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Verywell Family / Brian Kopinski
During a baby's first year alone, parents and caregivers will change their little one's diaper nearly 3,000 times, or about 8 to 12 diapersperday.A diaper pail is a reliable place to toss those dirty diapers after each change so you don't have to smell them again. They may look like fancy trash cans, but diaper pails are more efficient at trapping odors than your standard garbage bin and often blend seamlessly into your nursery or home decor.
To find the best diaper pails, we referred to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)for tips on disposing of diapers properly and buying baby equipment. We also spoke to parents and medical professionals, including JustAnswer pediatrician Denise Scott, MD, and Laura Purdy, MD, MBA, a board-certified family medicine physician licensed to practice in all 50 states. With their guidance in mind, we researched dozens of top-rated diaper pails on the market and considered their design, ease of use, odor control, ease of cleaning, and overall value. We then narrowed our list to 13 diaper pails, which we put through multiple tests at theVerywell测试实验室in New York City.
To begin our testing, we set up each diaper pail according to the manufacturer's recommendations, noting whether they required assembly. We equipped the diaper pails with the proper liners (refill rings or standard trash bags). To mimic dirty diapers, our parenting editors measured and poured one-third of a cup of apple cider vinegar into the gussets of three diapers of different sizes (1, 3, and 6) for every diaper pail. Then, we used one hand to fold the diapers to replicate holding a baby in one hand and a diaper in the other. We placed the diapers into the pails, observing if the opening of the pail was big enough to accommodate fuller diapers or multiple simultaneously. Next, we placed the diaper pails (one at a time) in a nearby room, locked the lids, and left the room to smell coffee beans to neutralize any lingering odors in our noses. We waited 3 to 5 minutes (or more when necessary) before returning to the diaper pails to smell, change bags, and clean them according to the manufacturer's instructions.
After thorough testing, we selected the eight best diaper pails and sent them out with our editors, who continue to use them at home with their babies to determine their durability and quality in the real world. To ensure we're recommending the best diaper pails for families, we continue to update this list as our editors provide additional feedback.
Best Overall
Arm & Hammer Munchkin Step Diaper Pail Powered
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Amazon
Two bag styles
Childproof locking system
Self-sealing system traps odors
Diaper needs to fall deep enough for pail to pull down/seal
The Munchkin Step Powered by Arm & Hammer stands out on our list for its hands-free access, great odor control, and childproof locking system. The design is a simple white cylinder shape and measures 12 x 11 x 27 inches, so it doesn’t stick out like a sore thumb in your baby’s nursery.
The smooth, plastic material is safe to clean with your favorite cleaning product. We loved the lack of hidden crevices, which allowed us to get thorough sanitation every time. A foot pedal allows hands-free access regardless of bag choice—you can hold your baby with one arm and throw the diaper into the pail with the other. You just have to ensure the diaper falls in far enough for the grasping mechanism to pull it down and seal correctly (which we sometimes found tricky during testing). To prevent curious littles from opening the pail, press a button to activate the childproof locking system.
There are two ways to use the diaper pail: with Munchkin-compatiblerefill rings(one long continuous bag) or the company’ssnap, seal, and toss bags. To use the ring, lift the lid with your hand or the easily accessible foot pedal and snap the ring into the opening. Then, pull the bag through the bottom and tie it off with a knot. After the bag reaches its capacity, use the built-in knife on the underside of the opening to cut the bag off, tie another knot, and throw it out. The snap, seal, and toss bags eliminate cutting and tying knots. Snap the bag into the opening, fill it with diapers (30 per bag), then remove and snap the bag’s opening together to create a seal. We tried both disposal options in the lab, which were equally simple and intuitive.
One of our favorite features of the Munchkin Arm & Hammer Diaper Pail is its self-sealing system to lock in odors. The closing mechanism seals the bag shut as the lid closes and keeps the bag sealed when the lid opens. We detected zero stenches from the diaper pail despite soaking diapers in apple cider vinegar. In addition to the self-sealing system, we credit the lavender-scented refill bags and Arm & Hammerbaking soda puck(also lavender scented) for absorbing odors. When opening the diaper pail to cut the bag inside, the wonderful aroma of lavender was the only thing we smelled.
