Pads and Boosters

Pads and boosters for extra potection

Not everyone dealing with incontinence needs to wear full adult briefs or even pull-on disposable underwear. Incontinence pads are sold in a range of absorbency levels and can be worn with either regular or specialty underwear. Some pads are designed specifically for use with the manufacture's own underwear - the Tranquility High Capacity Pad (*Est. $11 for a package of 25) , for example, works with the Tranquility Washable Pant (*est. $10 to $16 depending on size) -- but most can be used with any snug-fitting underwear.

This category has the widest range of protection levels. For example, Abena's Abri-Light Ultra Mini (*est. $6 for a package of 28) is designed to hold only 2.5 ounces of liquid, while their Abri-San X-Plus (*est. $13 for a bag of 16)can contain nearly 115 ounces. Which style performs best depends on the wearer's degree of incontinence and sensitivity to bulkiness. According to XP Medical, the Mini is "incredibly discreet under clothing," while the X-Plus "provides nearly the same protection as a full brief, without the hassle of tapes."

MoliCare, Tranquility, Depend and Attends also make a wide selection of pads and guards, about which reviewers say that users should consider both the manufacturer's stated absorbency level and the brand's reputation. While Depend Guards for Men (*Est. $11 for a package of 14) may work well for mild incontinence, and Attends Shaped Pads (*Est. $17 for a package of 18) are a readily-available high-absorbency pad, reviewers say those with moderate to severe incontinence are better off using a premium pad such as one of Abena's.

Boosters are like pads -- but without the absorbent backing. Not intended to be worn alone, they add protection when combined with a disposable brief or pull-up. According to The New Diaper Primer, the best booster is Tranquility's Topliner Booster Pad (*Est. $9 for a package of 25) , which is designed to fill to capacity before transferring the liquid to the primary protective brief or pull-up. Abena's Abri-Let (*Est. $11 for a package of 45) also gets good user reviews, and the New Diaper Primer says the Depend Boost (*Est. $9 for a package of 20) is a widely available booster that works well for improving brief capacity.

Best cloth diapers

Although disposable incontinence wear is more popular, cloth diapers have a loyal following as well. The New Diaper Primer has an extensive discussion of cloth diapers, including tips for use, laundering techniques and a discussion of available styles and fabrics. Cloth diapers can be made of various materials, including terry cloth, birdseye, gauze and flannel. New Diaper Primer cautions against terry cloth, saying it's much too bulky for daytime use, and recommends flannel as a good all-purpose choice for absorbency and comfort. The Primer recommends Angel Fluff's flannel diapers, which include a standard pre-folded style for use with diaper pins (starting at *est. $3 each, depending on size) and a pre-folded hook-and-loop (Velcro) style (starting at *est. $3 each, depending on weight and size).