ..Fun Post
Thank you so much for your helpful review! As a first-time mom of a 3-week old, I am quickly coming to my senses when it comes to buying diapers, wipes, and formula. I used to turn my nose up at these generic brands, but have quickly realized that there is no difference and the money saved can be spent on much more important things for my daughter. I was searching for reviews on the Parents Choice brand and came across your blog. I am glad I read your review, you have saved me the headache of finding out the issues on my own. Convenience is worth the few extra cents per wipe. Happy diapering everyone!
I am so glad to find this site. I almost called the 1-800 number on the Parent’s Choice wipes cuz I thought mine were defective. I made the mistake of buying the huge box of refills only to find out that they don’t pull out one after the other!! What is the purpose of putting the folds into the wipes then? It is really hard to find the ‘flappy’ part to pull. I end up frustrated and try to ‘pincher’ pull a wipe out and end up tearing it. I can’t wait until the box is gone!!! Thank you for posting this thread. Like I said, I really thought my box was defective since this makes no sense at all. They are wipe refills, but every plastic container for wipes includes the full hinge lid with the trap door in it to pull the wipes through. I wouldn’t complain so much except for the fact that I bought the box in November 2009. Apparently our grips are not apparent to Parent’s Choice!!