Do you need a Diaper Genie?

Wondering do you need a Diaper Genie? The well-known system is convenient but can be expensive. Is it really a necessity? Keep reading to find out!

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When my first was born, my mom came around with gifts pretty often. We were living at my MIL’s house whole we house hunted, so the room was lacking in space.

Most of the stuff got returned (sorry mom!) because of space (hence why we had a minimalist baby registry!) but one I kept was the Diaper Genie.

We loved ours – while bulky, it did it’s job AND kept our dog out. But you might be wondering if you need one!

Do you need a Diaper Genie?

Long story short, no, you don’t need a Diaper Genie. I have one and used one with all of my kids but it’s not a must have. Let’s talk pros, cons, and alternatives.

Looking for a baby shower gift? Check out these Unique Diaper Cakes!

Pros:

Completely enclosed.

We have a lab that figures out how to get into anything. He also loves to eat diapers. He cannot get into the diaper pail like a normal garbage can, which is a huge pro for me. It’s also toddler-proof.

No touch, depending on the style.

With my first, we had the basic version that you needed to use your hand to open. With my third, we got the fancy one with the food step, which is nice when you have full hands.

Clean and cute looking.

You can choose different colors, and this time around I got the pink one. I love that they look sleek and clean in my bedroom nursery.

Doesn’t smell!

Seriously, this is the true reason we use the Diaper Genie. The “deluxe” version has charcoal packets that absorb smell, but unless it’s super hot or super full, I’ve never had a smell issue with the original.

Easy to change out.

The bags are easy to replace and easy to toss. I also really love that if I wanted I could take them out daily and make “smaller” bags, versus taking the trash out daily and using an “entire” garbage bag.

Cons:

Cost.

The Diaper Genie itself can cost $30–50. It comes with 2 refills, but you’ll need to grab more eventually which creates an additional cost. I find we go through 1 “refill” a month with newborn/size 1 diapers.

Bulky.

It’s not a small piece of furniture, so if you’re super low on space it might seem like a pain.

Another “thing”.

If you’e looking for a minimalist baby registry, you might want the least amount of “things”. I found this is essential for us, but it might not be for you.

Diaper Genie Options:

If you’ve decided that the answer to do you need a Diaper Genie is yes, you’ll have your next question: which one to get!

There used to be a basic version, but now there is just the Diaper Genie Complete. It comes in multiple colors: White, Pink, Blue, Green, Grey.

The basic comes with 1 refill and 1 carbon packet. They also sell an upgraded version that comes with 3 Max Fresh Refills.

You might also want to buy or register for extra refills. I’ve only ever used the basic blue ones but they also make orange ones coined as “Max Fresh“.

There is also a gift set that has various Playtex products, like bottles and pacifiers in addition to the pail and refills.

If you’re not sure, you can also try a Diaper Genie alternative!

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• Minimalist Baby Registry
• How to change a boy diaper, how to change a girl diaper
• How to burp a baby
• Car Diaper Changing Station
• Baby Led Weaning