When you've got a baby in the house, it's easy to get overwhelmed by the number of dirty nappies that your little angel gets through in just one day. Here we take a look at the best nappy bins around, taking into account their ease of use, capacity, how eco-friendly they are, and of course the all important price.
You might be wondering what the point of a nappy bin is and how it differs from a normal bin? Well the quick answer is it locks away the odour and keeps all the nasty bits away from little hands. For the longer answer as to why, read on...
What are nappy bins?
Luckily, nappy bins exist to safely contain dirty nappies and trap the smell. This means you don't have to fill up your kitchen bin with dozens of nappies. There are many different types of nappy bins and buckets around, some even have a handy design which only needs to be used with one hand - very handy if you've got a wriggly baby in one hand and a dirty nappy in the other!
So whether you've decided to use disposal nappies, or try the more eco-friendly approach with reusables, you're bound to find a nappy bin or bucket that works for you.
To make life with a newborn that little bit easier, we've rounded up our favourite nappy disposal systems on the market for you to choose from - from nappy bins, to nappy buckets.
Editors choice for best nappy bin
Description
The Angelcare Nappy Disposal System features a push and lock system, a multi-layer film in the cassette and one handed operation. With effective odour-barrier technology, all smells should stay contained within the bin to make for a happier, more fragrant home.
Although this bin requires refill cartridges, it is also possible to buy refills for the cartridges, saving a bit of money.
One parent found this nappy bin to be easy to refill and a perfect purchase for their newborn: "Bought this within a week of the birth of my son, and it's been absolutely essential. Simple unobtrusive design, easy to clean, does the job well. Wish it was a bit bigger, but now that my son is 6 months old, we still get 5-6 days use out of it before having to empty it. Really does prevent the smells - which is important with the summer coming on. We have fortnightly refuse collections, and there's a waiting list for the nappy bin service from our local authority, so don't think we'd be able to survive without this."
Pros
- Simple design
- Traps smell
- Easy to clean
Cons
- Average capacity
- Needs refill cartridges
Best eco-friendly nappy bin
Description
This Amazon best seller makes nappy changing quick, easy and clean - and we know the Tommee Tippee brand well, so we can trust this is a quality product.
This Tommee Tippee Twist and Click Advanced Nappy Disposal bin holds up to 28 nappies, has an antibacterial greenfilm and is a great option if you're looking to use less plastic. The Tommee Tippee nappy bin refill cassettes are made from 98 per cent recycled plastic, the antibacterial film is sustainably sourced and the plastic is fully recyclable. Other features to the bin include twist and wrap to eliminate unpleasant smells, space-saving and stylish design.
One dad said: "We thought it was a gimmick but are so glad we made this purchase. The trash can is next to the changing table and it does not take up much space and is very practical. The smell of diapers is actually cut off. After 6 months we have to buy a refill pack (We spent 2 months without using it so allow maybe 4 months for an infant). I bought my first refills when my baby was 6 months old and I plan to use this trash for the next ones!"
Pros
- Antibacterial greenfilm
- More eco friendly
- Traps smell
Cons
- Average capacity
- Needs refill cartridges
Best large nappy bin
Description
It's taller and thinner than most nappy bins. Keeping odours at bay, it has an easy-to-use pedal system that will speed up your nappy changing. Unlike most nappy bins, this fits most regular kitchen bin bags. Simply use your foot to step it open, and drop the nappy inside.
This is more than just a nappy bin though as it has a built-in storage compartment to keep everything you need for nappy changing close by. This large size contains up to 20 nappies in the bin at one time.
One mum tester wrote, "I got this from the advice of my husband as applied to the ideal ones, and I am so happy I did! I recommend it for mothers who would like the extra nice look. For mothers who are willing to pay a little extra and have a nice extra bin for their baby’s room."
Pros
- Pedal system
- Traps smell
- Fits most kitchen bin bags
- Built-in storage
Cons
- Smaller capacity than others
- Price
Best nappy bucket
Description
Simple and practical with a lockable lid to keep your little one's hands out, this bin is perfect if you're using reusable nappies. It comes with laundry bags, perfect for popping in the washing machine and fills enough for a good load of washing. Sealing any smells inside the bucket is considered essential if you're using cloth nappies, and it can contain up to a full load of dirty nappies ready for washing.
One customer wrote: "Such a simple but massively helpful product for reusable nappies. When the bin is full I just stick the whole nappy bag in the washer so I don't need to touch used nappies twice. I am very pleased that I found a simple way to make reusable nappies easy. Although the cost is a little steep for a plastic bucket- it is worth it for a system that works."
Pros
- Comes with laundry bags
- Traps smell
- Can contain a full load of nappies
Cons
- Smaller capacity than others on the market
Recommended nappy bin
Description
This is another great option for environmentally conscious parents who are committed to reusable nappies. Hygienic, stylish and with a practical handle for easy carrying, you can't go wrong with this 10-litre bucket, which can fit up to 25 nappies at a time and is odour-proof due to the strong lid.
