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.

I like the wonder and interest this rug would be sure to inspire in a child. I think it would make a lovely match to my own son’s nursery. There are animal decals on the wall (removable, of course-such a great invention!) and greens and browns decorating the room. This warm and friendly rug isn’t too babyish; a child could use it for years to come. For $119.99, you get a 4’ rug or for $289.99, a 7’ rug at buybuybaby.com.

Though there is bedding and even a ceiling fan to go with the rugs on the site, you can decorate a room to go along with the theme without breaking the bank. Match your décor easily in a nursery or playroom to it by painting the walls green or blue and grab some simple bedding to accent it—perhaps a blue comforter and a sheet with animals scattered on it. One large animal print or painting should do for art work and a simple dresser painted in one of the colors found in the rug will really set things off. Find a coordinating curtain you love and voila! One child’s bedroom that will surely grow with her/him.

I’m in the thick of planning for our little one’s first birthday. I’m feeling a bit at a loss because daughter number two got what I would consider to be the perfect first birthday gifts. Since we still have them, I’m not sure what to get for number three. I’ve been devoting far too much time to obsessing over this. Here are some of my resulting thoughts about great first birthday gifts.

A great push toy is a wonderful option. I bought this great Natural Doll Pram from Haba for my middle daughter and we are still loving it. You can purchase one for $152.99 at sbkidsco.com. Although I’m not completely convinced we need another wooden push toy, it feels like a first birthday must. So, I think we will be gifting daughter number three with the Plan Toys Woodpecker Walker, which retails for $78.50 at nubiusorganics.com.

For a little girl, a simple doll is a perfect gift. Many boys will appreciate one too. My pick is Baby Stella. You can purchase this soft doll for $24.99 at amazon.com. I’d recommend getting sucked in by the accessories, though. I’ve found them to be pricey, and a bit under-sized.

A pull toy goes a long way in entertaining a new walker. I love Djeco’s line of wooden pull toys. Daughter number two received the kitty, and I bought the donkey for one of my nephews on his first birthday. Prices vary by animal. Plan to spend around $30-$35. You can check them all out at oompa.com.

Finally, a set of nesting cups or blocks makes for a lot of educational fun. I love the look of these Eric Carle blocks, but was disappointed when I received them and discovered they are made from cardboard. I will say that they have held up better than I expected. You can purchase a set for $20.99 at amazon.com.

My (nearly 4 years old) son really likes reading the book “Trashy Town” by Andrea Zimmerman. He loves that he can interact (I read the line “Is the trash truck full yet?” and he reads, as I taught him, “N-O. No!”) with the book rather than just listening the whole time. He seems to have taken to the main character, Mr. Gilly, and likes the easily interpreted pictures. He even likes the ending, in which Mr. Gilly is the last thing to be cleaned up, in the tub. We borrowed it from the library but it’s available at Amazon.com for $12.23.

Many moms I know rely on kellymom.com for their baby questions. Not only is the site attachment parenting and breastfeeding friendly, the advice works for the modern mom who doesn’t want to just go with what everyone is telling her. It’s for the mom who wants a different point of view than the archaic versions she gets outside her home. Any site that lets me know that maybe it’s normal that my one-year-old isn’t sleeping through the night (rather than the pressure I’m getting from everyone else to let him cry it out) is a site that gets a thumbs up from me. It answered a lot of my nursing questions when I was a newbie to the whole process as well.

October is SIDS Awareness Month. While SIDS is not something any parent wants to contemplate, it’s something of which we must all be mindful. Bill Schmid founded Halo Innovations, makers of the Halo Sleep Sack, in 1994 after he lost his daughter to SIDS. When my son was an infant, I felt comfortable having him wear the Halo Sleep Sack to bed each night, with no covers or blankets on his crib. I would highly recommend the Halo Sleep Sack to all parents. You can view more about Halo’s mission at HaloSleep.com, where you can also purchase a variety of Sleep Sacks for all sizes and stages of your baby’s life.

When we’re stuck for supper ideas, my husband and I turn to KraftFoods.com. There are recipes for every occasion and it couldn’t be easier to find recipes that work for you. Simply find the “Make It Now” box on the left hand side of the home page and type in the ingredients you have at hand and the site will hunt down every recipe with those items in them. We’ve put together some really great meals just by searching through the recipes offered on the site. The best part? There are pictures to go with nearly every recipe and they pop up when you scroll over the recipe title, which comes in handy when you’re in a hurry, as you don’t have to click on every single title to see what the meal actually looks like. I’m grateful to the folks at Kraft for their fab ideas and I think you will be too!

Let’s face it. Mamas can’t always be wrestling toddlers and infants into buggies,baby carriers and car seats while wearing ball gowns and designer frocks. They’ve got to have ease of mobility and comfort. They can’t worry about getting a crisp new white blouse smudged by little fingers. However, there’s no reason we can’t have both sensible and fashionable, is there?

