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If you’re a first-time mom, you’re undoubtedly overwhelmed by the variety of baby equipment available. Is it necessary that you prepare everything?
The short answer is no. You don’t have to purchase all of those items for your baby’s care. When it comes to diaper pails, there are a lot of discussions.
So, do you need a diaper pail? It is not a must-have baby item, but it may save your life by providing storage for soiled diapers and thereby minimizing smell.
Read the whole article if you want to learn more about this equipment and its alternatives.
Is a Diaper Pail Necessary?
The short answer is yes. Although diaper pails or diaper genies are not a must-have, it’s worth investing in these long-lasting pieces of equipment for many good reasons.
This equipment is a space-saving and practical way to protect your house or your baby’s room from unpleasant odors. Although, some parents believe that soiled diapers may be disposed of in ordinary trash. The stench released by the regular trash can in your nursery, on the other hand, is a big problem.
Diaper pails are customized trash cans that hold both throwaway and reusable diapers until your laundry and garbage day. With a great aesthetic in the spaces you may put them, they will be a long-term investment.
In short, determining whether or not you need a diaper pail is indeed a matter of personal preference.
Why Should You Invest in a Diaper Pail?
Below are some of the primary reasons why diaper pails are worth it:
Eliminate Odors
Diaper pails are most commonly used to hold soiled diapers and baby linen. They may contain and seal dirty diapers and clothing stench, keeping it from disseminating throughout your home.
Convenient
They are also helpful and convenient because you can put them near the nursery or changing table. Whenever you have to throw away a dirty diaper, this equipment will save you time and effort from going outdoors or even to the trash can.
Child-proof Mechanism
A child-proof mechanism is available on several diaper pails. It prevents your curious toddler from opening the container and seeing what’s inside. Furthermore, the poop from the diapers attracts some of your pets, which is terrible. A diaper pail will help in this situation. No matter how hard the pets try to open your diaper pail, they never get there. These diaper trash cans always remain closed.
Easy to Use and Clean
Cleaning these diaper pails is safe and straightforward. They come with a foot pedal, allowing you to open and throw away soiled diapers easily. There are no manuals or instructions required for emptying and sanitizing them. They also dry rapidly, making them ready to be used immediately.
Durable
Most of these diaper pails are sturdy and will last a long period in your house. As a result, you won’t need to replace them once your baby grows older. You may use them like regular trash cans.
Why Shouldn’t You Buy It?
Besides the above advantages, diaper pails also have many disadvantages compared to regular trash cans:
The first is that the price of a diaper pail is a bit higher than a regular trash can, especially for its single-tasking ability. In addition, some diaper pails require special bags. These bags will increase usage costs.
You will still have to put dozens of dirty diapers in one place and then throw it away when it’s full. This is no different than using a regular trash can.
How Many Diaper Pails Do You Need?
For most parents, one is enough if you have one baby. If you have many children in different rooms, you should buy one for each room as you have no time to run between other rooms to throw diapers.
Diaper Pail Alternatives
If you think you don’t need a diaper pail, there are many alternatives to consider. The main disadvantage is that these alternatives may not keep as much odor as diaper pails. Also, you must empty and clean them on a regular basis.
Instead of purchasing a diaper pail, consider these four options.
1. Toss Dirty Diapers into The Outside Trash Can
The easiest option is to throw away dirty diapers in the outside trash can. If your baby poops seldom and you reside in a location where you can easily access the outdoor trash can, this solution works well. If you apply this way, you need to ensure your trash can has a good lid.
2. Use Bags for Dirty Diapers Separately
If you reside in an area where rats exist and the local garbage system won’t accept loose rubbish, you won’t be able to dispose of them outside. Pack dirty diapers in little plastic bags and dispose of them in your regular garbage can.
3. Invest In Wet Bags
If you’re worried about the amount of plastic used by each bagging, use wet bags. These bags are reusable and waterproof, so they can hold dirty trash until you throw them away.
Because wet bags aren’t as odor-proof as diaper pails, this solution is perfect for those who throw away their garbage daily. It’s not difficult to wash these bags. All you need to do is to put them in a washing machine.
4. Consider Using a Standard Trash Can Or a Lidded Bucket
Some parents keep dirty diapers in a stainless steel garbage bin or even a lidded bucket. This method is appropriate for parents who have these tools on hand to use.
Stainless steel garbage bins are not considerably less expensive than diaper pails, but they may be reusable once your baby grows up. Although a bucket will be relatively inexpensive, plastic is a more porous material and may retain odors.
Old paint buckets will indeed work if you want to save money and recycle a used household object to contain dirty diapers. It would be best if you could find metal paint buckets with lids. These items are composed of steel, so they are anti-corrosion.
The Bottom Line
Diaper pails aren’t necessary, but it’s worth investing because of their capabilities. They will keep your house and baby’s room from unpleasant odors for a healthier living space. They will be even more effective when your baby has diarrhea, leading to constant diaper blowouts.
If this equipment is not your thing, you can consider alternatives such as wet bags, outside trash, or a lidded bucket.
If you know other solutions for parents who don’t want to purchase this product, feel free to comment below.
