Baby Trend Diaper Champ Deluxe Review

Baby Trend is a baby gear supply company that makes a variety of gear from diaper pails to car seats and strollers. Baby Trend has been in business for over 26-years meeting the demands of new parents. They strive to provide safe and reliable products at an affordable price.

Performance Comparison

The Diaper Champ Deluxe performed well during testing, and while it doesn't offer the best odor control, it does a good job for the price with the added convenience of using kitchen trash bags you already have.

Likes

The Diaper Champ Deluxe is one of the most budget-friendly options we reviewed. The lifetime cost of this product is about $90 including the initial investment in the pail and assuming you use kitchen bags instead of the Baby Trend proprietary option. This saving is significant compared to some of the more expensive competition, like the Editors Choice winner, the Munchkin Step.

Changing bags on the Diaper Champ is relatively easy as it doesn't have a complicated bag system or cutting and tying off of plastic. The simple procedure involves pushing the button to release the lid, tying off the bag, flipping open the internal frame and removing the bag. Inserting the bag requires pushing an open bag through the internal frame locking the frame closed and closing the lid. We appreciate the Champ's simplicity which leaves minimal room for mistakes. Read more below on some tips for easier bag changes.

The Diaper Champ is easy to use if the circumstances are right. The rotate to open diaper cup in the lid is easy to operate, with no tricky twisting mechanisms. Just rotate the handle, to expose the cup, dump the dirty diaper in and rotate the cup into the pail. Voila! We recommend rotating the cup bag immediately to the ready position to avoid the giant poof of stink that can come after it sits closed for any period. Deposits can be difficult if the bag is too full or the diaper isn't wrapped tightly, as it can get jammed in the rotation process. This jamming means you will have no other choice but to stop and open the full lid to dispose of the individual diaper or change the bag. To avoid this problem we suggest changing bags frequently which will keep things cleaner, reduce odors, and avoid stuck diapers or trouble rotating the cup.

Dislikes

For odor control, the Champ didn't have the same superior level of odor containment as the Diaper Genie Expression with their seven layer bag and clamp containment system, or the Munchkin Step with its twisting clamp and baking soda puck. However, it does offer adequate odor control. The primary odor problem with the Champ is the whoosh of putrid air that escapes when you rotate the handle to expose the diaper cup to place a soiled diaper into the pail. As stated above, returning the cup to the open position every time you use it will reduce this problem so the cup won't be pre-loaded with stink waiting for release.

We didn't experience any difference in smell containment between Diaper Champ's 9-Layer Odor Grabber Refill Bags and regular 13-gallon kitchen trash bags. All of the products we tested did pretty well with the systems fully closed whether we used proprietary or kitchen trash bags. Several user reviews report that over time the Diaper Champ becomes stinky with regular trash bags due to the plastic pail permanently absorbing odors. Even repeated washing doesn't seem to help. While the Champ's proprietary multi-layer refills claim to maximize odor protection, we don't think it prevents the pail from absorbing odor. We also experienced the Diaper Champ absorbing odor and we used their proprietary refills.

While the one-handed operation is easy to use, the diaper drops directly into the plastic receptacle with no barrier between the plastic receiving cup and the diaper. So if diaper contents spill out and come in contact with the cup, they will linger until you clean it. As a result, you need to disinfect your Diaper Champ more frequently than some of the competition.

This pail is top heavy and prone to falling over when you change the bag. This problem translates to banged shins or scratched walls. To avoid this, it is best to use the footpad at the bottom front of the pail to hold the pail steady when you change the bag so that the unit won't tip over (see the video below). The pail will remain prone to toppling until you insert the new bag and close the lid. This design flaw is not a deal breaker, and you can avoid it if you are careful. It also helps if you avoid overfilling the bags as removing monster bags requires a lot of jostling which can cause the pail to fall and dirty diapers to spill out.

Conclusion

While the Diaper Champ Deluxe didn't win any awards, it does have a place in our line up. The Champ is simple to use, budget-friendly and works with regular 13-gallon trash bags. It has average odor control, and you will need to change bags regularly but this habit can translate to a cleaner pail and fewer mishaps. With its lower lifetime cost and sturdy design, the Champ is one to consider if your budget is tight or you don't want to search for special bags.

Manufacturer Video

This short video shows how to insert the Baby Trend 9-Layer Odor Grabber Refill Bag into a Diaper Champ Deluxe. Inserting a regular 13-gallon kitchen trash bag would follow the same procedure.