这个小鬼尿布桶是w的更高的价格orth the upfront investment for its stellar odor control and effortless use with both bag styles. A bonus? For every diaper pail sold, Munchkin plants a tree.
Price at time of publication: $74
Key Specs:
Dimensions:12 x 11 x 27 inches |Capacity:272 newborn diapers with regular refill ring (total) and 30 diapers with snap, seal, and toss bags |Material:Plastic |Opening Mechanism:Foot pedal
Best Value
Dekor Classic Hands-Free Diaper Pail
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Amazon
Compatible with regular trash bags
Childproof cutter
Hidden childproof lock
Opening door/installing bag not intuitive
Faint odor when close to pail
之间的质量,方便,和价格,这是一个no-brainer to label the Dekor Classic Hands-Free Diaper Pail as our best value pick. Its tough and durable plastic won’t rust, dent, or absorb odors. Plus, the material is a breeze to clean and sanitize with antibacterial household cleaners. The wide cylinder shape fits well in small spaces and blends in with your home decor thanks to two color options: white or gray. A self-closing lid is whisper-quiet, so it won’t slam and make noise while your baby sleeps. There’s even a hidden childproof lock to keep curious kiddos from sticking their hands into the trap door opening.
The Dekor Classic is compatible with the company’srefill bags, or you can use standard four-gallon trash bags. To insert the bag, press the foot pedal to open the top. Place the bag around the inner ring and then pull through to the bottom by opening the side door. Unfortunately, unlocking the door and adding a new bag was not intuitive; we had to refer to the company’s instructions for additional help during testing. Like the Munchkin Step, the Dekor Classic also features a built-in cutting tool to assist you in removing the bag when full (45 newborn diapers). Pull the top of the bag down and through the childproof cutter on the interior side of the door and tie a knot to throw it out. Create a new knot at the bottom of the continuous liner to form a new bag and shut the door.
Odor control is reliable with the Dekor Classic. A spring-loaded opening lets you quickly drop a diaper in and then closes the rubber seals immediately to prevent odors from escaping. While we smelled a light apple cider vinegar scent when we were extremely close to the pail, we didn’t experience any stink when walking by. Even after removing the dirty diaper bag, the vinegar smell never lingered.
In addition to the Dekor diaper pail's many special features, the company pre-installs one refill bag to get you started. We love how you can use the company’s bags or your own, so you can use the diaper pail as a standard trash can once those diaper days are over.
Price at time of publication: $35
Key Specs:
Dimensions:12.25 x 8.75 x 21 inches |Capacity:45 newborn diapers |Material:Plastic |Opening Mechanism:Foot pedal
Best Odor Control
Diaper Genie Expressions Diaper Pail
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Amazon
Sleek, durable design
Odor-locking clamp opening
Straightforward and easy to use
No foot pedal
Must stick hand inside clamp to drop diaper
The Diaper Genie Expressions is small but packs a punch—and odor isn’t one of them. We appreciate the compact, durable, and sleek design of the diaper pail, which camouflages beautifully in a nursery.
Though the company didn’t specify how to clean the diaper pail, we wiped it down with a soapy cloth and water before drying it completely with paper towels. You’ll want to watch out for the nooks and crannies under the lid, but other than that, cleaning the pail was a painless process.
Despite the lack of a foot pedal, opening the Expressions diaper pail is seamless. Push one button on the top for it to pop open (though you’ll have to close it manually one-handed). You have to stick your hand through the “Push-N-Lock” clamp to properly dispose of a diaper, which can be a downside for parents and caregivers looking for a hands-free diaper pail. Otherwise, the diaper pail is straightforward to use.
This Diaper Genie diaper pail is only compatible with the company’s specialrefills bags(no standard trash sacks). The bags feature seven layers of protection, including an antimicrobial film to lock in germs and stop the stink. You can place the refill ring into the top of the diaper pail and tug the bag through the lid. Tie a knot on the end of the bag and you’re good to go. The Expressions holds up to 50 diapers, which you can dispose of using the integrated cutter under the pail’s lid. We had no difficulty pulling the bag out to dispose of it and create a new one.
