Question for Moms. Diaper Genie

[christinew]

I received a diaper genie as a shower gift this weekend (I am due Nov 8) A few of my close gal pals don't like this product?

Any comments? Should I take it back and get a can with a deoderizer?

Thanks!
Christine

[penguin]

I am not a mom or a mom-to-be (yet) but I know my SIL received one at her shower back in April. She loves hers as did a friend of hers that was at the shower. SIL uses hers all the time (baby arrived in May).

Since you already have it, I say keep it and use it!

[christinew]

Thanks Penguin!

[shoyski]

Actually, we have the Diaper Champ and if I were you, I'd switch. You can use regular tall kitchen garbage bags in the DC vs having to purchase refills for the DG.

I have an 11-month old son and let me tell you, if the Diaper Champ didn't work, I'd be out the door, finding something else!!:D :p :eek:

[paula]

Just another opinion:

The "Baby Bargains" book has come up a couple of times on the pregnancy thread, and the authors are very enthusiastic in their support of the Diaper Genie. They estimate that refills will run about $125/yr. The following is their opinion of the competition.

"What about competitors to the Diaper Genie? When you shop baby stores for diaper pails, you'll note quite a few other makers (Baby Trend, Fisher Price, Safety 1st)knock-off's of the Diaper Genie. Their key advantage: they use regular kitchen bags, so you don't have to buy pricey refills. Their key disadvantage: they don't work anywhere near as well as the Genie does at eliminating odors. So the trade-off comes down to price versus stink. We'll take the Genie, thank you. If you want to try the non-refill alternatives, the Baby Trend Diaper Champ(~$30) and Safety 1st's "Odor-Less Diaper Pail" (~$17) would be the next best bets."

[leightx]

I am deeply opposed to the diaper genie! ;)

After using it for about 6 months, it stunk. Yes, the device itself just stunk - even if there were no diapers inside. Gross. One of my closest friends has one, and uses it all the time, and doesn't think hers stinks. But when I walk into the room where she keeps it, I can smell it immediately. Poopy diaper / deoderant smell. Ick. I also hated to change it - all those poopy diapers at once in their little sausage rolls. That was DH's job! :D

Now we hang a grocery store bag off of the changing table, and put the poopy diapers and wipes in there, then immediatly tie it up and throw it into the garage in the "big" trash. From the time my kids were about 15 months, they have taken great pride in doing this little task by themselves (taking it to the outside trash). Cheap (free!), and no stink. It we're changing a wet diaper, we just leave them in the bag until a poopy one comes along (which doesn't take long in our house).

Leightx

[Svadhisthana]

I say it depends on you. Would you mind changing the refil (somewhat tricky) or having a "sausage roll" of diapers each time you empty it? How close is your outdoor garbage to your changing table. I live in an upsatirs apartment so taking a diaper right out to the "big" trash can wasn't an option-at least not a good option. We used the diaper genie and had good results. I would take it out to be emptied imediately when it was full and I also sprayed it each time with Lysol before using it again. I did notice a deterioration in smell pollution prevention when we were using it for our second child, so I guess ymmv. If we lived in a house when our children were in the diaper stage I would have done what Leigh suggested. Refills aren't too expensive but considering that you have to buy diapers and wipes and refills, you may want to go another route. You also have to determine how sensitive you are to odors. Even a faint odor of stinky diapers is too much of an odor to live with. It's six of one and half a dozen of the other.

[jrfdalton]

We used our diaper genie pretty constantly for the first 6-9 months. Now we just put the diapers with the kitchen trash that goes out about every other day. I've recieved comments about the house never smelling like diapers. I'd say if you have it use it.
jill

[christinew]

Thanks!! I think I will keep it and use it and see what happens! It will be my husband's job to change and refill. :)

So much to learn...11 weeks to go.

Cheers,
Christine

[lhall]

I have one, but a friend got it for me for $1.00. The refills are pricey, but last year I found two refill bags at a consignment sale for $1.00 each!

I'm bad. I only put poopy diapers in it, and therefore don't change it often at all. We don't really have any problems with smells. But, when I put all the diapers in it I was emptying the thing once a week. Too much for me.

I think it's just a matter of personal preference whether you'll like it or not.

Leigh

[christinew]

Leigh, great advice...I guess I could put the "p" diapers in regular trash. Neat idea. And I love the idea of consignment shopping too!!

Thanks a lot!
Christine and Tripp
EDD Nov 8

[lhall]

Originally posted by christinew
Leigh, great advice...I guess I could put the "p" diapers in regular trash.

I have a little trash can in the nursery, and that's exactly what I do. I empty it once a week, which is how long it takes to fillup. I don't really have odor problems, but it's not a big deal to empty it more often.

DD1's overnight diapers (wet) didn't start to smell until she was 3 or so.

Leigh

[Susan]

Originally posted by leightx
I am deeply opposed to the diaper genie! ;)

After using it for about 6 months, it stunk. Yes, the device itself just stunk - even if there were no diapers inside. Gross. One of my closest friends has one, and uses it all the time, and doesn't think hers stinks. But when I walk into the room where she keeps it, I can smell it immediately. Poopy diaper / deoderant smell. Ick. I also hated to change it - all those poopy diapers at once in their little sausage rolls. That was DH's job! :D

Now we hang a grocery store bag off of the changing table, and put the poopy diapers and wipes in there, then immediatly tie it up and throw it into the garage in the "big" trash. From the time my kids were about 15 months, they have taken great pride in doing this little task by themselves (taking it to the outside trash). Cheap (free!), and no stink. It we're changing a wet diaper, we just leave them in the bag until a poopy one comes along (which doesn't take long in our house).

Leightx

Leigh~ This is EXACTLY how we do it now too! :D

[SusanD]

I like mine. I spray it with Lysol every time I empty it and have never had a problem with odor (DD is 16 months). The only thing that I consider to be a rip-off are their new refill bags for toddler diapers. They're heavier weight which is supposed to hold the smell in better - I suppose because toddler diapers are stinkier? All I know is that they're a dollar more, and I personally didn't think they were worth it, the regular ones work just fine.

[MrsReber]

We have one, but we've hardly used it. We now have 2 babies (1 month and 15 months) and we just throw the diapers in the garbage. DH empties the garbage at least once a day. We live in a ranch, too, so it's pretty convenient for us, as opposed to having the bedrooms upstairs. We used the diaper genie for a bit and DH didn't like it. Mostly because he can't figure it out!!! We may put it to use again now that we have the 2 babies and go through an amazing amount of diapers each day. I didn't think it really smelled. Like SusanD, I would spray with disinfectant to kill the smell and the germs.