Is it worth buying a nappy bin?
Are nappy bins really essential? Like so many aspects of parenting life, nappy bins tend to divide opinion. Some parents say that they can’t live without one and regard it as an essential baby kit purchase, while others say they just aren’t necessary.
If you’re using reusable nappies, then somewhere to store the dirty ones until you have enough for a wash is essential. Some users recommend zipped bags that you can put straight into the washing machine, rather than using a nappy bin. They particularly like ones with a hook.
If you’re using disposable nappies, nappy bins are particularly useful if you live in a flat, apartment or an upside-down house, with the living area on the top floor, as it can be more difficult to get to an outside bin during middle-of-the-night nappy changes. They can also save the time you’d spend heading to and from the bin - allowing you to get some much needed rest between nursing and nappy changes in the early newborn haze.
What's the difference between a nappy bin and a normal bin?
Nappy bins are designed to seal in nasty smells, which is something you don’t always get from a regular bin. They do, however, use more plastic than chucking them straight into your outside bin, so you may want to consider the type of liners and materials used if you’re worried about the environmental impact of your nappy bin.
How big are nappy bins?
Nappy bins can range quite significantly in size, so it’s important to consider the overall capacity and how many nappies each bin can hold when making your choice. The bigger the bin, the less often you’ll need to empty it, however the less discreet it’ll be in your nursery or living space. Smaller, more compact nappy bins may be better suited to families who are limited in terms of space but will need emptying more regularly as a result.
While the Ubbi Nappy Disposal Bin holds up to 50 nappies, the vast majority of the nappy bins in our round-up will hold between 20 to 30 nappies at a time. It’s worth noting however that most nappy bins measure capacity using size 1 nappies, so the liners will hold fewer nappies and need changing more often once your baby starts needing larger sizes.
How do nappy bins work?
Most nappy bins use liners or plastic bin bags and work by popping the nappy inside before closing the lid to seal in the nappy and any associated smells. Unlike traditional bins, some nappy bins wrap each nappy individually, while others rely on robust designs and thick seals that can help prevent odours from escaping into their surroundings.
Lots of Mumsnet users stop using nappy bins after their babies start reliably eating solids. Weaning usually begins at six months, so you may find that your nappy bin becomes less useful when your baby is anywhere between eight and 14 months.
Once your baby is eating more, instead of fairly inoffensive milky poos (whether breast- or bottle-fed), you might find the need to get the nappy out of the house ASAP. There will also be far fewer nappy changes by then too – from 12-plus when they are a newborn, down to around six a day.
How long does a nappy bin refill last?
It depends on which refill you're using and your baby's age (newborns go through more nappies than older babies). According to Tommee Tippee, the manufacturer of our top-ranked nappy bin, each refill cassette should last around three to four weeks.
How do I choose a nappy bin?
When choosing a nappy bin, consider which aspects are most important to you.
Capacity: Rather than looking at the volume capacity in litres, check how many nappies the bin can hold to give you an idea of how it will suit your needs. Remember, in most cases, this is based on size 1 nappies, so the actual amount each bin can hold will change as your baby moves up in nappy size.
Environmental impact: Plastic nappy bins and refill bags have an environmental impact so, if this concerns you, you may prefer to use more eco-friendly reusable nappies and a washable wet bag.
Specialist refills cassettes or regular bin bags: Some nappy bins require specialist refill cartridges or bags which can add expense, while others can be used with almost any liner. Are any refills included with the price of the purchase and roughly how long does each refill last? You should weigh up the cost of ongoing use as well as the additional purchase price to work out the overall value for money.
How easy is it to use? Does the lid have a foot pedal mechanism or do you feed the nappy through an automatic seal which helps to lock in smells? Can the nappy bin be used one-handed - this can be a real help when comforting your baby post-nappy change.
Do nappy bins smell?
Nappy bins are designed to keep smells contained when sealed, but they can still emit an odour when you open them for emptying.
Materials like steel will eliminate odours better than plastic. Parents recommend adding drops of lavender or tea tree oil after cleaning to keep smells away. We found the Ubbi Steel Nappy Disposal Bin and Vital Baby Hygiene Odour Trap to be the best nappy bins for minimising nasty odours.
How often should nappy bins be emptied?
How often you empty a nappy bin is a personal choice, of course, and you may opt to empty it daily. Some nappy bins can fit a large volume of nappies, such as the Ubbi Nappy Disposal Bin which has a capacity for up to 50 nappies.
However, as a general rule, it’s a good idea to empty your nappy bin at least every three days to minimise the risk of nasty smells emitting from the bin when you open it. This allows for 30 nappies at most in your nappy bin. For context, the Tommee Tippee Twist & Click Advanced Nappy Disposal Bin fits a maximum of 30 nappies.
Are nappy bins safe?
Yes – nappy bins are safe and are a convenient way to keep dirty nappies away from your baby.
Once your baby is on the move, you need to make sure they can't reach in and help themselves to dirty nappies, so look out for features such as child locks for extra peace of mind. Plastic bags and liners should be kept out of reach at all times, ideally in a high cupboard away from curious hands.
What is the best nappy bin UK 2026?
The overall best nappy bin is the Tommee Tippee Twist & Click Advanced Nappy Disposal Bin. A great all-rounder, parents rate it for its ingenious twist-and-secure mechanism and the Sangenic multi-layer, anti-bacterial film, helping lock away smells and germs to keep your nursery smelling fresh and clean.
How we chose our recommendations
When compiling our lists of recommendations, our team of experienced parenting journalists spend hours analysing every single product category, using a variety of independent sources to evaluate products against each other and assess which ones perform best. We then consolidated these results with the opinions of our huge network of Mumsnet forum users, which is the biggest online network of parents in the UK.
About the author
Jenny Wonnacott has been working as a Content Editor for Mumsnet since 2022 with a particular focus on pregnancy, child and baby care product guides, articles and reviews. As a mum of three, Jenny has extensive hands-on experience in all of the Mumsnet content she writes about. She is passionate about sourcing, testing and thoroughly researching the products which make every stage of parenting easier, from the best pregnancy pillow to the most reassuring baby monitor as well as top kids' toys, games and tech.
Why you should trust us
Most of the recommendations for nappy bins in this round-up came from Mumsnetters themselves who have tried and tested the products as consumers.
We searched the Mumsnet forums for honest reviews and recommendations for nappy bins from parents. We then consulted expert review sites and retailers, including Amazon and Robert Dyas, to allow us to accurately hone our list of tried-and-tested products.
During our research, we assessed and weighed up each individual product, vetting the design, safety, odour control, capacity and overall function and performance to ensure they performed well across the board and offered true value for money.
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