The clamp on the top of the diaper pail and the bags (scented and unscented) do a great job of concealing smells. With the pail closed, we detected zero odor. We neutralized our nasal palette with coffee beans and returned to the pail to smell—nothing again. Then, we waited several seconds after removing and disposing of the bag, and no odors lingered.
At $28, the Diaper Genie Expressions is affordable and reasonably priced. It works wonders to trap odors from breaking out and fits in tastefully with a nursery. The company even includes one refill to get things going, making it a great baby shower gift.
Price at time of publication: $28
Key Specs:
Dimensions:11 x 22.5 x 11 inches |Capacity:50 diapers (newborn size) |Material:Plastic |Opening Mechanism:Push-button
Best Hands-Free
Dekor Plus Hands-Free Diaper Pail
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Amazon
Six color options
Large opening
Holds cloth diapers
Opening door/installing bag not intuitive
Dekor +尿布桶就像经典的(our best value pick) older sibling. They have their similarities, but they're not identical. The Dekor Plus is made with the same sleek plastic that's safe to clean with a baby wipe, household products (even bleach!), or a soapy damp cloth and water. Unlike its counterpart, the Plus comes in six—not two—colors, like mint, white, and pink, to complement your nursery style. It reaps a larger footprint at 21.5 x 13.5 x 9.63 inches, as the design is wider to accommodate the large door opening and to hold more diapers. To toss a diaper in, simply step on the foot pedal and put the diaper through the spacious opening. We love how the self-closing lid silently shuts and doesn't echo throughout the house (or lab).
You have three bag options: Dekor'srefill bags, standard trash bags (13-gallon), or Dekor'scloth diaper liner. Yep—the Plus is big enough to hold cloth diapers, and the company even makes a unique liner bag for them. The liner is machine washable and waterproof, so you can empty the bag's contents into the washing machine and throw the bag in the same load. Regardless of your preferred bag, they all fit around the inner ring under the lid similarly. There's a built-in cutter for plastic bags to help you slice the bag so you can tie a knot quickly for disposal. We found the cutter accessible and straightforward, but reaching it and the bag was not intuitive. There's a button on the exterior you must press downward to open the door—a feature we were unaware of until we looked at the instructions. After opening it once, it was a walk in the park each time to change bags.
We sniffed near the diaper pail several times to see if we could smell apple cider vinegar from the diapers. When close to the pail, the odor was faint. Otherwise, you couldn't smell anything by simply walking by. Even when removing a full bag, there was no lingering odor. We credit the spring-loaded trap door and dual rubber seals for managing the stink.
The Dekor Plus and Classic are both solid diaper pails, so which one you choose comes down to your preference. Consider the Dekor Plus if you plan on cloth diapering, don't need to adjust to a small space, or want a diaper pail that holds lots of diapers.
Price at time of publication: $50
Key Specs:
Dimensions:21.5 x 13.5 x 9.63 inches |Capacity:60 (newborn diapers) |Material:Plastic |Opening Mechanism:Foot pedal
Best Large
Diaper Genie Signature Diaper Pail
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Amazon
Slim footprint
Large opening
Sturdy material
Must turn upside down to insert Diaper Genie refill
Light odor when lid stays open
The Diaper Genie Signature is very similar to the Expressions (our best odor control pick) but offers a few unique features. The Signature is slim (14.31 x 10.25 x 27 inches), allowing it to fit in small spaces or corners. Its smooth and sleek plastic design makes it simple to clean. We couldn't find any cleaning instructions from the company, but its material fared well against light soap and water in the lab.
Inserting the company'srefill bagsis unlike any other diaper pail we tested. You have to turn the diaper pail upside down to snap the refill box into place on the bottom. Flip the pail upright, pull the bag up through it, and attach the bag around the ring under the top lid. Step on the foot pedal and pull the bag through the lid to remove the precut bag when it's full. Tie a knot at the top and tear at the bottom where you see the stitching, and repeat the attachment. While changing the refill box is effortless, some of our parenting editors weren't fans of having to turn the whole diaper pail upside down to do so.