One reviewer commented: "After many searches and review trawling, (I) settled on this product, due to its more eco-friendly material. It's a great size, holds scents in well and is easy to clean when necessary!"
Pros
- Large capacity
- Traps smell
- Easy to clean
Best nappy bin for trapping odour
Description
This nappy bin was Shortlisted Best Product for a Newborn - 0-4 months at the Mother&Baby Awards 2021
With dirty nappies comes bad smells, germs and bacteria. The Vital Baby® HYGIENE™ odour-trap® nappy disposal system has been carefully developed to lock in unpleasant aromas to keep the nursery smelling clean and fresh.
Unlike other nappy disposal systems, no refills, cassettes, or even specially sized bags are required. Any plastic bag is compatible. The system will hold up to 25 nappies, saving multiple trips to the bin, meaning more time to spend with your baby. The Vital Baby® HYGIENE™ odour-trap® nappy disposal system is simple to assemble, empty and clean. It's the convenient and easy way to dispose of dirty nappies.
Read our full review of the Vital Baby® HYGIENE Odour-Trap Nappy Disposal System from real mum testers here
.
Pros
- Use any plastic bag
- Traps smell
- Easy to clean
Cons
- Price
Best classic nappy bin
Description
With a foot pedal that you can press to open the lid, this nappy bin from Korbell is a brilliant choice when you're holding your baby in your arms. The sleek design will fit in any home and it has a three-part approach to lock in odours: a sealed spring-loaded trap door that immediately shuts after nappies are passed through, a top lid that when shut, acts as a secondary seal, and a lightly fragranced liner to mask bad odours. We love the double-sealing system which helps keeps curious little hands away too.
One parent rated gave the bin five stars, writing: "A handy product that is easy to open (with the foot), and has a second little lid that protects well against smells. The second lid can be locked which helps with baby explorations! The bags are easy to manipulate and dispose."
Pros
- Handy foot pedal
- Three-part system to lock in odours
- Very large capacity
Cons
- Needs refill cartridges
- Price
Things to look for when buying a nappy bin
Nappy bins come in all shapes and sizes, literally, so it's important to know what to look for when you're choosing one. Think about where you plan to have it. The capacity will obviously affect how quickly it will fill up, so how easy is it to get to your outside bin?
Are you eco-conscious? If you are, then you might find you want to look at the reusable nappies and the nappy buckets available. Alternatively, it might be the lock and twist system that appeals to you, locking away the smell.
Most use liners or cartridges, so it's important to check how they work before you buy - you'll need to factor in the cost of the cartridges and make sure it suits your budget.
What are nappy bin refills? Can I just use normal bin liners?
The majority will use refills, usually in the form of cartridges, which just slot into the bin. However, there are some models which can use a normal bin liner. Of course, if you go down the resuable nappy route, then you can also use mesh bags instead of the bin bags. Mesh bags allow you to throw all the nappies straight into the wash without having to handle them a second time.
Do they smell?
No, nappy bins don't smell! The main advantage of getting a nappy bin is to lock away the smell.
Are nappy bins essential?
We think so! A nappy bin might seem an odd purchase; why not just take the disposable nappy out to the dustbin when you change your baby's nappy? Does a nappy bin really save you that much time? We found it does and we know when you've got a newborn, every second counts. If you shave a few seconds off your day by only having to make the trip to the bin once, instead of 15 times, it soon adds up to be a useful buy. This is especially useful if your baby is poorly, or if the weather is terrible.
Plus, the ones we've selected in our guide have odour-trapping abilities, to keep nasty smells away, and anti-bacterial properties to keep everything sanitised.
How do nappy bins work?
All you need to do is change your baby's nappy, roll it up, and pop it in the nappy bin. Nice and easy!
Remember that the suggested usage the manufacturer gives you will be based on Size 1 nappies, so the bins will obviously contain fewer as your baby increases in nappy size.
Are nappy bins safe?
Nappy bins are perfectly safe so long as you always make sure your baby can't reach in and help themselves to dirty nappies. Keep them out of reach of little hands at all times, and make sure the plastic bags or liners aren't within grabbing reach.
Which one is the best?
We reckon you'll be good to go with any of the bins selected in our list but we really rate the Vital Baby® HYGIENE Odour-Trap Nappy Disposal System as it ensures unpleasant aromas are locked away, holds a good amount of nappies and you don't need to buy any expensive refill bags. Bonus!
How Mother&Baby selected the best nappy bins
Our product recommendations are based on a combination of real-world testing from our burgeoning army of mum testers, and the extensive knowledge of our experienced editorial team and product specialists. Where we can, we also consult experts who specialise in that field to ensure you get the right advice along with the right product, and we listen to what you say as well. Our thriving mum community on our Facebook group #mumtribe also often hold great insights as to which products mums really like best and why helping us highlight the products that meet what you really want.
For the essential products, our annual Mother&Baby Awards shortlist the top products tested, and you can find full reviews from our mum testers provided on the product page. The winners and runners up for each category then will appear in our top picks article for that product, along with other products that were rated highly by our team.