Adult diapers come in a variety of shapes and sizes. Everyone has different access levels to certain adult diapers depending on things like where they live and how much money they have and what sort of resources they have available to them. Some people only know what it is like to wear store bought diapers from places like CVS, Walgreens and Wal-Mart. All they know are the typical thin adult diaper like Depends. Anyone who has ever tried on a regular basis store bought diapers knows the disadvantages of them. They are typically only good for one wetting and even then sometimes they leak. This is a huge worry that can lead to some very embarrassing moments if you are not careful.
Yes, I know store bought diapers are cheaper and more accessible. But, that is just about the only advantage.
Many people don’t like the very public way of having to go to a store and buy adult diapers. It causes your heart to race and you start to worry if someone you know is going to find out your secret. What will the cashier think? What will other customers think? All these things start running through your mind. These are worries that you do not have to deal with if you have the ability to order online.
But, besides the mental aspect of buying diapers – there are the physical characteristics that truly changed my opinion on why purchasing premium adult diapers is better in the long run both on your purse (or wallet) as well as your own sanity.
A lot of people see the cheap price of store brand diapers and think they are getting a great deal. The fact is that each one of those diapers barely holds any fluid at all and is not meant for what most ABDLs or diaper lovers actually use them for. They are meant for people that are incontinent and do not fully void in them at one time and typically multiple times. So, you have the ability to change your diaper 3,4,5 and even 6 times a day. So, you can possibly go through 5 or 6 of these cheap diapers a day if you are trying to avoid leaking (if that is even possible with some of these diapers). So, that pack of 24 adult diapers you bought at the store may be gone in a week or less depending on how often you use them. Plus, you also have to deal with the mental aspect of the fear of leaking all the time. I hate leaking – it is a pet peeve of mind and always has been. I use to get so upset with the diapers my mom use to buy me when I was a teenager that were cheap and I would leak sometimes. I would get so mad. She eventually learned to buy the better brand of diapers or buy boosters that we could put in the diaper to help with that issue.
Premium adult diapers like Abena, Bambino diapers, Tena Slip Maxi, Dry 24/7, etc while they may seem expensive at first – when you truly analyze what you are getting with each of these adult diapers you will see the cost saving benefits. One of these diapers can usually take a minimum of 2-3 full voids and still be completely fine. You can technically go a whole day in 1 premium adult diaper. This will save you money in the long run as well as give you some piece of mind that you won’t leak every time you have to use the diaper.
Plus these premium adult diapers are usually more comfortable, have better features, and typically cuter if you are into that sort of thing.
I learned my lesson a long time ago and started going exclusively towards the best brands of adult diapers on the market and I haven’t looked back. Peter feels the same way and is actually the one that turned me on to the top brand diapers. Before I was using a combo of store brand diapers and Attends with waistband (which aren’t bad but definitely not anything like the premium adult diapers).
Just something to think about next time you are looking to make your next purchase of adult diapers. Cheaper is not always better. Especially, in the case of adult diapers.
NOTE: Updated my Exclusive Premium Content section today as well: Premium Content
Thanks for another blog post.
However, the “new” content on your photos section has already been paid for and seen by those who registered for imabdl.com. The dressing room shots were fun, but with digital cameras everywhere today, if you are asking users to subscribe, then at least keep the content fresh and unique, kind of like your blog posts. Perhaps pictures to accompany? For instance, pic of your Attends or store bought diaper wearing versus premium diapers…
Just some constructive criticism. Keep up your effort, you get out what you put in.
-LilX
Something else I’d like to add is that buying online, you can and should buy in bulk. You are correct that you’ll use less diapers because you’ll have to change less often. But you also save in the fact that the cost per diaper is so much better buying by the case, which you can’t do buying from a store.
This is so true. I used to use the Attends and then I switched to the Bambino Biancos and went from an average of 6 diapers per day down to 3! =) Definitely worth the extra upfront cost to save in the long run.
The photos in the premium section are nice, but its hard to tell what has been updated since there are so many of the same type of shot. I think we need some variety. I would suggest also photo names or descriptions or maybe classing updates by date or naming etc. its hard to tell when you have updated 1-2 photos where they are sometimes. Having them sorted by date could maybe help.