We love this diaper pail's generous opening to toss more than one diaper in simultaneously. A foot pedal allows hands-free operation if you need to keep your baby or toys in one hand and throw the diaper away with another. An odor-locking clamp on the diaper pail's lid blocks unwanted scents. With the lid shut, the apple cider vinegar smell was concealed well during testing. We only smelled a faint odor when we left the lid open for five seconds. A small amount of vinegar seeped through the lid, but it wasn't terrible. Once we closed the lid, the smell was contained again. We also removed the bag to dispose of it, and there were no left-behind odors in the diaper pail—it smelled just like it did when we unboxed it.
The Diaper Genie Signature is a reliable diaper pail that's sleek and allows you to toss in multiple diapers at once. Its cost is slightly higher than expected, but Diaper Genie is a trusted brand with high-quality products.
Price at time of publication: $60
Key Specs:
Dimensions:14.31 x 10.25 x 27 inches |Capacity:47 newborn diapers |Material:Plastic |Opening Mechanism:Foot pedal
Best With UV Lights
Munchkin UV Diaper Pail
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Amazon
Four LED UV lights
Sleek appearance
Fantastic odor control
Opening body of diaper pail not intuitive
Difficult to pull liner out of refill ring
Meet one of the most impressive diaper pails on the market: the Munchkin UV Diaper Pail. This unit includes four gold LED ultraviolet (UV) lights to disinfect and kill bacteria on the interior lid's surface every time you close it. Removing viruses and other pathogens with UVC light isn't new; hospitals have used devices with UVC light to remove germs from the air and surfaces for decades,but using the technology on a diaper pail is something only Munchkin has done. You have to plug this diaper pail into an electrical outlet, and the famous Munchkin heart logo glows while sterilizing to let you know it's working. The UV lights automatically shut off when the lid or door opens, so there's no chance of exposing your child.
As for cleaning the exterior of the diaper pail, you can wipe it with a dry cloth. The company cautions against getting the diaper pail wet, especially when plugged in. We love how the overall footprint of the diaper pail isn't large and is tall enough that you don't have to bend over to put a diaper inside. The design is intuitive—Open the lid with the foot pedal like a standard garbage can and toss the diaper inside.
The Munchkin UV Diaper Pail is universally compatible with all Munchkin-brandedrefill rings,Snap, Seal, & Toss bags,Nursery Fresh refills, and more. However, we initially found pulling the liner film out of the ring somewhat difficult. To put a new refill liner in place, press the foot pedal to open the top lid and push a gray button to open the secondary lid. Put your refill bag into place and press a latch to open the body of the diaper pail to pull the bag through. It's important to note that you can't access the latch without pressing the gray Munchkin button first. We initially struggled to find the latch button, which left us wishing for more precise directions during testing. While there was a learning curve initially, we had no trouble using the diaper pail after that first time. There's even a built-in cutting tool on the interior of the diaper pail, so it's out of reach for children, and you don't have to scramble to find scissors to cut the bag off.
In addition to the UV light, a self-sealing system secures bags whether the lid is open or closed. We detected no odors or other stinkage after leaving the lid open for five seconds and five minutes. The door opening seals airtight to trap and control odors from escaping. After we disposed of the dirty bag, we let the diaper pail go through a single sterilization process, and there were no smells left behind.
This is the most expensive diaper pail that we tested but for a good reason. The UV light is like a step into the future and eliminates odors that can result in bacteria and germs.
Price at time of publication: $130
Key Specs:
Dimensions:28.54 x 13.02 x 12.91 inches |Capacity:272 per standard Munchkin refill ring |Material:Plastic |Opening Mechanism:Foot pedal
Best Steel
Ubbi Diaper Pail
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Amazon
Tons of color/pattern options
Compatible with regular 13-gallon trash bags
Small footprint
Not hands-free (no foot pedal)
Odor control not great with lid open
Whether you want to reduce your plastic usage or simply prefer stainless steel over plastic, the Ubbi Steel Diaper Pail won't disappoint. As its name states, the Ubbi diaper pail is made with carbon steel to avoid absorbing unwanted smells and looks sleek.
