Choosing The Right Diaper
Adult diapers are rarely the subject of honest discussion. No one wants to talk about them. Many individuals who wear adult diapers for medical reasons know exactly what it is like to go through all the stress and embarrassment of purchasing $100 worth of adult diapers only to get them home, and find out that the product they purchased does not suit their needs.
The Construction of Disposable Diapers and Pads: Modern disposable incontinence products, and sanitary napkins usually consist of a mixture of wood pulp, and a super absorbent polymer core surrounded by hydrophobic plastic backing. Incontinence products vary depending on the type of incontinence issues being addressed. For example, a night-time absorbency diaper is going to be very different from a pull-up style diaper used for light stress incontinence. Incontinence products also tend to fit each person differently as a result of their unique anatomy.
Choosing The Right Product for You:
Choosing the best product to suit one's needs is a very personal process. The most important aspect of picking a diaper is testing it in your home first. Due to individual anatomical differences between people, diapers leak in ways that are unique to every individual.
Backing Material:
"More discrete breathable cloth-like covers" aren't always best. Plastic backed diapers tend to leak less, and have much better odor control. You should always check to see what type of backing material a diaper has before you order them.
Changing Diapers:
Another big question is how often do you want to change? Is it more economical to wear a few heavier diapers or go through a ton of smaller ones everyday. If you have Ulcerative Colitis $1.65 a diaper may not be great if you are going through like 10. Likewise if you are planning on going on a car trip and have serious urinary incontinence a dry247 might be a good choice. You also want to consider how you will be changing. Standing? Laying down? How are your motor skills? Like some diapers have large tapes that are more forgiving in their placement. Others with tiny tapes could be hard for someone with paralysis or arthritis to grip and place.
Using The Bathroom:
Some diapers have refasten-able tables, others can be pulled down to help you use the bathroom. Many do not. This is an important feature to consider for those with more control.
Incontinence Episodes:
There are many different types of incontinence. Some people have a build up of urine that gushes out without warning, while others experience an unending dribble. Someone who experiences large sudden losses might need more wood pulp to quickly catch accidents while someone with overflow incontinence might want more SAP so they need fewer changes.
Small People:
"I really like the ______ brand diaper, but I feel like I am drowning in the medium, why don't they make a small." -Everyone under 120 lbs...
If you are under 5ft, you may have hard time finding diapers. Also smalls/youth tend to cost as much or more than their medium counterparts. It is also not uncommon to find that a diaper that gets rave reviews leaks horribly on skinny people.
Large People:
How heavy you are, and how your body mass is distributed is important. Some manufacturers increase the size of the absorbent pad to scale up with their diapers, others just add wider wings and tapes... Some charge a premium on their X-large diapers. The author of this website is petite, and wears medium. You may find that the observations and opinions on this site don't match with your experiences in bigger diapers.
Symmetry:
Pretty much everybody has a slight bend in their urethra. With incontinent folks the probability of having strictures or congenital issues is even higher. Even just a little bit of swelling internally can skew urine coming out. The pad width can impact performance for some of us.
Padding Distribution:
Due to differences in hip size and origins of urine loss between the sexes, diaper performance can vary. For example the position of the penis generally determines where the diaper needs to be the most absorbent. In this case, diapers struggle to handle urine loss near the top of the diaper and the sides. Some people chose to tuck their penis down between their legs so as to utilize the padding in the rear of the diaper.
The general consensus of manufacturers is that since incontinence is more prevalent among women than men, diapers should be designed with this in mind. Many manufacturers put additional padding in the center, and rear of the diaper. Women generally have an advantage, but large losses of urine between the legs can be an issue because the hour glass shape of a diaper leaves less absorbent material between the legs. This is especially a problem if the diaper does not wick well. Side sleeping in general is leak prone for everyone.
The Construction of Diaper/Pad Cores:
Wood pulp is used to give a diapers/pads shape and rigidity. Wood pulp unlike SAP, provides immediate acquisition of bodily fluids and does not undergo a chemical change. Wood pulp's ability to contain liquid is a result of its surface area. SAP or Super Absorbent Polymer on the other hand, actually locks liquid away, albeit more slowly than wood pulp. Most adult diapers feature a blend of wood pulp and SAP. Sanitary napkins usually use primarily wood pulp, as SAP is only effective for less viscous liquids like urine. The blend of wood pulp and SAP is important when choosing incontinence products.
Wood Pulp V SAP:
Advantages of Wood Pulp:
Quick acquisition of liquid
Wicks moisture well.
Cheaper than SAP
Disadvantages of Wood Pulp:
Poor press out performance
Catches urine rather than absorbing it and locking it away. Still Feels Wet :(
Less Odor Control
Advantages of SAP:
Highly absorbent
Keeps skin drier
Better Odor Control
Excellent Press-out Performance
Disadvantages of SAP:
Prone to clumping
More expensive
Body Chemistry:
How frequently you urinate and what your kidneys excrete are important factors in odor control. Generally odor/rash causing bacteria thrive in a higher PH. Diet is important, but certain people have different outputs. For example, someone with kidney damage might excrete less concentrated urine that is not very smelly but they produce a lot of it. On the other hand a body builder might shed a ton of protein in their urine. Many people can also have allergies to certain fragrances. Also the "wood pulp" can come from a variety of sources and have a variety of different chemicals used to bleach it. It is not uncommon for some people to reek or get a rash from one diaper brand and not another.
