Anyone who has shopped for absorbent products knows that it’s no walk in the park. Walk down any of these isles in Walmart, Target or Walgreens and you’ll find hundreds of products designed to keep you dry.  How do you find the right one for you, and what should be considered when choosing an absorbent product?

The three biggest things you should look at when choosing a product are absorbency, comfort, and fit.

If you don’t have all of these things, you’re not going to have a product that works for your needs.

Absorbency.

When looking at absorbency, make sure you look for products that wick moisture away from the body and those that have cloth-like outer layers for the quietest product available. Specifically select products designed for urinary incontinence because they have super absorbent gels that absorb urine and expand by as much as 20 times for maximum absorbency.  Think about the type of incontinence you are experiencing and then investigate your options – do you experience only occasional leaks, or is it more than that? Do you have nighttime incontinence or do you usually only leak during the day? There are products designed specifically for all of these scenarios so pay attention to the different categories.

Fit.

This is probably the most important thing to pay attention to, and can be the hardest to get right.  Look for a size that accommodates your body type and is not too big or too small.  Otherwise, there can be waste, misfit, and potential leakage.  Just like clothing, different brands may fit you better than others – we’re all unique, after all – so don’t be afraid to try out various brands, or different product lines within a specific brand.

Comfort.

Finding a product that you feel good in can boost your confidence. Think about your lifestyle when choosing a product – are you very active? Do you travel? Do you like to wear certain types of clothing (like skinny jeans) that may necessitate a specific type of product? Do you want to reuse the product or just dispose of it when you are finished wearing it?  Keeping these things in mind will help you when narrowing down the types of products you look at.

It may take several tries to find the right product, but don’t give up.  Once you find something you’re comfortable with, you’ll be secure in knowing that you can get back to your life without fear of leaking.  And if you’re too embarrassed to visit a retail store, there are many online retailers that will deliver product straight to your home.

For a complete list of all the different types of absorbent products available, click here