Continence
Choosing incontinence products: pads, pull-ups and all-in-ones, by absorbency and fit
“There are hundreds of incontinence products and I'm lost — pads, pull-ups, all-in-ones, different absorbencies. How do I work out what Mum actually needs?”
Match the product to the type and volume of leakage and, just as importantly, to the fit. Light leaks suit pads or liners; someone active and mobile usually does best in pull-ups; heavy loss, or a person who can't get to the toilet, may need all-in-one slips. Get the waist size right and buy by absorbency, not guesswork.
I'm Christian. I run Ability Warehouse and I hold a Bachelor of Medical Science, with years working across pharmacies and the disability sector alongside people of different ages and abilities. I'm not an occupational therapist, a physio or a continence nurse — for anything clinical I'll point you to one. These articles are here to help you choose what genuinely fits.
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Where do I even start with so many products?
I stood in the aisle with my phone out for twenty minutes. Drops, millilitres, maxi, plus, slip, pull-up, level 3. I just wanted the right one for Mum and I had no idea what I was comparing.
It's a genuinely confusing category, made worse by every brand using its own words. Let me cut it down to what actually matters. You only need to answer three questions: what sort of leakage is it, how much, and who's managing it — the person themselves, or a carer? Those three answers point you to one of three product families, and then it's just getting the size and absorbency right.
And please hear this first: incontinence is common, but it isn't automatically permanent. A lot of it improves with the right help — so the smartest first move isn't a bigger pad, it's a chat with a GP or continence nurse. The products below are for managing things well while you sort out the cause.
Three questions decide almost everything: what kind of leakage, how much, and whether the person or a carer manages it. Answer those and the product type picks itself.
The three product families, in plain English
Almost everything falls into one of these:
- Pads and liners — worn inside the person's own underwear (or special fixation pants). Best for light to moderate leaks, and the most discreet. There are shaped pads for women, guards for men, and larger shaped pads for heavier needs.
- Pull-ups — worn like normal underwear, pulled up and down. Best for someone mobile and active who still gets to the toilet, with light-to-heavy versions. They protect dignity because they feel like underwear.
- All-in-ones (slips) — tabbed, wrap-around products fastened at the hips. Best for heavy loss, overnight, or a person who is bed- or chair-bound and changed by a carer. They hold the most and are easiest for a carer to change lying down.
One cheap trick worth knowing: a booster pad is a doubler you place inside a pull-up or slip to add capacity (especially overnight) without jumping to a bulkier product. Used right, it saves money and improves comfort.
Work out what you need before you buy
Run through this quick assessment. It takes five minutes and saves a cupboard full of the wrong product.
What to assess before you choose
Tick what's true. Your answers point to the product family and absorbency.
The person
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Why it matters
If they're up and about and self-managing, pull-ups that work like underwear usually suit best and protect independence and dignity.
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All-in-one slips
Why it matters
If a carer does the changing, tabbed all-in-one slips are easiest to apply and remove with the person lying down, and hold the most.
The leakage
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Pads & inserts
Why it matters
Light leaks are best handled discreetly with pads or liners inside normal underwear — no need for anything bulkier.
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Why it matters
Heavier loss needs a higher-absorbency pull-up or slip; bowel loss generally needs an all-in-one for containment.
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Why it matters
Overnight usually needs a step up in absorbency, or a booster pad added inside the usual product.
The fit
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Why it matters
Fit matters as much as absorbency. A product that's too big leaks at the legs; too small is uncomfortable and tears. Measure the waist and hips and match the size chart.
How do I read absorbency — drops, levels and millilitres?
Every brand labels absorbency differently: some use “drops” (more drops = more absorbent), some use “levels”, and most also give a millilitre capacity. You don't need to memorise them — just compare within a type and match the volume to the need:
- Light — small shaped pads and liners, roughly a few hundred millilitres, for dribbles and stress leaks.
- Moderate — larger pads, male guards and lighter pull-ups, for regular but manageable loss.
- Heavy — higher-“drop” pull-ups and shaped pads, often over a litre.
