DH and I have been having this discussion recently and as FT parents we're actually pretty clueless (despite what we might think). I think we're okay not registering for a diaper pail that requires specific refills (I'm thinking Diaper Genie in specific, but others along that line as well) but he thinks if we get a regular old diaper pail it won't mask smells at all. My thought is to get a regular pail and only put #2 diapers in individual diaper bags to be carried out nightly but he thinks it's better to get a top-of-the line version. Suggestions? Recommendations?
Re: Diaper Pail?
we had no issue for the first 6 months with a regular trash can, but once solids started the poops were very stinky!
downstairs we just use the kitchen trash and empty super regularly. upstairs we have an ubi pail, it takes regular trash bags but is good at containing the smell.
We have a Diaper Champ and use odor-controlling garbage bags in it. So far we haven't had any odor problems. We change the bag once a week. Once DS starts solids, we'll see if it still works for us. If not, we'll just put his poopy diapers in the garbage can in the garage. That's what we did when we had foster children, and it wasn't a big deal.
The refills for a Diaper Genie aren't very expensive, but my brother and SIL had problems getting the bags to work correctly in theirs. (This was several years ago, so hopefully they have improved by now.) That's the only reason we stayed away from them.
The diaper pails are worthless. They contain the smells fine, but once you open that bad boy. You could die.
I suggest getting a metal trash can.
Emily 8.8.08
Madeline 1.2.11
William 8.5.12
you are lucky! between 2 kids we get upwards of 10 poopy diapers a day at over a year old. sigh.
This was totally my initial plan as well. I'm glad I got the Diaper Genie as a gift. Those diapers SMELL and taking out the trash with every change just wasn't in the cards for me. The replacement bags aren't that expensive, I'm glad I have it.
I do tape Arm& Hammer air fresheners to the lid of the pail. Sometimes when you open the lid to put in a new diaper, the smell can otherwise knock you over. DD is in DC, so we don't fill the pail that quickly - I empty it once a week.
Also, if you have pets (namely, a dog), diapers are nice and safe in a diaper pail instead of an easier to knock over garbage pail. Now THAT would be a gross mess.
I have used the same diaper champ for both of my DDs with regular garbage bags and the only time I have smelled anything other than a slight whiff when they go down the hatch is on an extremely hot summer day when it was full and needed to be changed.
Mind you, we have an extremely old house where our upstairs is very lightly if at all insulated so on the 3 days a year when our temps hit in the 90's (I Love the PNW!) it was a little stanky in there.
'Til He returns, or calls me home,
Here in the power of Christ I stand.