If you suffer from severe incontinence, it’s intuitive to invest in adult diapers with the thickest core absorbency layer. Incontinence briefs designed with thicker absorbency materials soak up bodily fluids more efficiently, keeping your skin drier for longer.
But for many incontinence patients, choosing a thicker adult diaper often means trading their comfort for absorbency. The only way to strike a balance between the two is by investing in adult diaper pads.
Read below for a definitive guide to adult booster pads.
What Are Diaper Pads?
Adult diapers, also called incontinence briefs, are probably the first things that come to mind when searching for effective incontinence aids. However, diaper pads are no less reliable.
Diaper pads are small, impermeable, and high-absorbency sheets that provide extra leak prevention for adult diaper users. The products come in multiple styles, the most popular being booster pads.
Booster pads are absorbent inserts meant to extend the absorption capacity of regular adult diapers. They’re alternatively known as “insets” or “doublers,” denoting their usage alongside other incontinence wearables.
Premium diaper pads provide incontinence protection by soaking up more bodily fluids and reducing the frequency of adult diaper changes. That makes them particularly effective for active users with heavy leakage.
What Are Booster Pads Made From?
Adult diaper pads are typically constructed from hydrophilic (water-retaining) materials. This material combines with bodily fluid discharges to create a gel-like substance, allowing the pads to retain more fluids before leaking.
Regular incontinence pads are constructed from moisture-proof backing, which prevents the outer underwear from getting wet.
Comparatively, booster pads feature flow-through backing that lets fluids flow to the outer brief when saturated. While that may sound like a design flaw, these pads can easily double the capacity of regular diapers.
What Type Of Incontinence Can Booster Pads Help With?
Like regular diaper pads, booster pads are primarily designed for urinary incontinence. Urinary incontinence, or bladder incontinence, is the reduced (or total loss of) ability to control your bladder movements.
However, you may also benefit from booster pads if you have bowel incontinence. Bowel/fecal incontinence denotes the inability to regulate your bowel movements.
Many adult diaper brands manufacture gendered products.
Briefs for urinary incontinence have the core absorbency material placed on the undersides (for female users) or the front (for male wearers). On the other hand, diapers intended for bowel incontinence may have an absorbency layer stretching from their undersides to the front.
That’s a stark contrast from mostly unisex diaper pads. A booster pad can soak up urinary or bowel discharge, depending on how you position it within the outer diaper.
How Do Booster Pads Work?
Booster pads are designed with an adhesive strip to keep them in place when worn underneath other incontinence products. The strip is also elastic and can adapt to different adult diaper sizes.
To use a booster pad, carefully place it on the inner lining of your outer adult diaper, the side that would normally make contact with your skin.
Now, use the adhesive strip to secure the pad to the outer brief. Finally, wear your adult diaper with the booster pad secured to it.
Regular incontinence briefs can absorb 30 – 50 ounces of fluid, while premium brands may provide up to 67 ounces of leak-free protection. With a diaper pad, that capacity could easily double. Most diaper pads can soak up 7 – 27 ounces of fluid.
A booster pad will collect fluids until saturation, after which the liquid flows to the outer brief. The outer diaper will then absorb any additional leakage.
When Is A Booster Pad Ideal?
A booster pad is an invaluable investment for anyone suffering from incontinence. However, these products are particularly recommended for incontinence patients who;
- Experience heavy fluid leakage
- Are heavy sleepers or those seeking uninterrupted sleep
- Are going on long-haul trips and need extended incontinence protection without having to change diapers frequently
- Require a highly disposable incontinence product
- Require targeted leak protection, such as side sleepers who usually experience leaks through specific places
- Need something affordable to enhance the longevity of their regular incontinence briefs
How to Choose Booster Pads
Your incontinence level is one of the biggest considerations when shopping for a booster pad. Whereas average-thickness diaper pads may suit mild incontinence, you’ll require super-thick pads for heavy leakage.
Remember that booster pads can soak up to 27 ounces of fluid. It’s okay to try pads with higher absorbency capacity, provided they feel comfortable wearing.
Size is another critical factor when shopping for booster pads. Although most booster pads measure 10 – 15 inches, it’s best to choose a pad whose size matches your outer adult diapers.
Lastly, insist on booster pads with odor control and hypoallergenic properties.
Photo Credit: Pixabay.com
The Bottom Line
Adult booster pads can enhance the absorbency of regular incontinence briefs, providing extended dryness for incontinence patients. But, like other incontinence wearables, the efficacy of diaper pads depends on the product’s distinct characteristics.
Exercise due caution while shopping for booster pads. Besides common factors like size and comfort, you’ll need to research the product’s construction material and chemical ingredients. As booster pads are worn underneath regular adult diapers, pads with low-quality materials or harmful ingredients can trigger unbearable irritation.
If you’re new to booster pads, a good practice is to test-drive multiple products before finding the perfect brand for your incontinence needs.