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Not such a champion with odors
Pros
Does not need special liners, easy to empty
Cons
Odor is released every time it is used, gets stuck sometimes.
Recommended it?
Yes
The Bottom Line:
For diaper collection, this pail works moderately well. It is easy to empty and re-line with a bag. It does not prevent odors from escaping as advertised.
When I was creating my baby registry, I spent a great deal of time researching what products I wanted to use. I had heard many mixed viewpoints on diaper pails and took some time to find out what one would meet my needs. I knew I did not want one that used special bags or inserts, as I felt that was too wasteful. I had already decided to use disposable diapers, and felt guilty about the effects on the environment, so I figured at least I wouldn't individually wrap each diaper in additional plastic like some of the popular diaper pails. I finally decided to use Baby Trends Diaper Champ.
The Diaper Champ is a white plastic unit that apparently was a redesign from previous models (mine was purchased during the summer of 2007 and is model #4100.) On the top of the unit is a round opening for the diaper to be inserted. There is a swing handle that one lifts to flip the diaper upside down and into the pail. As one flips over the handle, the diaper and odors are supposed to be "trapped" in the pail by a moving disc filter, that does not appear to be replaceable. This disc acts as a barrier between the diapers in the pail and the top opening. The pail is opened to be emptied with a push of a button on the front of the unit. Any bag can be used in the pail, including those plastic shopping bags that seem to multiply in my house. The pail can be used for both disposable or cloth diapers. The unit is approximately two feet high and comes in white with blue trim or white with pink trim.
As far as diaper pails go, this one does work moderately well, in that it holds dirty diapers, makes disposing of them easy, and is not easy for a child to get into because of the design of the swing handle. However, I have several issues with this pail. First, the filter that is supposed to prevent odors from escaping does not work as advertised. We only use this pail to collect urine soaked diapers. I never knew how horrid urine soaked diapers smell after several days! While the unit does not smell when not in use, once the handle is flipped to deposit another diaper in the base of the pail, the odors escape and stink up the room. The pail was advertised as "odor-free." I use a box of baking soda in the pail, as well as stick-up air fresheners and I can still smell the stink. We empty the pail twice a week, so the dirty diapers do not sit there for more than three or four days.
My second issue is ease of use. The Diaper Champ is apparently designed for one handed use. It took some practice, but I finally figured out how to use it one handed. I have to step on the front lip of the base of the pail to hold it down while using one hand to flip over the handle. Otherwise, the unit does not move smoothly and I end up knocking it over. Because of where the unit is located, at the end of the changing table, I often end up just placing the diaper in the top and not flipping it until I am done changing my baby because I would otherwise have to walk away from him, putting him at risk for a fall.
The third issue I have with this diaper pail is the flip handle getting stuck. If a wipe is put into the top of the unit alone, it often gets stuck in the filter mechanism. If the pail fills up, the flip top will get stuck half way open. To solve this issue, we empty the unit twice weekly at this point, although that may have to increase once my son is in larger diapers.
What I do like about the Diaper Champ is that once the diapers are in the pail, the unit has to be disassembled to get to them, preventing little hands from getting into a mess. If the unit does get knocked over, unlike a trash can, everything stays inside and there is no mess. I also like that I can use any kind of liner bag and do not have to make a special purchase of refills.
I realize that any diaper collection system is going to smell. In general, the unit does not smell up the nursery when it is not opened. The smell from using the pail does dissipate quickly. The unit is easy to clean and empty. In general, this pail works for diaper collection. I haven't used any other brand of pail, so I cannot say if this one is better than others, but it does work.
http://www.babytrend.com
The Diaper Champ is a white plastic unit that apparently was a redesign from previous models (mine was purchased during the summer of 2007 and is model #4100.) On the top of the unit is a round opening for the diaper to be inserted. There is a swing handle that one lifts to flip the diaper upside down and into the pail. As one flips over the handle, the diaper and odors are supposed to be "trapped" in the pail by a moving disc filter, that does not appear to be replaceable. This disc acts as a barrier between the diapers in the pail and the top opening. The pail is opened to be emptied with a push of a button on the front of the unit. Any bag can be used in the pail, including those plastic shopping bags that seem to multiply in my house. The pail can be used for both disposable or cloth diapers. The unit is approximately two feet high and comes in white with blue trim or white with pink trim.
As far as diaper pails go, this one does work moderately well, in that it holds dirty diapers, makes disposing of them easy, and is not easy for a child to get into because of the design of the swing handle. However, I have several issues with this pail. First, the filter that is supposed to prevent odors from escaping does not work as advertised. We only use this pail to collect urine soaked diapers. I never knew how horrid urine soaked diapers smell after several days! While the unit does not smell when not in use, once the handle is flipped to deposit another diaper in the base of the pail, the odors escape and stink up the room. The pail was advertised as "odor-free." I use a box of baking soda in the pail, as well as stick-up air fresheners and I can still smell the stink. We empty the pail twice a week, so the dirty diapers do not sit there for more than three or four days.
My second issue is ease of use. The Diaper Champ is apparently designed for one handed use. It took some practice, but I finally figured out how to use it one handed. I have to step on the front lip of the base of the pail to hold it down while using one hand to flip over the handle. Otherwise, the unit does not move smoothly and I end up knocking it over. Because of where the unit is located, at the end of the changing table, I often end up just placing the diaper in the top and not flipping it until I am done changing my baby because I would otherwise have to walk away from him, putting him at risk for a fall.
The third issue I have with this diaper pail is the flip handle getting stuck. If a wipe is put into the top of the unit alone, it often gets stuck in the filter mechanism. If the pail fills up, the flip top will get stuck half way open. To solve this issue, we empty the unit twice weekly at this point, although that may have to increase once my son is in larger diapers.
What I do like about the Diaper Champ is that once the diapers are in the pail, the unit has to be disassembled to get to them, preventing little hands from getting into a mess. If the unit does get knocked over, unlike a trash can, everything stays inside and there is no mess. I also like that I can use any kind of liner bag and do not have to make a special purchase of refills.
I realize that any diaper collection system is going to smell. In general, the unit does not smell up the nursery when it is not opened. The smell from using the pail does dissipate quickly. The unit is easy to clean and empty. In general, this pail works for diaper collection. I haven't used any other brand of pail, so I cannot say if this one is better than others, but it does work.
http://www.babytrend.com
