How Do I Know What Size Diaper I Wear?


Finding the right diaper that fits perfectly can be a real challenge. Not gettin this right can lead to discomfort, inconvenience, and embarrassment.

The best way to find the right adult diaper size for you is through the trial and error approach. It is essential to try samples of different products until you find one that works for you. The right fitting diaper will provide you with greater security that you’re well protected leading to a boost in confidence from added comfort.

It can be really confusing when shopping around for products on what size will fit you best. While a particular product may have a sizing chart that leads you to a particular size, you can very easily find yourself in a product that is far too big or horribly too small.

Keep reading to learn more about different ways to strategize your search for the right diaper for you to help minimize the amount of trial and error!

The Problems With Adult Pull Up Sizes

Most people tend to use familiar brands such as the pull-ups that are found in the incontinence aisle on store shelves, but these may not be the best fit.

Pull-ups, for instance, have limited sizes and may not protect you as they should. Men’s underwear typically comes in SIX DIFFERENT SIZES, while most men’s pull ups offer only three.

The same is true for womens incontinence underwear too. This can be even more problematic of women due the various different possible hip measurements vs waist measurements.

This can lead to sizing issues which will either lead to leaks or rashes.

Because pull ups offer less variety in sizes they have to compensate for this with enormous amounts of elastic.

As a result of all this extra material if you’re on the lower end of the measurement spectrum for that size you can often feel like you’re swimming in a product that is far too loose to contain the flows of fluid it needs to contain.

On the other hand if you’re on the larger side of the size this can lead to uncomfortable stretching of the fabric which may leave one prone to leaks.

In fairness to Kimberly Clark and Depend they seem to have done a better job with how their product is designed so that even those who are smaller have a nice snug fit.

This is an important thing to look for in finding the right adult diaper size or pull up size. You want a nice snug fit.

Especially in the areas where there will be fluid flowing. This will help ensure protection against leaks.

It’s important to note I said snug and not tight. A tight fit that is TOO tight can lead to heat and friction rashes.

While the pull up kind of adult diapers can work well for many with light forms of incontinence issues it is still important to find the one that fits you the best!

Not just to ensure the best functionality of the product but also to help you feel more comfortable in it too.

These aspects go hand in hand to effect your confidence and ability to go about your day worry free.

The Tapes Should Land On The Front Of The Hips

If you have been trying different types of pull ups and are still having trouble I’d recommend to try tape-up diapers as an alternative.

Though there is a stigma surrounding tape-up diapers, they offer a better fit than pull-ups. They allow you to get a tighter and more appropriate fit without all the extra elastic.

It may still take some trial and error to find the right fit, but with the potential sizing charts available, you can get closer to finding the right size for you.

It is important to understand where the tapes should land in order to get the right fitting diaper though!

The tapes should land around the FRONT SIDE OF THE HIPS!

If you have to pull them tight to the point where they almost get ripped off, then the diaper is too small. If they are only able to tape just barely at the sides of the hips, the diaper is too small. If you have to tape it up so tight that your skin overflows over the top of the diaper, the diaper is too small.

If the tapes don’t come around to the front of your hips then the diaper is too small!



On the other hand, if the tapes are coming so far around the front that they’re beginning to overlap on each other, then the diaper is way too big.

The tapes should land in a particular Goldilocks zone on the front of the hips. This area you see in the example here is what I like to call the diaper tape Goldilocks zone.

If your tapes land somewhere in this area and the diaper fits comfortably then you have found the right fitting diaper for you!

Try Free Samples and Sample Orders of Diapers First!

Trying out free samples or sample orders can also help you find the right fit.

Many different diaper brands and distributors offer some type of sample of a product, and sometimes these samples can even be free. You may have to pay for shipping on some of the free offers but this is always an excellent option when you can find it.

These days there are a lot of different ways to pay for a sample order too. Distributors like Llmedico have a whole page you can find here with a list of the adult diapers they carry that offer 1 to 2 diaper sample packs for a small cost.

Samples orders are a great way to try a variety of different diapers and styles to see what fits and works for you.

They’re also a great way to get a feel for whether or not the thickness of a particular product is going to leave you feeling self conscious.

Getting all these factors right is essential to finding your comfort zone between being well protected and not thinking about whether or not anyone notices your diapers all the time.

This is yet another Goldilocks zone we are aiming to hit when it comes to finding the right diaper for us.

Ask Someone For Help Finding The Right Fitting Diaper

You can also try contacting a brand or company through their social media presences.

Many companies these days have a Twitter presence, an Instagram presence, a TikTok presence, and even some companies you’ll find right here on YouTube.

This can be a really great way to get in contact with an expert on that very specific product to see if they have any recommendations on the correct size for you.

Another option is to ask fellow diaper wearer about their sizing experiences with a particular brand. This can help you get a sense of what may work for you.

While these tips don’t boil down to much more than saying it takes a lot of trial and error finding the right diaper that fits well is crucial for comfort, protection, and confidence.

Don’t be afraid to try different brands and styles until you find the perfect fit for you.

The Diaper Dynamo

The Diaper Dynamo, real name Marc Spagnuolo, has been wearing diapers for incontinence issues for many years. After living with incontinence and needing these products for so long he now creates content all across the internet in order to help assist others out there with their own journies.

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