How to Keep Baby's Room Smelling Fresh

PDF download Download Article
PDF download Download Article

Your baby’s nursery is cute and comfortable—but what is that smell? It’s completely normal for a baby’s room to stink every once in a while. After all, they do need lots of diaper changes. But the stink doesn’t have to last! We’ve got the best and easiest ways you can keep a baby’s room smelling fresh, so keep reading to learn more.

Things You Should Know

  • Dispose of dirty diapers immediately. Use a diaper pail to minimize odors from diaper trash, and plan to empty it once a day.
  • Make a homemade air freshener out of baking soda. You can also place dryer sheets in trash cans and drawers to add a fresh scent to the environment.
  • To avoid stale air, open windows in the baby's room at least once a day and change their sheets at least once a week.
1

Invest in a diaper pail.

PDF download Download Article
  1. Diaper pails are all the rage these days because, with each toss, the pail automatically seals out the stink. This handy tool can reduce the number of times you have to take out the nursery trash, helping your baby’s space stay fresh for longer.
    2. Advertisement
2

Throw out dirty diapers immediately.

PDF download Download Article
  1. Rather than setting a dirty diaper aside to throw away later, throw it in a lidded trash can right away. Better yet, toss the soiled package in an outdoor trash can to keep the stink as far from the house as possible. [2]
    • Set a trash can or diaper pail near the changing table to make clean-up that much easier.
    • Use odor-blocking trash bags for extra stink protection. [3]
    • Wrap the diaper in a plastic grocery bag or dog poop bag before throwing it away to lock in odor.
3

Take the trash out every day.

PDF download Download Article
  1. Make taking out the nursery trash a part of your daily routine. This will help the room stay fresh, and soon it’ll become a normal part of your routine.
    • Add some more chores, like vacuuming or picking up toys, to the evening trash run to keep the baby’s room fresh and clean every day.
    2. Advertisement
4

Change the baby’s diaper in another room.

PDF download Download Article
  1. If your baby’s nursery doesn’t have good airflow or an openable window, try changing their diapers in a space that does. Maybe that’s the living room, dining room, or outdoor space like the patio.
    • Clean and disinfect any area you use to change a baby, wiping down all surfaces and tossing blankets in the wash.
5

Clean the changing station after each use.

PDF download Download Article
  1. Once your baby is clean and off the changing table, wipe the area with a baby wipe or damp paper towel. [4] Then, use a bleach- or alcohol-based disinfectant spray or wipe to kill any lingering bacteria and smells.
    • Commercial disinfectants registered with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) are safe to use on changing tables as long as the proper drying time and ventilation are applied based on the disinfectant’s instructions. [5]
    2. Advertisement
6

Air out the baby’s room.

PDF download Download Article
  1. When it’s nice outside, open the nursery window and door, letting a soft breeze roll through. If you can’t open a window, turn on a ceiling fan (if the nursery has one) to improve airflow. [6]
    • Air purifiers can also help airflow and circulate throughout a room.
7

Tuck dryer sheets in drawers and trash cans.

PDF download Download Article
  1. Grab a few fabric or dryer sheets from the laundry room and bring them into the nursery. Place them in drawers, under the changing table mattress, or at the bottom of a trash can. Their fresh scent will be faint but constant. [7]
    • Replace the dryer sheets in drawers every other week and in trash cans when you take out the trash.
    2. Advertisement
8

Change the baby’s sheets regularly.

PDF download Download Article
  1. Believe it or not, many funky odors come from the crib. Look over all the blankets and sheets in the nursery for drool, spit-up, and diaper leak stains (that means your cuddling blankets too). If you find any, toss the bedding in the wash and switch it out for something clean and fresh.
    • Try washing or changing crib sheets once a week.
    • Keep a pair of spare sheets in the nursery closet for clean-up emergencies.
    • Ensure that the crib sheets are snug and tight around the mattress to avoid entanglement. [8]
9

Make a baking soda air freshener.

PDF download Download Article
  1. [9] If odors continue to linger even after you dispose of dirty diapers, try placing a DIY baking soda air freshener at the bottom of your trash can or diaper pail. Cut off the bottom of a plastic bottle and add 2 tbsp (28.3 g) to the makeshift dish. Then, add 2 to 3 drops of your favorite essential oil and set it down in your trash can before adding a bag. [10]
    • If you don’t have essential oils, no worries! The air freshener will still absorb odors without them. [11]
    2. Advertisement
10

Diffuse essential oils.

