Posted by Brianna Maguire on Nov 13th 2020
Need to double the absorbency of your protective underwear or diaper with tabs? Diaper booster pads offer a simple, affordable solution to leaks. By placing a booster pad inside an existing diaper or protective underwear, you can enjoy extra leakage protection, or even overnight coverage.
Learn about:
What are booster pads?
Also called “doublers” or “inserts,” booster pads are a pad worn inside an existing incontinence product, like absorbent underwear or tab-style diaper. These pads are absorbent, and once full, allow additional liquid to pass through to the absorbent pull-up or diaper with tabs. They’re shaped like other kinds of pads, though some have wider fronts and backs so they can cup the body.
Booster pads are an affordable and convenient way to extend the life of your diaper or pull-up - they’re much cheaper than other incontinence products and you can just swap them out once full!
Who should use booster pads?
Booster pads are ideal for anyone who:
- Has bowel incontinence and wants something they can swap in and out after each void
- Wants an affordable way to extend the life of their protective underwear or diaper with tabs
- Sleeps long hours and needs extra protection
- Travels and needs a solution that easily lifts out of another product, so you can pass additional fluid without changing the brief or protective underwear
- Wants targeted protection from leaks (like if they’re a side-sleeper and tend to leak out of one particular place)
Who shouldn't use them?
Booster pads are not a good choice for:
- Someone looking for an all-in-one incontinence product that’s worn alone
- Someone with light incontinence
- Someone who prefers wearing one product at a time, or that wants less bulk
How do they work?
- To use a booster pad, just rest the pad inside an existing protective underwear or tab-style diaper. Sometimes, the booster pad will have an adhesive strip that helps fasten the pad to the other product.
- Once inside, the booster pad will collect urine until full.
- Once the pad is full, liquid passes through to the next absorbent product.
- Then, that pull-up or diaper is able to trap any additional incontinence.
- Because booster pads allow liquid to pass through the backing and into another incontinence product, you should never wear a booster pad by itself or in regular underwear.
- You should also never wear other kinds of pads inside a pull-up or diaper with tabs. Other kinds of pads do not allow liquid to pass through the pad into the next absorbent product. That means that urine is trapped against delicate skin, leading to leaks and skin breakdown
What features exist?
Adhesive backing
Some booster pads have adhesive backing that helps the product attach to a pull-up or tab-style diaper. Typically, the smaller booster pads will have adhesive, while the larger booster pads fit the length of your underwear, so they’re unlikely to wiggle around anyway.
Range of shapes
Booster pads typically come in two shapes:
- Rectangular shapes are the most common when it comes to booster pads. Looking similar to a menstrual pad, these rest up and down the core of a pull-up or diaper with tabs
- Hourglass (or contoured) shapes also rest against the core, but are much larger and are contoured to fit plus-sized bodies. They feature wide panels that cover the rear and belly, but narrow at the legs so they don’t add unnecessary bulk.
Range of length
Some booster pads are longer or shorter than others. You’ll want to look for a booster pad with an inch length that will fit comfortably inside the pull-up or diaper you are wearing. If the pad pokes out the sides, there’s a higher risk of leaks.
How do I choose?
- Determine which features you’re looking for. If you want to feel confident that your pad will stay in place, look for one with adhesive backing. If you’re looking for more coverage, try an hourglass shape.
- Choose the length of pad you need. The larger the pad, the more absorbency it can handle. However, make sure the length is short enough to fit easily into your existing product, so there’s no chance of leaks from the pad poking out.
- Need more help? Call our friendly Care Team at 855-855-1666. We’re product experts and we love to help!
Carewell's recommendations
Our customers love booster pads from brands like Tranquility, Abena, and Attends
Our favorite booster pads are:
There’s a reason these booster pads are some of the best-loved by our customers! Absorbent, affordable, and trusted, these booster pads keep you feeling dry and confident. We recommend going with the Super absorbency for reliable, all-night protection.
Another great choice with a large following among our customers, these booster pads are much longer and feature an hourglass that shape that conforms to your existing tab-style diaper or pull-up.
Brittany's pro-tips
If you’re experiencing leaks, it’s probably an issue with fit. Be sure to use exact waist and hip measurements when choosing your size, and don’t be afraid to give us a call for help!