Love the new site and format btw! I’d love to see some blog posts on plastic pants along with photos of the same. Your blog with helpful ideas for how to conceal diapers in public are very helpful too!
In addition to buying premium diapers and buying in bulk, if you are in the US you should have your doctor write a prescription for medical necessity (if that is the case). For me, it is medical and even my Bambino diapers are covered under my FSA. To go along with this, my fitting products, PUL (plastic) pants, diaper rash creams, powders, underpads and pull-ups are all covered as well. It makes a HUGE savings when this money is pre-tax dollars. All of a sudden costs go way down…
Take care,
Colin
@CD That sounds like really good advice. Is there any special paperwork involved other than a prescription? I use diapers for medical reasons but insurance will only cover the cheap diapers. I have been thinking about opening an HSA or FSA account to help with the cost.
Thanks,
Kevin
Hi Kevin,
Personally, I have Conexis for my FSA and the only thing that was special was I had to have my doctor’s office fill out their medical determination form. My doctor used code 788.30 which is non-specified urinary incontinence. The treatment was for adult briefs and pads and the duration is lifelong. I believe I have to go through the hassle once a year but my doctor’s office is really nice and they have the form ready in 24 hours when I send it.
On reimbursements, you should specify medical and on receipts you may need to add annotation on what you ordered. For example, I ordered 10 pair of GaryWear PUL active briefs and I put on the receipt before I faxed it over “polyurethane lined pants to go over disposable diapers.” As many know, FSAs can be a pain in the ass so being shy won’t help. The same was done for my 10 pairs of Abena boxer briefs. I specified it was for “fitting product to hold disposable diapers in place.”
I spend most of my $2000 FSA on incontinence supplies but since it’s pre-tax I wind up saving almost 20%. I was able to stock up for a whole year this January and recently when my incontinence got worse I was able to experiment with different product for 24/7 wear.
Take care,
Colin
Just out of curiosity, Colin, what insurance do you have? I get my disposables through Medicaid, and had a very narrow selection of brands to choose from. I would love to try Bambinos, and if there’s even a remote chance of Medicaid covering them, I’d like to know.
Hi Rachel,
For insurance I have Cigna with my wife’s plan as a backup. However, Cigna is the one that gives me the FSA card through Conexis. Most likely, if you have Medicaid then what they will actually pay for is small but your Flexible Spending Account should cover any brand of disposable, even Bambino. However, it means you having to set aside pre-tax dollars from your pay to do so. I did the math and since it’s pre-tax it’s like me getting 30% off the site prices which is really good. Sometimes Conexis turns me down for durable medical equipment but if I call and say it’s to manage incontinence they are fine.
Hope this helps,
Colin
I agree 100% with that. I’ve got moderate incontinence from some nerve damage. The store brand diapers just plain suck, no two ways about it. Everything I tried from the stores leaked like a sieve, and was scratchy and generally uncomfortable.
I’ve tried Abenas, which are great nighttime diapers, and even a sample pack of Bambino Teddys I read about on here (I couldn’t resist the temptation, and they were unbelievably cute! ^_^ ). I’ve got a sample of the Bellissimos coming in soon. Can’t wait to see how well they work. It’s not like anybody can see the print if I don’t want them to. 🙂
Tena Slip Maxis seem to work the best. They fit my rear end (or lack thereof, lol) perfectly, they’re like wearing a cloud, and they don’t stick way out like Abenas do. Nobody would have a clue I was wearing one unless I hiked my pants down and pointed to it.
Hi Chris,
I like the Tena Slip Maxi as well and use them while travelling. The front panel and cut make changing in and out of them simple, and going through TSA isn’t a hassle either (as long as you’re dry). At home, I have stopped using Abena and use them only for travel. I use the Bellissimo from Bambino. They are really great – you will like them since they are really soft, the inside gathers pop up readily (they seem to be compressed in the Teddys) and the usable capacity seem to be almost double the Teddy. I’ve only completely filled one overnight a couple of times in over a year using them. My wife thinks the prints are cute and it makes it less of a medical thing…LOL.
Have a good one,
Colin