在超过15颜色和模式选择s, like chrome and marble, this is likely the cutest diaper pail on the market. Though you'll want to clean it carefully, as the company says, any type of liquid should not come into contact with the steel material. To clean it, you should wipe it with a dry cloth. Unfortunately, its short height means you have to bend over to throw a diaper inside. Despite the lack of a foot pedal, opening the diaper pail is simple: Grab the top handle, slide the door open to pop a diaper in, and slide it back to close. A small knob on the diaper pail's surface acts as a child safety lock to keep tiny hands from exploring where they shouldn't.
We love how the Ubbi diaper pail is compatible with standard 13-gallon trash bags. Inserting a bag is effortless: Pull up the lid, fit the bag around the interior ring, and close the lid. The Ubbi Steel Diaper Pail's odor control shines when the lid stays shut. We couldn't smell any unfavorable stenches in the lab or near the diaper pail with the lid closed. However, you can't avoid the smell once you open the sliding door or the lid. Even after removing the bag, we could still smell apple cider vinegar inside. We left the diaper pail open and found the odors dissipating around the 10-minute mark.
Steel is often costlier than plastic, so we're not too surprised by the higher price of the Ubbi Steel Diaper Pail. While we love the odor control when the door is shut, the diaper pail wasn't as impressive with the lid open—something to keep in mind depending on where you want the unit to live.
Price at time of publication: $90
Key Specs:
Dimensions:11.4 x 8.4 x 19.5 inches |Capacity:55 newborn diapers |Material:Carbon steel with powder coating |Opening Mechanism:Sliding door
Best for Regular Trash Bags
Creative Baby Tidy Diaper Pail
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Amazon
Two-sided rotating lid
Small design saves space
Compatible with standard trash bags
Lid must be upright to lock in odors fully
Difficult cleaning
The Creative Baby Tidy Diaper Pail is unusual yet unique thanks to its rotating lid design. It's easy to understand how the mechanism works once you overcome the initial learning curve. Light assembly is necessary before use, but the company includes detailed instructions (although we found them a tad confusing during testing). The rotating lid is two-sided, so you can place a diaper in either side opening and pull the handle down to drop the diaper into the base. We recommend keeping the handle upright when you're done throwing a diaper away to lock in the stinky air below.
This diaper pail's small footprint works fabulously in small spaces, although it likely won't match every nursery decor. On the plus side, you can wipe off most surfaces with normal household soap, according to Creative Baby. The rotating lid drum fully disassembles for a round in the dishwasher, too (although this may take some time due to the number of pieces).
Any standard kitchen bag will do with the Creative Baby Tidy Diaper Pail, meaning no refill rings or special bags are necessary. Press the blue button on the front of the diaper pail to access the bag area. You can push the blue button again to release the inner blue ring and insert a new bag or remove the dirty one. We had trouble avoiding the apple cider vinegar smell with the lid open. If you want to prevent odors, we recommend tying off the bag before pulling it out of the base and always keeping the handle upright.
The $50 price tag is slightly more than we expected, but we're not disappointed. The diaper pail easily controls odors when its handle is upright, and we love the large openings on the two-sided lids to fit two diapers in at once.
Price at time of publication: $50
Key Specs:
Dimensions: 15 x 10 x 22 inches |Capacity:Not listed |Material:Plastic |Opening Mechanism:Handle
How We Rated Diaper Pails
4.8 to 5 stars:These are the best diaper pails we tested. We recommend them without reservation.
4.5 to 4.7 stars:These diaper pails are excellent—they might have minor flaws, but we still recommend them.
4.0 to 4.5 stars:We think these are great diaper pails, but others are better.
3.5 to 3.9 stars:These diaper pails are just average.
3.4 and below:We don't recommend diaper pails with this rating; you won't find any on our list.
