When you’re a new parent preparing for your first baby, there are so many things to learn about and buy — crib, stroller, car seat, diapers, wipes, swaddles, etc. And something I had never heard about before having babies around me was diaper pails! It had never crossed my mind before that I would need a special trash bin for the crazy number of diapers a baby goes through daily. But do you really need one?

The short answer: it depends. Of course! Some parents swear by them, others toss diapers in their regular trash without issue. But if you’re curious whether a diaper pail is worth the investment — or which one to choose — here’s a breakdown of some of the popular options: Diaper Genie Complete, Ubbi, Dekor Plus, Munchkin Step, and the alternate minimalist route of skipping the pail altogether. This will help you work through important features and how to choose a diaper pail.

If you don’t want to add another item to the shopping list, and want to save some floor space in your home, here are some pros and cons of going without a diaper pail, so that you can make an informed decision.

Pros:

• No extra purchase required
• No commitment to refill bags
• Simple – you just use your regular trash or take dirty diapers straight outside

Cons:

• You’ll need to take out the trash a *lot* more often. Which may not be fun when the weather is at either extreme. Otherwise you risk having smells in your home. Especially once your baby starts eating solid food! Pure breast milk poops hardly have a smell, but those solid food ones are different and containing the smell will require some effort.
• Not convenient during late-night changes. This is especially true if you have a multi story home and have to go down the steps to dispose of a diaper every few hours.

Bottom line: If you’re not super sensitive to smells and don’t mind a little extra legwork, skipping the diaper pail might work for you. It’s the most budget-friendly option — but may not be the freshest once your baby starts solids.

If you are looking at all the diaper pail options and wondering where to start to choose one, this look at some of the top options can help you work through which one will work for your household.

Pros:

• It uses a foot pedal for hands-free opening. This is a much appreciated feature when you’re holding a squirmy baby.
• Odor-locking design with multi-layer refill bags and a clamp that seals each diaper off when dropped into the pail.
• Refill bags are easily available on Amazon, Target, Walmart and other major retailers. This was important to me because sometimes shipping can be delayed, so in those cases, I knew I could easily pop into my local Target and pick up refills that work easily with the Diaper Genie Complete.
• Easy to cut the bag using the built in cutter and tie off one, two or a whole pail full of diapers to be taken out, without worrying about wasting a whole trash bag for only a few diapers. (Don’t worry, the cutter is hidden and protected, your baby won’t be getting into it!)
• Has a built-in slot for carbon filters that helps with smell. These are also easily available on Amazon.

Cons:

• Requires refill bags, which add to the cost. (Tip: if you roll up the diapers tight before disposing of them, you can fit many more in the pail!). However, none of the options costs zero dollars, even if you use your regular trash bags.
• Made of plastic – plastic can absorb odors over the long haul.
• Takes up a bit of floor space, which can be a concern if you’re tight on space.

Bottom line: Diaper Genie is kind of the OG diaper pail — reliable, popular, and good at keeping smells in. It simply does the job with no fuss.

The Ubbi is also a popular diaper pail option, one that is loved by many parents for being able to use regular trash bags.

Pros:

• Made of powder-coated steel – this means less odor absorption than plastic over the long haul.
• You can use any regular trash bag — no need for another line item on your shopping list.
• Sleek, modern design with lots of color options.

Cons:

• You need to slide the lid open by hand. It doesn’t have a foot pedal to open the pail.
• Slightly pricier up front than other models.

Bottom line: If you hate the idea of being locked into buying special bags for the couple of years your baby will be in diapers, the Ubbi is a solid (and stylish) pick.

The Dekor Plus diaper pail is similar to the Diaper Genie in operation, i.e the way you use, refill, and empty the pail. It was the first diaper pail I came in contact with and it did its job with no fuss and no smells.

Pros:

• Hands-free foot pedal operation.
• Comes in three sizes (Classic, Plus, and Mini).
• You can convert it into a regular trash can later for use in a toddler bedroom.
• Slightly cheaper refill bags than the Diaper Genie.

Cons:

• Also requires special refills, which are sometimes not available on Amazon, and I am yet to find them in person at my local retail stores.
• Plastic construction may hold smells over time.

Bottom line: A good all-around option. It’s functional, user-friendly, and versatile after the diaper days are over. But like the Diaper Genie, it comes with bag refill commitments.

Powered by Arm & Hammer odor eliminator baking soda cartridges and refill bags, the Munchkin Step Diaper Pail claims to own the #1 spot in odor control.

Pros:

• Hands-free foot pedal.
• Strong odor control — uses Arm & Hammer baking soda discs and self-sealing bags.
• Sleek design.
• Compatible with both ring refills and snap-seal bags.
• Available at local retailers

Cons:

• Requires refills — and they’re not the cheapest.
• Slightly more complicated loading/unloading system.

Bottom line: Munchkin Step is a top contender, especially for the odor control options available with the line. Just be prepared for slightly higher refill costs and a bit more effort in learning to change the bags.

At the end of the day, no diaper pail is perfect — they all hold poop and pee, and none of them will make it smell like roses. But a good one can make the memories of a poopy diaper change end as soon as it is out of sight.

So, which one is “best”? It depends on your priorities and budget. I am a big fan of the one we chose, the Diaper Genie Complete. It has done, and keeps doing its job with no mess and no fuss.

But simply put, if you:

* Hate proprietary bags? Go with the Ubbi.

* Want the easiest system to tie and take out any number of diapers, big or small? Diaper Genie or Dekor.

* Obsessed with keeping smells 100% contained? Munchkin Step has odor control options.

* Trying to keep things minimalist and cheap? Skip the pail altogether and just take smelly diapers out right away.

Diaper pails also make a great baby registry addition! Check out this post to make sure you’re not missing anything else for your registry.

I hope this helps you get closer to making the right diaper pail choice for your home! 💛