In the many years that I’ve been needing to wear adult diapers, the variety and quality of options available to me have grown substantially.
The popularity of adult diapers is shown in the fact that the global adult diaper market reached a value of 15.4 billion dollars in 2020, there are more places to buy quality diapers than ever before, and there is a noticeable increase in the amount of content available today that sheds light on the fact that adults need diapers too.
There are a number of factors contributing to the rise in adult diaper usage. Let’s take a look at some of the evidence of their growing popularity more closely. By understanding how the market has gotten to where it is at today we can gain an understanding of how popular adult diaper usage really is.
The Growth Rate of Adult Diaper Sales Continues To Increase
Let us start by simply taking a look at some of the sales reports from the past and how they have increased over time.
Let’s start with the 15.4 billion dollar number we referenced earlier. This number comes from a Research and Markets report, that you can find here, that states the adult diaper market is going to grow to 24.2 BILLION by 2026.
The number we see for the global sales in 2020 differs depending on the report we’re looking at. The graph shown here published by Statista shows the total sales for 2020 at around 13.2 billion. That’s a 2 BILLION dollar difference in numbers!
That seems like a substantial difference in reporting to me but it at least gives us a feel for where the market is currently at and where it might be headed to.
This report found here by Allied Market Research says that the market for adult diapers had reached 13.3 billion back in 2018 and also projects the market to reach 24.1 BILLION by 2026. These numbers are in close alignment with the report from Research and Markets cited above.
To put this in greater perspective that’s roughly 9 to 10 billion dollars in sales in 2015 with a projected growth of up to 24.2 billion by 2026. That means the market has grown at a substantial rate.
I suspect this growth expectation may be on the low end too as more people like myself start creating content and helping people feel better about using diapers for whatever reasons they may have.
If you’re not sure of what those reasons might be before you go any further check out this page here!
Understanding the various reasons people wear diapers will help you further understand why they are growing in popularity and acceptance.
The Increase In Adult Diaper Options and Distributers
When I first started needing to wear diapers for bedwetting as a teenager I was just outside of the size range of Goodnites. I did try to use them but they leaked pretty badly for me on the very first night.
At that time there weren’t a whole lot of products available online to choose from yet. If I recall correctly, at the time the only products that would fit me were made by Tranquility.
Maybe there were Abena adult diapers at that time as well but at that age, the sizing was still too big on me. In way of quality products online to choose from there really weren’t many options. Much less a variety of sizes that would have catered to different body types.
There were of course the old Depends tape-up diapers back then. Those weren’t too bad at first. I think that this particular style of Depend was a far better design than what Kimberly Clark offers today.
(I was actually told by one of you in a recent Livestream that these types of Depends are still available for purchase online and I found them over on Amazon right here if you’re interested in checking them out. I cannot speak to their quality these days.)
Back then I could still ride my bike to Walgreens and pick up a package on my own so it was the best way for me to handle my own issues.
Luckily, Depends isn’t the only product on the market anymore!
That said, the prevalence of Depends products in the market shows how much they actually get bought. Their attempt at making their products look like real underwear was an admiral try to make these needs more acceptable.
I can say with confidence the advertising around their “underwear” is very effective while the product itself I am much less impressed with. It’s an inadequate design when it comes to moderate or severe forms of incontinence.
Luckily, Depends isn’t the only product on the market anymore. (Despite what everyone might think.)
If you are here because you are having bed wetting problems yourself but are unsure if you should wear diapers to bed yourself check out this page for some advice on when the right time to wear them is!
The selection of high-quality adult diapers available online has grown substantially in the last ten years.
With brands like Confidry 24/7, Northshore Megamax, and Better Dry it’s easier than ever to find a highly absorbent diaper that will keep you protected all day long.
With great websites like NorthshoreCareSupply and XPMedical you can be sure you’ll have an excellent selection of products to choose from as well as great customer service should something go wrong. A good distributor will work with you on any major issues you might encounter.
From a faulty batch of diapers to potentially getting shipped the wrong size. Luckily situations like those are very rare but things do happen from time to time and a good distributor will work diligently to help you get a quick resolution.
The Increase In Content and Pop Cultural References Of Adult Diapers
As I have gotten older I have watched an increase in adult diaper references in popular TV shows and movies. There are quite a few popular cartoons that attempt to shed light on these issues in an entertaining way.
The first big one that comes to mind is The Simpsons. There is an episode in the 23rd season of The Simpsons called “How I Wet Your Mother” where Homer suffers a traumatic experience.
As a result of his traumatic experience, he starts wetting the bed. Despite the comedic undertones of the context this episode actually does a pretty decent job showing the distress adults go through when they have issues like these.
From the initial overwhelming embarrassment to the attempt to hide his wet sheets, to the bedwetting alarm, it really does a good job showing the whole process in an entertaining way.
It even gets to a point where Homer ends up wearing an adult diaper to bed. This then leads to an awkward moment between Homer and Marge when they attempt to get frisky with each other.
This particular scene certainly captures what that moment can be like for a couple who is thrust into this situation and hasn’t yet learned how to navigate it.
There are of course other cartoons that touch on the subject of diaper wearing from Sponge Bob to Bob’s Burgers.
In Sponge Bob there is an episode where Patrick reveals that he has been wearing diapers for the past year which is why he is so good at diapering.
In Bob’s Burgers, there is a reference to Bob’s rival Jimmy being a part of the ABDL community. Unfortunately, references like this one put a somewhat negative light on the fact that some adults like to use diapers recreationally.
Here on this site and in The Diaper Dynamo content, I’m promoting that ALL adult diaper usage is for the improvement of one’s quality of life. Therefore all adult diaper usage is valid and should be respected.
Even when people say they wear them just for comfort! (For more on what people ACTUALLY mean when they say this check out this page next!)
There are of course many more references in regular TV shows but I think the real growth in popularity is shown in the number of content creators that have begun to emerge discussing these needs openly.
As a content creator, I have watched the number of creators covering these topics grow over the years. With more content available every hour of every day, there will be others who start sharing their stories too.
I specifically wanted to point out the growing number of YouTubers covering these topics in a respectful and educational way. I haven’t been able to find too many Tiktokers just yet but I’m sure as time goes on more Tiktokers will emerge too.
Here is a quick table of some YouTube channels that cover the subjects of adult diapers, bedwetting, incontinence, bladder problems, bowel problems, and even ABDL topics. I think you might be interested in checking them out at some point.
| TheBestLife | Ada KiGaines |
| Speedy Diaper Reviews | K Huck |
| Bumble Pree | How to Wear Adult Diapers |
I will do my best to update this list as more folks come to my attention but you’re bound to like at least a few of them.
As more people out there create content on the reasons people need to wear adult diapers, it not only lets those out there who already use these products know they’re not alone, but it also lets anyone else out there considering them know it’s no big deal. (There are some pros and cons of wearing diapers to know first though! Check that out here next!)
In my opinion, these are the beginning signs of a cultural sea change when it comes to these matters. Plus, I intend to be a driving factor in bringing about a change myself.
There is no shame in wearing diapers no matter what you’re reasons may be. You do you boo! There’s more love and acceptance in the world than you think. You just have to give the world a chance.