- Maximum / overnight — the most absorbent pull-ups and all-in-one slips, for heavy loss or a full night.
Rule of thumb I give people: buy the lowest absorbency that reliably keeps them dry and comfortable, then step up only for nights or if you're getting leaks. More absorbency isn't “better” — it's bulkier, warmer and dearer, and the wrong fit leaks whatever the rating.
A product from each family
MoliCareMoliCare Premium Mobile 6 Drops Pull Up Pants - Carton
$139.10
Member price · $154.56 without
Where to spend, and where to save
Incontinence products: worth it vs save your money
Worth doing
- Getting the fit right — the single biggest cause of leaks is the wrong size, not too little absorbency.
- Buying by the carton once you know what works — it's far cheaper per piece than small packs.
- A higher-absorbency product or a booster pad for overnight, so sleep isn't broken by changes.
- Good skin care alongside — barrier cream and gentle cleansing prevent the rash that pads can cause.
When cheaper or less is the honest answer
- Don't buy maximum absorbency for light leaks — it's bulkier, warmer and dearer for no benefit.
- A booster pad inside the usual product is cheaper than upgrading the whole product for nights.
- For very light, occasional leaks, washable reusable underwear can work out cheaper over time.
- Don't stockpile one size before you've confirmed it fits and suits — bodies and needs change.
Don't forget the skin
Wearing pads or slips, especially overnight, can irritate skin if it stays damp. The fix is simple and worth building into the routine: change promptly, clean gently with a pH-balanced wipe or cleanser rather than scrubbing with soap, dry properly, and use a barrier cream on the skin that's in contact. If skin becomes red, broken or sore despite this, that's worth a nurse or GP's eye — see the continence skin care range and our continence skin care notes.
When to see a professional — and which one
A quick word on paying for it
If the person is on a funded plan, check with their plan manager, support coordinator or funding body about how products like this are handled before you buy — everyone's situation is different. We are not a registered NDIS provider. We provide a tax invoice listing the item and our ABN on every order, which is usually what's needed for a claim or reimbursement.
Questions & answers
Pads, pull-ups or all-in-ones — what's the real difference?
Pads and liners sit inside normal underwear for light-to-moderate leaks. Pull-ups work like underwear and suit mobile people who still get to the toilet. All-in-one slips fasten at the hips, hold the most, and are easiest for a carer to change someone lying in bed. Match the type to mobility and volume.
How do I read absorbency levels and 'drops'?
More drops or a higher level means more absorbent, and most products also list a millilitre capacity. Compare within one product type and match the volume to the need. Buy the lowest absorbency that reliably keeps the person dry and comfortable, stepping up only for nights or if you get leaks.
Why does my product leak even though it's very absorbent?
Almost always it's the fit, not the absorbency. A product that's too large leaks around the legs and waist; too small won't hold or sit right. Measure the waist and hips and match the size chart, and consider a booster pad inside for extra overnight capacity.
Can incontinence be treated rather than just managed?
Often, yes. Depending on the cause, pelvic-floor exercises, bladder training, treating a bladder infection, or reviewing medications can improve or resolve it. That's why seeing a GP or continence nurse, or calling the free National Continence Helpline, is worth doing before settling into products long-term.
How do I stop pads irritating the skin?
Change promptly, clean gently with a pH-balanced wipe or cleanser rather than soap, dry the skin properly, and apply a barrier cream to the skin in contact. If the skin becomes red, broken or sore despite this, have a nurse or GP look before it turns into a wound.
Where to start
Work out whether the person is mobile or carer-changed and how heavy the loss is, get the waist size, and try a small pack of the right type before committing to a carton. And book that GP or continence nurse appointment — managing it well and treating the cause aren't the same thing. If you'd like a discreet hand choosing, call us on (02) 9125 4293.
This article is general information to help you choose continence products. It is not a diagnosis, a treatment plan or a substitute for a GP, continence nurse or the person's treating team, and much incontinence can be assessed and improved. Specifications mentioned are approximate and as at November 2026; the live product cards show the current details and price.