Bottom Line:
The right diaper is a personal choice, and most people have different diapers for each occasion. Ultimately, you will want to order a sample pack before committing to ordering a full case. Test drive your diapers at home before going out.
The Construction of Disposable Diapers and Pads: Modern disposable incontinence products, and sanitary napkins usually consist of a mixture of wood pulp, and a super absorbent polymer core surrounded by hydrophobic plastic backing. Incontinence products vary depending on the type of incontinence issues being addressed. For example, a night-time absorbency diaper is going to be very different from a pull-up style diaper used for light stress incontinence. Incontinence products also tend to fit each person differently as a result of their unique anatomy.
Choosing The Right Product for You:
Choosing the best product to suit one's needs is a very personal process. The most important aspect of picking a diaper is testing it in your home first. Due to individual anatomical differences between people, diapers leak in ways that are unique to every individual.
Backing Material:
"More discrete breathable cloth-like covers" aren't always best. Plastic backed diapers tend to leak less, and have much better odor control. You should always check to see what type of backing material a diaper has before you order them.
Changing Diapers:
Another big question is how often do you want to change? Is it more economical to wear a few heavier diapers or go through a ton of smaller ones everyday. If you have Ulcerative Colitis $1.65 a diaper may not be great if you are going through like 10. Likewise if you are planning on going on a car trip and have serious urinary incontinence a dry247 might be a good choice. You also want to consider how you will be changing. Standing? Laying down? How are your motor skills? Like some diapers have large tapes that are more forgiving in their placement. Others with tiny tapes could be hard for someone with paralysis or arthritis to grip and place.
Using The Bathroom:
Some diapers have refasten-able tables, others can be pulled down to help you use the bathroom. Many do not. This is an important feature to consider for those with more control.
Incontinence Episodes:
There are many different types of incontinence. Some people have a build up of urine that gushes out without warning, while others experience an unending dribble. Someone who experiences large sudden losses might need more wood pulp to quickly catch accidents while someone with overflow incontinence might want more SAP so they need fewer changes.
Small People:
"I really like the ______ brand diaper, but I feel like I am drowning in the medium, why don't they make a small." -Everyone under 120 lbs...
If you are under 5ft, you may have hard time finding diapers. Also smalls/youth tend to cost as much or more than their medium counterparts. It is also not uncommon to find that a diaper that gets rave reviews leaks horribly on skinny people.
Large People:
How heavy you are, and how your body mass is distributed is important. Some manufacturers increase the size of the absorbent pad to scale up with their diapers, others just add wider wings and tapes... Some charge a premium on their X-large diapers. The author of this website is petite, and wears medium. You may find that the observations and opinions on this site don't match with your experiences in bigger diapers.
Symmetry:
Pretty much everybody has a slight bend in their urethra. With incontinent folks the probability of having strictures or congenital issues is even higher. Even just a little bit of swelling internally can skew urine coming out. The pad width can impact performance for some of us.
Padding Distribution:
Due to differences in hip size and origins of urine loss between the sexes, diaper performance can vary. For example the position of the penis generally determines where the diaper needs to be the most absorbent. In this case, diapers struggle to handle urine loss near the top of the diaper and the sides. Some people chose to tuck their penis down between their legs so as to utilize the padding in the rear of the diaper.
The general consensus of manufacturers is that since incontinence is more prevalent among women than men, diapers should be designed with this in mind. Many manufacturers put additional padding in the center, and rear of the diaper. Women generally have an advantage, but large losses of urine between the legs can be an issue because the hour glass shape of a diaper leaves less absorbent material between the legs. This is especially a problem if the diaper does not wick well. Side sleeping in general is leak prone for everyone.
The Construction of Diaper/Pad Cores:
Wood pulp is used to give a diapers/pads shape and rigidity. Wood pulp unlike SAP, provides immediate acquisition of bodily fluids and does not undergo a chemical change. Wood pulp's ability to contain liquid is a result of its surface area. SAP or Super Absorbent Polymer on the other hand, actually locks liquid away, albeit more slowly than wood pulp. Most adult diapers feature a blend of wood pulp and SAP. Sanitary napkins usually use primarily wood pulp, as SAP is only effective for less viscous liquids like urine. The blend of wood pulp and SAP is important when choosing incontinence products.
Wood Pulp V SAP:
Advantages of Wood Pulp:
Quick acquisition of liquid
Wicks moisture well.
Cheaper than SAP
Disadvantages of Wood Pulp:
Poor press out performance
Catches urine rather than absorbing it and locking it away. Still Feels Wet :(
Less Odor Control
Advantages of SAP:
Highly absorbent
Keeps skin drier
Better Odor Control
Excellent Press-out Performance
Disadvantages of SAP:
Prone to clumping
More expensive
Body Chemistry:
How frequently you urinate and what your kidneys excrete are important factors in odor control. Generally odor/rash causing bacteria thrive in a higher PH. Diet is important, but certain people have different outputs. For example, someone with kidney damage might excrete less concentrated urine that is not very smelly but they produce a lot of it. On the other hand a body builder might shed a ton of protein in their urine. Many people can also have allergies to certain fragrances. Also the "wood pulp" can come from a variety of sources and have a variety of different chemicals used to bleach it. It is not uncommon for some people to reek or get a rash from one diaper brand and not another.
Bottom Line:
The right diaper is a personal choice, and most people have different diapers for each occasion. Ultimately, you will want to order a sample pack before committing to ordering a full case. Test drive your diapers at home before going out.