Changing diapers is one of the first routines parents need to develop when a baby arrives. Hopefully, before the baby is born, parents will have designated a place in their house to put their changing table, which is where most diaper changes happen. Apart from the changing table, which is fundamental, other items can be part of the routine, and that can have a significant impact… or not so much. One of those items is a diaper pail. Below is some information to guide parents on whether they should buy one.

What’s the purpose of a diaper pail?

A diaper pail explained in the simplest way possible, is a trash bin specially designed for dirty diapers. There are many models with different functionalities available for purchase, but the elemental feature almost all of them share is that they are built in a way that odors are sealed in, thus preventing them from going around the house. How they achieve that essential function varies from model to model, and parents should consider looking further into the one they are considering buying to ensure it addresses their specific needs (more in the section How to choose which diaper pail to buy? below).

What is the difference between a diaper pail and a Diaper Genie?

A diaper pail is a category, while a Diaper Genie is a type of pail. That is, all Diaper Genies are diaper pails, but not all diaper pails are Diaper Genies. In general, every cylindrical container meant to hold dirty diapers while, among other things, preventing their smell from going out would most likely be considered a diaper pail. Diaper Genies have the particularity, which is what sets them apart, that they seal each diaper individually, which works as an extra measure to contain smells.

Are diaper pails necessary?

The short answer to this question is no, diaper pails are not per se necessary. The real need, which is what parents should keep in mind to determine whether they need a diaper pail, is to have somewhere to hold the baby’s dirty diapers inside the house between trips to the dumpster. When the need is framed like this, parents who can quickly dispose of diapers through a trash chute, for example, might not need a diaper pail because they can get rid of diapers definitively one by one as they are used.

Parents who live somewhere that requires some level of organization to remove trash from their house, like taking out the garbage on certain days of the week, for example, should consider buying a diaper pail to hold diapers until that day comes. Of course, keeping the diapers on the pail will be possible, especially during the first months of the baby's life, for two to three days at maximum because of how many diapers they go through. Another advantage of diaper pails is that they allow for easy bagging of dirty diapers, as they have a special lead built in that prevents the trash bag from collapsing on itself and holds it in place until it is time to close it.

What are alternatives to a diaper pail?

If parents are appalled by the sheer volume of expenses that a baby requires, and if their budget is already stretched, good news - a diaper pail is not the only way to deal with dirty diapers at home. It must be said, however, that a diaper pail is probably the most convenient way to do so, as the alternatives will most likely require extra work on behalf of the parents. Below is a list of some of those alternatives:

1. Using the house’s regular trash can: Disposing of dirty diapers in the house’s regular trash can is the most obvious and simplest alternative to a diaper pail. Dirty diapers are, in a way, no different from the garbage already being produced in the house before the baby. There are two possible issues with this alternative: not having the trash can near the place where the diaper changes are taking place and the dirty diaper’s smell. At least the smell could be addressed by frequent, probably daily, trips to the dumpster.
2. Bagging each diaper individually: Putting each diaper in its own trash bag could potentially address the issue of using the house’s normal trash can. The trash bags could be small and placed next to the changing table, which would ensure parents do not need to walk around looking for the trash can with the dirty diaper in their hand. Sealing each diaper individually would address the smell concern, as they would not be exposed until the bigger bag is finally full and sealed.
3. Cloth diapers: The alternative might seem radical, and in some ways, it is, but it would eliminate the need for a diaper pail. This solution would be similar to using the house’s normal trash can in that it would require daily work from parents, as they would need to do laundry daily. If parents want to space out the times they do laundry, the underlying need to control the smell that the diaper pail addresses will be there again, as cloth diapers will also smell.

How often should you empty a diaper pail?

How often the diaper pail needs to be emptied depends on several factors, some very specific to each family’s circumstances. A specific factor can be when a family can definitively dispose of their trash. For example, what days of the week does the trash truck pass to pick up the trash? If that does not happen as regularly as one would want, is there a space separated from the house where they could keep the garbage? The less frequently a family can dispose of their trash definitively, the longer they will need to keep the dirty diapers in the pail.

Assuming some parents can definitively dispose of their trash daily, then the question is when does the diaper pail get full and what are the parents’ preferences. The diaper pail will get full depending on how many diapers a baby goes through in a given day and the size of the pail. Personal preferences include, among others, what is the tolerance level to smells that parents have. A good rule of thumb is not to wait more than three days to empty the diaper pail. Even if the trash bags can still hold more diapers, emptying the pail frequently will prevent problems such as overflowing or bags that are too full to handle easily.

How do you choose which diaper pail to buy?

Many diaper pails are available for purchase, so parents should dedicate some time to researching the pros and cons of the options they are considering. Getting an opinion from friends and family is also something worth considering, as it is the best way to get reliable information. Below, parents will find some elements that are important to consider:

1. Budget: Considering that the fundamental needs that diaper pails want to solve for could be addressed by frequent trips to the dumpster or with lots of garbage bags, parents should start narrowing their choices by considering how much they are willing to spend. Of all the baby items new parents need to buy, a diaper pail is most likely not the one they will need to go the extra mile on.
2. Material: Metal pails will most likely last longer than plastic ones but will also be more expensive. Metal ones also tend to have better designs and look better. Some pails are also made of special material that prevents the growth of bacteria, but that will most likely also impact the price. Plastic pails might also be more challenging to keep clean in the long run, as some plastics might absorb the smell of the diapers as time passes.
3. Size: Parents should decide on the size of their pail after considering the available space in the room and how often they will be able to empty it. If parents think that it might take three or more days to empty the pail, it is advisable that they consider getting a big one.
4. Odor control: The last element to consider is the mechanism through which the diaper pail seals in the smell. This is important, especially for small or poorly ventilated houses. Put simply, an ineffective diaper pail will make any parent suffer, but the more they have to lose from such a scenario (i.e., a small house), the more they should consider getting a diaper pail that has more than one odor control mechanism (double sealing, incorporated deodorizer, etc.).

Diaper pail thoughts from new parents

New parents face hundreds of diaper changes. Considering this, anything that can help make those changes easier is worth considering. We definitely recommend including a diaper pail in your registry, as it is useful and convenient. Take a look at our Honest Nesting Checklist here for our other recommendations on what to buy for your new baby!