Featured here on MyProtex, Written and researched by Colin Ellison
Bedwetting is a common affliction. It affects children, teenagers, and adults. According to the Cleveland Clinic “About 1 in 10 children in the United States have nocturnal enuresis - about 30% of children ages 7 and under and about 5% of 10 year old children. For teenagers, an estimated 1% to 2% of U.S. 15 year olds have nocturnal enuresis. About 2% to 3% of adults over 18 have primary nocturnal enuresis.” (Cleveland Clinic, n.d.)
There are many treatments available to cure this problem including medications, surgical procedures, as well as bedwetting alarms, and while these treatments work for many individuals, there are some who have to contend with this issue their entire lives. In these cases the prudent thing to do is to have the person wear some type of protective undergarment to bed. The most widely used forms of protection are products that look and fit like regular underwear such as pull-ups and “Goodnites.” It is believed by many childcare experts that these products would be less stigmatizing to wear than a diaper. While this may be true there are certain advantages that diapers have over underwear style products. A representative from the adult diaper manufacturer Better Dry had this to say regarding pullups vs. tape-on diapers– the diapers with tape tabs have taller leak guards, larger absorbent cores, and higher super absorbent content(Personal communication). Additionally the tapes allow for more flexibility with how you adjust the garments thereby preventing leaks - “Tab-style briefs offer a more secure fit around the leg areas. Tabbed adult diapers allow the wearer to adjust the fit around the waist as needed. The plastic exterior can help contain odors and prevent sagging when the brief is full (NorthShore Care Supply, 2023)”
In addition to tape tab style diapers there are prefold style pin-on cloth diapers covered with plastic pants (also known as “rubber pants” even though this is a misnomer). Pin-on style diapers also allow for a great amount of flexibility with how you adjust the diapers. According to Protex Medical: “Why cloth diapers? The biggest difference is fit. All bodies are different sizes and shapes. Using diaper pins, you have the ultimate control over how the cloth folds around your leg openings and waist for maximum protection and comfort (Protex Medical).” The author of “The New Diaper Primer” has this to say regarding cloth diapers for use at bedtime: “You will benefit from the comfort and security each night with a dry, comfortable bed, “Cloth diapers become favorites for secure night wear”, and “Wet beds are truly a thing of the past with cloth diapers (New Diaper Primer).”
Unfortunately, the majority of the public, most medical professionals, as well as most pediatricians, believe that only babies should wear diapers and that a child over the age of 4 (unless they're a special needs youth) should be taken out of diapers and/or plastic pants. I come at this from a unique vantage point which has colored my thinking on this issue to a significant degree – I'm one of the millions of adults who continue to have nighttime accidents. To manage my bedwetting I wear adult size prefold style pin-on cloth diapers covered with an adult size pair of pull-on plastic pants. On some nights I wear disposable adult size diapers fastened with tape tabs. Finally, I use both rubber and plastic sheets to cover my bed for added protection.
What has always puzzled me is this – the public and most medical professionals seem to have no issue with the following groups use of diapers – people suffering from neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's, dementia, and similar conditions, special needs individuals such as those suffering from autism, cerebral palsy, or other disabilities,or the elderly, but look down on those people who use diapers to manage their bedwetting. Perhaps it's because the previously mentioned disorders frequently are accompanied by symptoms which render the person helpless just like an infant. Therefore it's socially acceptable for them to wear a diaper, whereas it's not socially acceptable for a “normal” youngster or adult that wets the bed. One way to look at it is in the following manner – it's more “babyish” not wearing a diaper to bed. By not protecting themselves at night the child or teenager is not taking responsibility for managing the problem which is not acting in a mature manner. As we get older we face more challenges in life and must take steps to deal with those challenges. In some cases we may not be thrilled with the measures we need to take to handle these problems but as adults we learn to adjust. The same thing can be said about wearing a diaper to bed. Many adults who wet the bed also feel embarrassed or ashamed at first about wearing diapers but over time they get used to putting them on before going to bed, and it's even more important to wear a diaper to bed if you're in a relationship and sharing a bed with someone – after all you don't want your significant other getting wet! In my opinion diapers should be viewed no differently than other medical equipment such as eyeglasses, CPAP machines, wheelchairs, and other items.
I have an idea which hopefully will alleviate (or perhaps at some point eliminate) the stigma surrounding older children, teenagers, and adults wearing diapers to bed. The idea I have will hopefully change our self-concept regarding diapers. My idea is this - redefine the word “diaper.” Traditionally diaper was defined as a garment worn by babies. Try this definition instead: “A waterproof, absorbent, protective undergarment made of either reusable or disposable material which is drawn up between the legs and fastened at the waist by tape tabs, diaper pins, or other methods. It is designed to be used for the following purposes: for managing episodes of incontinence experienced by babies and young children before they are potty-trained; for providing protection for children, teenagers, and adults that experience incontinence due to various medical conditions; as well as providing protection for children, teenagers, and adults that wet the bed.” I think this describes the situation more accurately.Hopefully the ideas expressed in this article will move the needle in this area and I hope this article helps people that wet their beds and wear diapers realize that they are not alone – there are plenty of us in the same leaky boat!