Applying incontinence products, such as nappies, pads, or pants, is a common task, but there are a few simple tips and techniques that can enhance their effectiveness and reliability.
How To Apply Incontinence Pads: Tips & Tricks
How To Apply Incontinence Pads: Tips & Tricks
Applying incontinence products, such as nappies, pads, or pants, is a common task, but there are a few simple tips and techniques that can enhance their effectiveness and reliability.
Incontinence pads are a popular and practical option for managing continence, but properly applying and putting them on can be a challenge for some people.
Let's begin by asking you a few questions:
- Do you experience leakage despite the pad not appearing to be full?
- Do you sometimes experience leakage that soaks through your clothing, particularly when lying down or at night?
- Does the use of a booster result in increased leaking?
- Are you experiencing a rash between your legs and in the groin area?
If you have answered yes to any of these question, the following suggestions and tips may help you.
How to prepare the incontinence pad
All pads and pants need to be folded in half, lengthways, before being put on. This creates a moulded boat shape allowing urine to go to the lowest central point and, more importantly, engages the leak guards.
What this means is that the leak guards will stand up. When you get products out of the pack, the leak guards will often stay flat against the pad and, therefore, won’t redirect urine away from the leg cuff.
Leak guards within the leg line, direct urine from the edges of the pad back into the centre, avoiding leakage.
Measuring your waist is important
To avoid friction and leakage when using a pad with a waistband, it's important to properly measure your waist. If the waistband is the wrong size, either too small or too large, it can result in discomfort in the groin area and also cause gapping in the legs leading to potential leakage as the leak guards will not fit securely against the legs.
When measuring, measure at the widest point between the hip and waist. From there, check the "waist measurement" on our website to ensure you get the correct fit.
Keep in mind that pad sizing can vary between brands, just like with regular clothing. To ensure proper fit, you should be able to insert two fingers under the waistband and one finger under the leg area of the pad.
Putting on Slips / Adult Nappies
If you are wearing an all-in-one or slip/nappy style, try doing up the bottom two tabs in an upwards direction first. This helps the leg cuffs fit snugly against the leg. The top two tabs should be slightly angled down. This will eliminate the natural channel that forms at the back, which allows urine to take the route of least resistance and flow out of the top of the pad.
To place the pad on someone in the lying position, roll them onto their side first. You then place the pad between the legs and pull up into position. Unfold the back of the pad and then roll the person back. Once you have adjusted the position of the pad at the front, you can do up the tabs. This means only one roll, being more comfortable for the wearer and better on the carers back.
Here's a step-by-step guide on how to put on adult nappy / slip:
Putting on Pull-Up Pants
Putting on incontinence pull-up pants is a straightforward process, but it's important to follow a few steps to ensure maximum protection and comfort. Here's a step-by-step guide to help you put on incontinence pull-up pants correctly:
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Choose the right size: Make sure you choose the right size of pull-up pants to ensure a comfortable and secure fit. Incontinence pants should fit snugly around the waist and legs, but not so tight that they restrict movement or cause discomfort.
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Stand up straight: Stand up straight and take a step forward with one leg. Hold the pants by the waistband and place one leg into the pants, pulling them up over your leg and onto your hip.
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Repeat with the other leg: Repeat the process with the other leg, making sure the pants are properly positioned on your hips and not twisting around your legs.
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Smooth out any wrinkles: Once both legs are inside the pants, adjust the waistband to a comfortable position and smooth out any wrinkles in the material.
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Check for proper fit: Ensure that the pants fit comfortably and securely around your waist and legs, without any sagging or bunching.
By following these simple steps, you can ensure that you put on incontinence pull-up pants correctly, providing you with the protection and comfort you need.
To remove them, you can tear the side seams so you are not pulling the full pant down over the legs.
Putting on Booster Pads
Booster pads are often used to increase the absorbency of pads or for faecal smearing. We suggest looking at the absorbency level of your primary pad and increase to the next level rather than using boosters.
For faecal smearing as well as urinary incontinence a booster provides a cost-effective alternative to frequent pad changers as you should change a pad as soon as faecal matter is present. This may be frequent and a booster allows you to keep using the primary pad and just change the booster.
If you choose to use a booster pad, be aware of careful placement. Many people don’t realise that the booster can sit on top of the leak guards, and if this happens, there is nothing to redirect the urine into the pad and leakage will occur.
We hope that some of these tips will help you get the most out of your continence aid. Why not check out our other helpful articles while you’re here?
If you have any questions about our product range, you can speak to our customer service team 6 days a week, by calling 1800 86 11 99 or emailing hello@confidenceclub.com.au. We also have an online chat on our website. We’re here to help!