Diaper Pails We Also Tested
- PurePail Classic Diaper Pail:We love the slim design and easy-to-clean material of the PurePail Classic, but it wasn’t effortless to use and some pieces didn’t feel durable. You have to put your entire hand through the diaper pail’s opening for diapers to drop below. Moreover, the plastic lid and bag ring inside did not feel sturdy when changing out the bags.
- Skip Hop Nursery Style Diaper Pail:This Skip Hop diaper pail features an easily accessible storage compartment for diapers, wipes, and more and fits standard trash bags. However, it didn’t have the best odor control, and we found it tough to maneuver the anti-tip kickstand. Some diapers even got stuck in the trap door, which we had to push through ourselves due to the lack of a foot pedal.
- Safety1st Easy Saver Diaper Pail:A little bulky and wide, the design of the Safety 1st Easy Saver Diaper Pail wasn’t a home run. It’s similar to your average garbage can—it works with standard trash bags and starts to smell if you don’t take it out often enough. On the plus side, the diaper pail felt lightweight and simple to move around when necessary.
How We Tested Diaper Pails
Seven parenting editors evaluated 13 top-rated diaper pails at theVerywell测试实验室in New York City, assessing each diaper pail on several key attributes: design, ease of use, odor control, ease of cleaning, and overall value. We also spoke with JustAnswer pediatricianDenise Scott, MD, and withLaura Purdy, MD, MBA, a board-certified family medicine physician licensed to practice in all 50 states, who is also a physician executive, serial entrepreneur, digital health evangelist, veteran, and a worldwide philanthropist known to many as "America's Favorite Doctor," for guidance on what to look for in a diaper pail, including material, size, liners, and more. In addition, we referred to the AAPand CDCfor tips on disposing of diapers properly and buying baby equipment.
Our production team in the lab equipped our parenting editors with all the necessities to test, including diapers (sizes 1, 3, and 6), rubber gloves, apple cider vinegar, coffee beans to smell between tests, spoons, paper towels, tall kitchen trash bags, and disinfectant wipes. To begin the test, we first unboxed each diaper pail and read the instructions to set up each unit, assembling pieces when necessary and noting how easy or complicated the process was. Most diaper pails arrived fully assembled, some with bags pre-installed and others without. Once each diaper pail was ready, we checked for a few features, such as what type of bags were compatible with the pail, if the unit felt wobbly or sturdy, and if it was seamless or challenging to open lids.
Next, we installed bags into the diaper pails as the manufacturer directed and set the pails aside. We put on rubber gloves to protect our hands and measured one-third of a cup of apple cider vinegar before pouring it onto the gusset of three diapers for each pail. After adding the vinegar to the diapers, we used one hand to fold them up for disposal to mimic holding a baby with one hand or having your hand on a baby on a changing table. We then opened the diaper pails and placed the diapers in every unit, repeating this process with all three different-sized diapers. When all diapers were inside their pails, we closed and locked the lids (when applicable). We noted whether the process of putting the diapers into the pails varied per diaper size or if it remained consistently easy or difficult to put them all in.
After discarding the diapers, we placed each diaper pail into a closed room several feet away. We removed our gloves and smelled coffee beans to neutralize any lingering odors in our noses. Then, approximately 3 to 5 minutes later (or more if necessary), we returned to the diaper pails and leaned in slowly, paying close attention to the smell. We noted if the smell of the pail hit us immediately as we approached or entered the room or if the smell stayed locked inside the diaper pails. Next, we put on a fresh set of rubber gloves and carefully opened the pails for about five seconds to simulate opening the pail in a real-world setting. After closing it again, we noted whether the odor escaped or remained locked in.
We took the closed diaper pails out of the separate room and back into the main testing area of the lab to conduct one final test. Following the manufacturer's instructions, we opened the lids fully and removed the bag. Depending on the bag type, this included using a built-in cutting tool, snapping a bag's opening together, or tying knots. Following the removal of bags, we inspected the diaper pails and checked for spillage, odor control, and if the pails were easy to clean or had any hard-to-reach spots. When necessary, we used a paper towel or soapy wet cloth to clean the pails. Some pails were dry-wipe only, so we checked the manufacturer's recommendations first.
