Diaper Pails — Simple Diaper Disposal!
Let’s face it — while we all love our babies, having to deal with dirty diapers isn’t a pleasant job! You need to dispose of the diapers in a clean & easy way, and while throwing them in a regular trash can might be okay at first, you’ll soon find that it doesn’t quite contain the odours, especially as your baby gets older and starts eating solid foods. Diaper pails are specifically designed for this purpose: they eliminate odours, give you a place to put the used diapers, and are generally a much more convenient way to dispose of diapers. So, how do you choose a good diaper pail that’s going to suppress the smells? It’s easy! Here are my tips for choosing the best diaper pail, and what you should look for when searching for one.
Shopping For a Diaper Pail: What to Keep an Eye Out For
Diaper pails come with a number of different features. Here is what I think you should look for when deciding upon a diaper pail for your home.
- Easy to use— This is by far the most important aspect to look for in your new diaper pail! You definitely don’t want a diaper pail that you have to fumble around with, especially when you have a dirty diaper (and possibly a baby!) in your hands. There are two different ways diaper pails function:
- #1 — The diapers are pushed through a hole and past a clamp-like device.
- #2 — The diapers are placed in a hole, and then you move a handle which pushes the diaper down into the pail
I would recommend uses method #2, as this ensures that the diapers are being compacted down into the pail. With method #1, this isn’t necessarily true.
- Foot pedal — This goes along with the above point: the diaper pail being easy to use. When dealing with messy diapers, being able to open the diaper pail with your foot is priceless and makes the job much easier. I would recommend spending a little extra money if it makes the difference between having a foot pedal or not. I can’t even tell you how much of a lifesaver this feature is if you’re trying to juggle your baby and a dirty diaper at 3AM in the morning.
- Keeps odours contained — Most diaper pails are good at this — after all, it’s one of the main purposes of having a diaper pail!
- Liners/bags that are inexpensive & easy to change — Some diaper pail liners can come at a premium, especially those that are scented. Some diaper pails allow you to use regular trash bags while others will require specialized bags or liners. While this might seem like a great money-saving option at first, you’ll find that diaper pails that allow this are usually not user-friendly.
- Large storage capacity — This is a must if you’re a parent that doesn’t want to empty the diaper pail every day. Changing the bag in the diaper pail is never going to be a pleasant experience, and opting for a diaper pail with a large storage capacity means that it will be able to handle quite a few diapers, and a quality diaper pail will make sure that it doesn’t smell at all — very convenient.
BabyPrimer’s #1 Choice: Diaper Genie Elite
The Playtex Diaper Genie Elite (formally known as the Diaper Genie II Elite) is my choice for the #1 overall best diaper pail for a few good reasons. It’s very simple to use: it has a nice foot pedal that you step on which opens up the lid, and you just push the diaper inside. It can be used entirely with one hand, which is great. When you step on the foot pedal, the internal clasp opens so that you can put the diaper in, and when you release the pedal, it closes, sealing any odour inside.
The Diaper Genie Elite is a great value, too, at around $40. There are a some diaper pails on the market that are a lot more expensive and not nearly as good. While you are supposed to purchase specialized refills, there is a secret that Playtex probably doesn’t want you to know: you can use regular trash bags with it! All you have to do is stick the trash bag inside the Diaper Genie, then wrap the top of the bag around the holding ring when you place it back inside. It should work perfectly. If you prefer, you can also buy the proper refills which tend to be inexpensive especially if you buy them online. Each refill will last you about a month, and you’ll have to change the bag about once per week.
When the bag is full, you can easily remove it to be disposed of with the rest of your trash. It’s very easy to remove the bag and insert a new one, and I think you’ll get the hang of it after doing it once.