For the mild incontinent, a thick, sagging, overfilled diaper is not always a plus. Diaper stuffing can allow you to increase absorbency and thus increase the efficiency of your adult diaper.

But there are certainly others who like to wear their diapers as long as possible between changes. Whether that’s out of a practical need (such as long work shifts with no bathrooms available), limited mobility, or an erotic interest, the challenge is the same: how do you get more absorbency without overwhelming the leg gathers? Diaper stuffing may be your answer.

1. Thicker Diapers for Diaper Stuffing

It should go without saying, but the more wettings you want your diaper to absorb, the more padding you’re going to need.

One of the big strengths of the Bambino Diapers line of diapers is the depth of padding that they use — the “3D cores” in the center of the diaper are essentially cylinders of absorbent material, rather than flat strips, allowing them to expand outward in all directions when the super-absorbent polymers become wet. (Check out our detailed look at Bambino diapers for more information about their products.)

Upgrading to a premium brand of diapers that features thicker padding will get you a longer per-diaper lifespan than store brands or basic brands like Depends and Attends. If you haven’t made that switch, and you want your diapers to last longer, that’s your starting point.

2. Disposable Booster Pads for Diaper Stuffing

Also called “soaker pads,” “stuffers,” and a variety of similar terms, these are small pads filled with the same SAP and other absorbent materials used inside disposable diapers. Most have an adhesive strip on one side to affix them inside a larger diaper. These are perfect for diaper stuffing and increasing absorbency.

Quality can vary, but for the most part these are an effective way to increase the depth of padding at the center of the diaper. Users should be careful to select the right size, however: a booster pad that is wide enough to touch the leg gathers at the side of the diaper it’s inserted into will end of leaking into those gathers when it reaches capacity. A narrower pad will let wetness pass down into the padding beneath it instead.

Disposable pads don’t add a ton of absorbency — perhaps enough for one or two wettings at the most, even with the bulkiest models. However, they’re less bulky than other ways of adding absorbency, and can be thrown out along with the diaper in one easy bundle, making them a good method for diaper wearers on the go.

3. Cloth Stuffers

A folded cloth diaper (or for that matter any folded cloth) laid along the gusset of a disposable diaper will function similarly to a disposable soaker. Cloth stuffers can take the bulk of diaper stuffing to a new level.

Cloth padding tends to be bulkier than disposable boosters filled with SAP. It also lacks a moisture-wicking lining, meaning that the skin inside the diaper may feel “wetter” with a cloth pad than a disposable. For a wearer willing to tolerate the bulk, however, cloth diapers folded into stuffer pads can add an impressive amount of absorbency.

The best cloths to use are those designed for absorbency. Multi-fold diapers and high-absorbency toweling work well. In a pinch, however, any soft cloth can be used — it’s not a perfect solution, but it’s been good enough for most of human history.

As with disposable booster pads, it’s important to fold the cloth thin enough that it’s not pressing up against the leg gathers of the outer diaper. Once the cloth hits its limit, you want it leaking down into the padding of the diaper, not into the leg gathers.

4. Doubled Diapers

We’ve discussed doubling up diapers in detail before on this blog, but in brief summary: it’s possible to slit the outer plastic of one disposable diaper and then tape it in place with another, unmodified diaper taped over it.

This does provide added absorbency, but it’s an inefficient solution, and not very cost-effective. You’re better off using a purpose-designed disposable soaker. Doubling up is best saved for improvised necessities, when no other options are available, or for fetishists who want a maximum of crinkle and bulk to go along with their absorbency.

5. Plastic Briefs/Plastic Panties

Finally, wearers who want their diapers to last longer can add a layer of waterproof underwear over the diaper itself.

Plastic briefs or panties don’t add any absorbency of their own. Instead, they create a sealed shell around the diaper, so that when it leaks the wetness is contained.

The effectiveness of plastic (or other waterproof) underwear is determined by the seal it provides at the legs. Most use strong elastic or rubber rings to grip tightly around the thighs. Some also add absorbent linings on the insides of the openings. As long as those hold out, even a leaking diaper won’t spill.

Combining Methods for Effective Diaper Stuffing

In theory, you could do all of these: double up two thick premium diapers with a disposable booster and a folded cloth pad in the gusset of the inner diaper, and then slap a pair of plastic briefs on top for the ultimate super-diaper.

As entertaining as that might be, however, you’re usually better off using one soaker, one diaper, and one pair of plastic pants at most. Beyond that you start to hit diminishing returns — even if most of the wetness is going through the soakers, enough is being slowly pushed out the sides that it will overwhelm the leg gathers before all the layers of padding have hit their absorbent capacity.

There’s also a limit to how much bulk can fit between one pair of legs, so choose your methods wisely, and only use as much padding as you need!