I’ve talked to moms who swear by American Eagle Outfitters jeans, so check out the Women’s Boy Fit Jeans for $49.50 (buy one, get one 50% off) and the AE Floral Gathered Tank on sale for $9.95 (their clearance section has some pretty outstanding deals.) Both pieces are perfect for ease of wear and the top is ideal for covering a mommy belly, with its blousson hem, while looking pretty fabulous. Pair it with embellished sandals or wedge heels and you’re instantly a mommy-on-the-go trendsetter.

At The Gap, they make it easy for those who don’t like to put together their children’s outfits. They have “Get the Look” files in which they list all the things included in a featured outfit. What could be easier? Charming Prints from the Chelsea Collection is a layered look I think would suit any baby boy. Stripes, fall colors, and even matching boots are all listed for you right on Gap.com.

My oldest son has a pair of shorts just like these Gap Cargo Shorts. I think these would be just as useful for his little brother. I can dress them up by adding a polo shirt or button-up shirt or down by just putting them on with a tee. Easy to get on and off and you don’t even have to think about what you’re matching them to, as they’re neutral in color, I think these shorts are a staple to any little boy’s summer wardrobe. This pair is on sale for $14.99 at Gap.com in sizes 0 right up to 24 Months.

Doing a very boyish nursery or child’s room? Have a gander at the Cowboy Dusk Boudoir Pillow. Made by Dwell Studios, it is a great place to start for your little cowpoke’s new digs. Choose one of the colors from within for the walls of the room, such as the lighter blue or grey, and do the bedding in one of the more saturated shades, like the teal. Add matching curtains and a rug in a great shade of brown, add a white dresser and some furniture with antique qualities and you’ve got a room done nicely but not overdone.

The pillow is $39 on Amazon.com and with that stocked up site, it wouldn’t be difficult to finish off the rest of the room all in one spot.  The Dwell Studio fitted crib sheet in chocolate (Baby Thin Stripe) is a good place to start at $35. Add in the Wild West themed change pad cover by JoJo Designs for $19.99 and you’ll soon find it’ll all come together with ease.

This is the time of year when many moms start to think about buying Halloween costumes. I’ve already begun asking my son what he wants to be this year, and the resounding answer seems to be Spongebob. I’ve had great luck in previous years buying his Halloween costumes on ebay. While they do sell gently used costumes, most of the ones I’ve purchased for him have been new, such as the policeman’s costume he wore last year, shown in the photo above. This costume cost under $30, including accessories. I’ve found that ebay sellers generally offer much better prices than other stores specializing in costumes, and many times accessories that would normally cost extra are included in the price. All kinds of costumes in all sizes, from infant to adult, are available if you take the time to search. Check them out at ebay.com/halloween+costume and see what you can find.

It can be so difficult to find a babysitter you can trust to leave alone with your child. Most of us rely on relatives or close friends to do the job, but what if your regular sitters aren’t available and you need to find paid help? That’s where Nannies4Hire.com comes in. This service offers a free nationwide nanny search, based on zip code. Nannies4Hire.com has been in business since 1987. Nanny backgrounds may be checked and qualifications reviewed using the useful tools available to registered members such as sample interview questions, a sample reference form and a sample contract. There is also an online investigation service available on the site. Nannies4Hire.com has been featured many times on the Dr. Phil show, and provided relief nannies for Jon & Kate Gosselin. The service also offers elder care. Visit Nannies4Hire.com for more information.

The Coochy Coochy Coo Baby Powder Scented Candle comes in blue or pink, so it’s perfect for decorating a baby shower. Alternate pink and blue candles on elegant white tablecloths if you don’t know if mama’s having a boy or a girl. Since the candles imply tickling baby’s feet, use baby feet shaped accessories to complete the shower décor. It might be fun to have a foot shaped cake as well, with the words “Coochy Coochy Coo-Congratulations to You!” scrawled across it.

After the shower is over and the baby is born, the candles will come in handy in the change room or around the house to keep dirty diaper or spit-up smells at bay. They look adorable as well for $10 (on sale down from $19!) at flyingpeas.com. It doesn’t indicate whether the candle wax is easily removed once it’s completely burned down, but if it is, it’ll make a great storage container for baby’s room or change table.

I’ve been trying to take advantage of the long weekend to clean out closets and drawers. As I was packing away all the onesies my little one has outgrown, I was thinking how ironic it was that our favorites turned out to be some of the least expensive. We have quite a few different brands: Gerber, Carter’s, Circo (Target), and Old Navy to name a few. The Gerber ones were hands down our favorite, which I guess shouldn’t be surprising since they are the original “Onesie.” They are soft, stretchy, and fit wonderfully. We have both the organic and regular versions, and both are great. The Old Navy ones we have are very thin and completely stretched out at the neck and lost their shape after a few washings. The Target brand are very soft, but don’t have quite as much stretch and are a little wider than necessary. The Carter’s are similar to the Gerber ones, but cost quite a bit more.

I am willing to spend quite a bit on children’s clothes, but not so much on underwear that gets stained on a regular basis. For this reason, I would highly recommend the Gerber onesies. I bought most of ours at Target, but I think you can buy them at most similar stores as well. You can check out all Gerber’s products, and print some coupons at GerberChildrenswear.com.