There’s nothing worse than the smell of diapers stinking up a beautifully decorated nursery. Diaper pails are special trash cans designed to seal off the scent and keep odours from spreading throughout the room. The best-selling diaper pails will seal off the odour, are easy to use and clean, and can last through a few kids. Additionally, the ideal diaper pail should be aesthetic and blend into the hues of the nursery, as well as seal the odour of diapers. Let’s discuss why you may need a diaper pail and what to look for in a diaper pail. Lastly, we’ll dive into some of the best diaper pails on the market.
Essential Factors of a Diaper Pail
While the primary goal of a diaper pail is to mute odours, different models focus more on one factor than the other. Let’s discuss what factors to consider when buying a diaper pail.
Smell: The most common use of a diaper pail is to control odour. Look for a diaper pail designed with a tight-fitting lid. The lid is essentially what holds the smell in. Additionally, specific models seal the bag as well as the top lid, double masking the scent.
User-Friendly: The ease of use of a diaper pail is equally as important as how well it keeps the smell locked in. Some models have a small opening where you have to push the diaper through. Other diaper pails have a trap door or a large enough hole. The most convenient addition to a diaper pail is a foot pedal. Consider these points before you go out searching for the best diaper pail.
Inner Space: The newborn stage involves frequent diaper changes; as babies age, they become less frequent. Depending on your baby’s age, you may want to look for a large-capacity diaper pail. Remember that the larger the pail, the longer the diapers will sit.
Price point: When selecting the best diaper pail, there are two expenses to consider. One is the diaper pail itself, and the other is the bags designed for that specific pail. Specific brands require special refills, while others don’t. These costs can add up, so you may want to consider a diaper pail that uses regular garbage bags.
Is a diaper pail necessary?
Although parents can survive without a diaper pail, adding it to the baby registry doesn’t hurt. Let’s be honest: many items are not a necessity but that we still own.
Before deciding if a diaper pail is a must-have, consider what you would do without one.
- You may throw every diaper in the trash can outside.
- You can put every diaper in a plastic bag in the garbage.
- You can use a regular garbage bin in the nursery for smelly diapers.
All these methods of getting rid of smelly diapers are either not as convenient as a diaper pail or don’t get rid of the odour as well as a diaper pail. We’re not here to root for diaper pails and call them perfect; however, they are a great solution to the smelly diaper problem.
Top Diaper Pails
Diaper Genie
The Diaper Genie diaper pail uses a clamp mechanism to lock in odours. Special bags seal each diaper individually to prevent the smell from travelling. This diaper pail is designed with a foot pedal, so it’s user-friendly, and it is also known to be one of the tallest diaper pails on the market.
Cons: Since this pail seals each diaper with a bag, it uses a mechanism where you have to squeeze the diaper into the opening of the pail. Furthermore, since the pail requires special bags and not just a standard bag, it is an extra expense.
Ubbi Steel Diaper Pail
The Ubbi diaper pail uses a standard-sized garbage bag, making bag replacement more convenient and cost-effective. It has a modern design and even comes with a child lock for the lid, preventing kids from exploring the treasures inside.
Cons: The Ubbi diaper pail lid needs to be slid open to insert a diaper. This can be inconvenient and less sanitary since after a diaper change, you’d want to wash your hands before touching anything.
Munchkin Step Diaper Pail
The Munchkin Step diaper pail is designed with a foot pedal, giving parents a hands-free experience. It has a small opening where the diaper needs to be squeezed. Once pushed deep enough, the pail will close the bag and seal the odour.
Cons: The pail uses an arm and hammer odour control ring that locks into place and needs to be refilled once it is finished. Additionally, the special pail liners need to be replaced.
Dekor Plus Diaper Pail
The Dekor Plus diaper pail is bigger than the average pail and can hold up to a week’s worth of dirty diapers. This model opens conveniently with a foot pedal and is designed with a childproof lock. The diaper slot opening is big, letting you simply toss the diaper into the pail without sticking your hand deep in there.
Cons: For those using reusable diapers, the pail has special liner refills; however, a regular trash bag also fits.
Conclusion – Diaper Pails
Throughout this diaper pail review, we went through some important factors to consider before purchasing a diaper pail. Of course, a diaper pail is not a must; however, it does make for a hassle and smell-free diaper-changing process. The amount of diaper-changing sessions is almost hard to count, especially in the first few months of babies’ lives. We discussed some of the best diaper pails based on our research on the web, and we also made sure to mention the cons of each pail. The rest is up to you; consider the cost of the refills or not, consider the amount of diapers the pail holds and the ease of use.
How often should a diaper pail be deep cleaned?
A diaper pail should be deep cleaned once a week; however, depending on its smell or dirtiness, it can be washed more frequently. Either way, the manufacturer’s instructions for the diaper pail will give you a better idea of how and when to clean it.
How long does the average diaper pail last?
The average lifespan of a diaper pail is about two to three years. However, this depends on a few factors, such as how often it is used, its quality, and whether it has been given the proper care and maintenance over the years.