我们最初的测试后,我们发送我们的喜爱es for families to use at home and evaluate the same attributes we tested in the lab. To ensure we're recommending the best diaper pails, our parenting editors continue using them in their daily lives. We will update our list with current information on how the diaper pails hold up over the next six months and beyond.
What to Look for When Buying a Diaper Pail
Design and Material
The diaper pail's size, shape, height, and where you want to put it are key factors you should consider when choosing the best option for your family. Most diaper pails are smaller than your average trash can, but you'll want to keep it in a convenient place, such as next to a changing table, so space is a concern. Also, be sure to look for an effortless opening mechanism, like a foot pedal or single-handed opening. For example, our best overall pick, theMunchkin Step Powered by Arm & Hammer, features a foot pedal, while theDiaper Genie Expressionshas a one-touch push button. Bending over to open a diaper pail can be inconvenient and even hurt your back in the long run, especially if you're holding a wiggly toddler.
Like your standard garbage can, diaper pails come in various materials, like plastic or steel. While plastic diaper pails are a great option, Dr. Purdy prefers a high-quality material like steel because odors won't absorb into the pail itself, which can sometimes happen with plastic. Regardless of material choice, Dr. Scott suggests looking for a diaper pail that's easy to clean should any spillage happen inside.
If you want the diaper pail to blend seamlessly with your home, opt for one with multiple style options, such as theUbbi Steel Diaper Pail, also made with carbon steel. It comes in over 15 colors and patterns, so you'll find a style that fits your nursery decor.
最后,Purdy博士d Dr. Scott both agree that a diaper pail should have a childproof locking mechanism to keep littles from exploring and playing with the contents.
Odor Control
The greatest benefit of a diaper pail is odor control—it neutralizes odors so they don’t spread throughout a room (and so you don’t have to take every dirty diaper outside daily). Consider a diaper pail with a deodorizing element, such as theMunchkin UV Diaper Pail, which features UV light to help kill odor-causing germs and bacteria, orMunchkin’s Step Powered by Arm & Hammerthat includes a special scented baking soda puck to ward off smells.
Dr. Purdy recommends a diaper pail with a clamping system so that once you push a diaper into the pail, it seals off any unwanted odors. Seals not only help trap diaper smells, but you’re less likely to get a big whiff when you open the lid to throw another diaper in or take out the trash.
Capacity and Liners
The more diapers you can fit inside, the less often you'll need to take time to dump the pail and add a new liner. According to Dr. Scott, newborns can go through a dozen diapers in 24 hours, and you don’t want to have to empty the pail every couple of days. Remember also that your little one will grow quickly, and so will the size of their diapers (taking up more space inside the diaper pail). Your best bet is to check how many diapers the pail can hold in a single use. For perspective, theDekor Plus Hands-Free Diaper Pailholds 60 newborn diapers (and is compatible with cloth diapers), while theDiaper Genie Signatureholds 47 newborn diapers. It’s not a night and day difference, but you’d likely get away with an extra day’s worth of diapers with the Dekor Plus.
Dr. Scott and Dr. Purdy recommend parents and caregivers consider the type of diaper pail liners needed. Some diaper pails require using the company’s refill rings (like theDiaper Genie Expressions),而其他人(如Creative Baby Tidy Diaper Pail) allow you to use standard trash bags. Whether you use company-specific bags or the standard kind, Dr. Scott says diaper pail liners should be simple to remove and replace.
Why Trust Verywell Family
Katrina Cosseyis a commerce writer, enthusiastic shopper, and devoted mom. She spent several years in broadcast journalism but found her true passion in writing about the best products for families, pregnant people, and kids of all ages. She’s researched thousands of baby products, toys, gifts, and more and personally tested many of them. In her spare time, you’ll likely find her in the beautiful outdoors of Oklahoma with her husband and 3-year-old son. Katrina used theDiaper Genie Complete(one of the company’s older models) for at least two years until her son was ready to potty train at around 2.5 years old. She loved the foot pedal for quick and easy access to drop a diaper inside and the company’s continuous bags that held hundreds of diapers before a refill was necessary.
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