PDF download Download Article
  1. Lavender , frankincense , and tea tree can freshen a baby’s space. Aromatherapy can be used to block out odors and provide a soothing space for you and your baby. [12] Diffusing essential oils with an oil diffuser neutralizes and masks smells with a pleasant scent; however, it’s important to understand the risks of using essential oils around infants. Follow these tips to safely use essential oils around your baby:
    • Talk to your pediatrician before using essential oils around a baby.
    • Buy oils from credible companies that list the scientific names of the oils. [13]
    • Introduce your baby to essential oils slowly by wearing them on your skin.
    • Add less oil to a diffuser to not overwhelm a baby with a scent.
    • Set the diffuser to run for 10-minute spurts when the baby is in the room or on a constant cycle when the baby isn’t in the room. [14]
    • Steer clear of peppermint oil as it can increase a risk for seizures in children younger than 30 months. [15]
11

Avoid leaving bottles in the baby’s room.

PDF download Download Article
  1. If you feed a baby in their nursery, make sure to take the bottle with you on the way out. This way, you won’t walk into a sour or rancid smell later.
    • Breast milk can naturally have an odd odor, especially after it’s been refrigerated or frozen.
    • Infant formula can spoil if it’s left out for more than 2 hours, and it’s advised to throw out any formula left in the bottle after feeding, as bacteria can quickly grow from saliva and formula mixing. [16]
    2. Advertisement

Expert Q&A

Ask a Question
200 characters left
Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.
Submit
      Advertisement

      Tips

      Submit a Tip
      All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published
      Name
      Please provide your name and last initial
      Submit
      Thanks for submitting a tip for review!

      You Might Also Like

      How to
      Make 4 Different Types of Baby Wrap Carriers
      How to
      Hold a Newborn Baby: Safe and Proper Techniques
      How to
      Use the Chinese Birth Gender Chart for Gender Selection
      Why Do Babies Bend Over and Look Between Their Legs?
      11 Polite (But Firm) Tips to Help You Tell Family and Friends Not to Kiss Your Baby
      How to
      Tell a Baby's Gender from an Ultrasound
      How to
      Fold a Graco Stroller
      How to
      Dress Your Baby for Chilly Weather (50 Degrees)
      How to
      Assemble a Crib
      How to
      Bring a Baby to the Movies
      How to
      Install a Car Seat
      How to
      Clean an Uncircumcised Child's Penis
      How to
      Wear a Moby Baby Wrap
      How to
      Choose a Baptismal Name
      Advertisement

      Expert Interview

      Thanks for reading our article! If you’d like to learn more about nursery hygiene, check out our in-depth interview with Ahmed Mezil .

      References

      1. ↑ https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/reviews/best-diaper-pail
      2. ↑ https://www.mightymoms.club/baby-items/stinky-diaper-pail-solutions/
      3. ↑ https://www.mightymoms.club/baby-items/stinky-diaper-pail-solutions/
      4. ↑ https://media.acihq.org/gsp/gs/mediaobjects/docs/CleaningisCaring/ChildCare/Diaper-Change.pdf
      5. ↑ https://www.decal.ga.gov/documents/attachments/tipofmonthdiaperingareas.pdf
      6. ↑ https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/improving-ventilation-home.html
      7. ↑ https://www.today.com/home/how-hide-diaper-smell-t107074
      8. ↑ https://publications.aap.org/pediatrics/article/138/5/e20162938/60309/SIDS-and-Other-Sleep-Related-Infant-Deaths-Updated?autologincheck=redirected
      9. ↑ https://oconto.extension.wisc.edu/files/2011/02/Baking-Soda.pdf
      1. ↑ https://youtu.be/GnXEvRX-lLI?t=59
      2. ↑ https://youtu.be/GnXEvRX-lLI?t=133
      3. ↑ https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2020/02/how-scent-emotion-and-memory-are-intertwined-and-exploited/
      4. ↑ https://www.hopkinsallchildrens.org/ACH-News/General-News/Are-Essential-Oils-Safe-for-Children
      5. ↑ https://www.parents.com/parenting/moms/essential-oil-safety/
      6. ↑ https://www.hopkinsallchildrens.org/ACH-News/General-News/Are-Essential-Oils-Safe-for-Children
      7. ↑ https://www.cdc.gov/nutrition/infantandtoddlernutrition/formula-feeding/infant-formula-preparation-and-storage.html

      About This Article

      Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 20,744 times.
      If you buy through links on our site, we may earn a commission .

      Did this article help you?

      Advertisement