Playtex Diaper Genie Elite & Portable - Review & Giveaway

I have been keeping a secret.  But, today I can let all of you know about a new group that I have been chosen to be a part of that is launching today: the Playtex Mommyville Mommy Review Panel!  I am partnering with Playtex for 2012 and as part of that, you'll have the opportunity to read my opinions on some of their new & existing products, get to participate in giveaways of the items that I get a chance to test out, and see me over at Playtex Mommyville on the discussion boards, etc.  I encourage you to take part!

Here is some information about two products that I've had a chance to review so far:

Playtex Diaper Genie^™
"The Diaper Genie^® system double-locked pail design and multi-layer refill seals in odour and germs.  The ergonomic system, along with foot pedal, means moms don’t need to bend down and allows for easy, hands-free handling.  Diaper Genie^® II and Diaper Genie II Elite^™ diaper pails are available at major department stores across Canada for a suggested retail price of $35.99 and $45.99."

Diaper Genie^™ Portable Diaper Bag Dispenser
"As the newest addition to the Diaper Genie^® line, the Diaper Genie^™ Portable Diaper Bag Dispenser is all about discretion. The dispenser holds up to 25 opaque, lavender scented bags and helps seal diapers in baggies until a suitable disposal is found. The Diaper Genie^™ Portable Diaper Bag Dispenser can be kept in the car, thrown in a diaper bag or clipped to a stroller for easy access and a suggested retail price of for $4.99."

Reviews
The Playtex Diaper Genie^™ Elite is a product that I had a number of people recommend to me while I was pregnant.  I loved the idea of having a special garbage pail specifically for diapers that would allow me to keep the smell out of the rest of our house...because who wants to smell dirty diapers all day!  When I was looking at the differences between the standard Diaper Genie and the Diaper Genie Elite, I loved that the Elite had a pedal.  The pedal makes the system so much easier to use and I don't have to get the outside of the Diaper Genie Elite dirty.  I also found that I like the height and size of the Diaper Genie Elite over the standard Diaper Genie, which I've used before and found to be smaller overall.  The Diaper Genie Elite does hold a lot of diapers before we have to empty it, which is great!

Unfortunately, we do notice that when we open the Diaper Genie Elite, we can smell the poopy diapers. It generally does a good job of keeping out the smell if it is closed but occasionally we have to dump it before it's full because of the smell (poopy diapers). Although the smell can be an issue at times (not always), I really like the Diaper Genie Elite for a number of reasons and it is a much better alternative to using a garbage pail or single bags and throwing them outside. I'd definitely suggest a Diaper Genie system for all first time parents.

The Diaper Genie^™ Portable Diaper Bag Dispenser is a brand new product that makes diaper changing (and disposing) on-the-go a little bit easier.  Whenever I was out and about before having the Diaper Genie^™ Portable Diaper Bag Dispenser I'd always just through my daughter's diapers in a garbage can and worry about the smell (especially if it was a poopy one)!  Now, I don't have to worry so much because I can easily bag the diaper and through it in a garbage pail.  Or, even better, if I'm not near a garbage pail, I can bag the dirty diaper and keep it until I find a garbage pail, without getting our diaper bag or stroller all stinky!  The fact that the bags are scented (a scent that I like too) helps with that. 

Since I like to try and use as few plastic bags as possible, I only intend to use these bags when I really really need to (for poopy diapers and for when I can't find a garbage pail right away).  I do think these bags are a bit bigger than they need to be and could probably easily fit a couple of diapers.  Other than my eco-friendly tendencies, I really like the idea of the Diaper Genie^™ Portable Diaper Bag Dispenser.  It's small size and clip makes it handy to take anywhere!  It's great for your diaper bag, the car, your stroller, etc.

If you are looking for reviews on other Playtex products, I urge you to check out Playtex Mommyville website (if you look under their products, you'll find lots of reviews from parents like you) or one of the other 5 members of the Playtex Mommyville Mommy Review Panel who will be posting reviews on a variety of Playtex products as well:

• - Mommy Kat and Kids
• - Everything Mom and Baby
• - Nolie’s Place
• - Jabbering Jessi 
• - amotherworld 

*GIVEAWAY*

How many winners are there? One.

What can you win? One winner will receive a Playtex Diaper Genie^™ and one of the *new* Diaper Genie^™ Portable Diaper Bag Dispensers.


To enter, visit Playtex Mommyville.  Then, come back here and tell me the name of another item that you'd like to see me review.  This must be done to gain an entry in the giveaway.

Each of the following will give you one extra entry in the giveaway (unless stated otherwise). If an entry option is worth more than one entry, please leave a separate comment for each entry:
- Adding the Everything Up Close blog button to your blog or website.

- Following me on Twitter (@ihchicky) and tweeting about the giveaway with a link to this page. Please leave a link to your tweet or your twitter name. You can tweet 1x a day.

Enter to #win a Diaper Genie & new Portable Diaper Bag Dispenser @ihchicky. Ends Mar 3. http://bit.ly/PlaytexDG #giveaway #Canada

- Following me on Blogger / Google Friends Connect (publicly).
- 'Liking' Everything Up Close on Facebook.  Please leave your name (First name and last initial) that is shown on Facebook for verification. 
- 'Liking' Simply Beautiful Beginnings on Facebook.  Please leave your name (First name and last initial) that is shown on Facebook for verification. 

- Blogging about this giveaway on your blog. Please leave a link to your blog post in your comment.

- Talking about and linking to this giveaway in any public forum or on Facebook. If you do this, please leave your user-name and a link to the post. 2 ENTRIES!
- Visiting Simply Beautiful Beginnings and commenting on one of the posts.  Please tell me the name of the post and the name (or email address) you used to comment.
- Telling me about a topic you'd like to see covered on Simply Beautiful Beginnings.  Suggestions must fall into the scope of Simply Beautiful Beginnings to be considered as an extra entry.

Important Entry Details: The above entries (main and bonus) can only be submitted once per person (except for the tweet entry, which can be done daily). Please do not use more than one blogger account or add additional anonymous comments to gain extra entries. This is not fair to everyone else and this practice is strictly prohibited. If a person is found to be using more than one account to enter the same giveaway, they will be disqualified from that particular giveaway, as well as all future giveaways.

This giveaway will end on Saturday, March 3rd at 11:59pm (Central Standard Time). After the giveaway has ended, the winner will be picked randomly using random.org and the winner will be posted on the Everything Up Close Winner's List.  The winner will have 1 week to send me an email with their complete mailing address (the winner's information will be verified - please email using the email address you used to enter). If you do not contact me within 1 week, a new winner will be chosen.  

This giveaway is open to residents of Canada only!

Good Luck!

**Disclaimer** As part of the Playtex Mommyville Mommy Review Panel, I am sent free products in exchange for my participation in the group and reviews.  Receiving these items did not in anyway alter the information which I discussed in this article; this review is 100% my own opinion.  I did not receive any other type of compensation for these reviews.