What Are Booster Pads + How Do You Use Them?

A quarter to a third of all adults in the U.S. suffer from urinary incontinence, and about one third of people who receive care through a primary care doctor report symptoms of at least occasional bowel incontinence. If you struggle with bowel and/or bladder control, the right incontinence products can help you stay cleaner, drier, and more confident. Using booster pad inserts that work with other disposable absorbent products can be an effective way to get extra protection as needed. Read on to learn what they are and how to use them.

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What Are Booster Pads for Adults with Incontinence?

Booster pads are absorbent pads often worn along with adult diapers or incontinence underwear. A booster pad looks similar to a maxi pad or an incontinence pad. It has absorbent material on one side and an adhesive strip on the other.

When used properly, booster pads provide additional protection to reduce the risk of leakage if you experience a loss of bladder or bowel control. You may sometimes see booster pads referred to as diaper doublers, flow-through pads, or absorbency enhancers.

How Do Booster Pads Work for Incontinence?

Protective underwear for people with incontinence works by drawing in fluid and locking it away in an absorbent core. Although this type of wearable incontinence product is effective, the capacity of any absorbent product has its limits. When the amount of waste or fluid exceeds the absorbency of pull-on briefs or adult diapers, urine or feces may seep through and reach your clothing.

Using a combination of booster pads and disposable absorbent underwear instantly increases the absorbency level of your incontinence protection. When an accident happens, the liquid or waste flows through the booster pad into the underwear below. Once the diaper or pull-up becomes saturated, the booster pad offers the extra capacity needed. As a result, you’re less likely to experience leaks than you would when using only a single product.

A visual representation of booster sizes and added absorbency.

How Are Booster Pads Different from Regular Incontinence Pads?

Incontinence pads and regular booster pads look alike in many ways, but their purposes and designs are different. Pads go inside your regular underwear. They have a moisture-proof backing to help stop urine from reaching the fabric below.

Booster pads don’t go inside your own underwear. Instead, they work with incontinence undergarments, providing extra leakage protection. Since they are made for use in conjunction with adult diapers, booster pads have a flow-through design. Basically, a booster pad has a porous backsheet, making it possible for fluid to pass through to the protection below.

If you tried to use a regular incontinence pad with an adult diaper for extra absorbency, the result wouldn't be the same. The waterproof backing would prevent the fluid from reaching the adult diaper. Instead, it would remain in the incontinence pad, and you wouldn’t get any additional absorbency benefit.

The Benefits of Using Booster Pads

There are a number of benefits of using booster pads along with adult diapers. Let’s explore some of the biggest ones.

Less Risk of Leaks

By raising the absorbency of incontinence protection, booster pads help men and women with incontinence issues better prevent leaks. They can help protect clothing, bedding, and furniture from staining by capturing more of the fluid and waste.

Less Frequent Changes

You should always change a used product as soon as possible when you have incontinence. However, you may not always be able to get to the bathroom or a private place to change your incontinence protection right away. By increasing absorbency, booster pads can extend the wear time of your regular protection, meaning less worry if you can’t change right away.

Cost Savings

Often, booster pads cost less than other incontinence protection products when you compare the price per piece online or in stores. Individuals who use light or moderate absorbency level underwear and only need additional protection occasionally, such as when they travel, may find it more affordable to buy booster pads than more absorbent adult diapers.

Support for Healthier Skin

By capturing additional fluid, booster pads promote drier skin. Not only does this add to your level of comfort, but it can also cut down on the risk of rashes and irritation that can develop when the skin comes in contact with moisture.

Less Risk of Odor

Even a small amount of leakage can give rise to incontinence odors. Booster pads make leaks less likely to happen and offer added security.

Increased Confidence

Wearing booster pads can greatly reduce worries about risks. With increased peace of mind, you may feel more confident and prepared for daily activities, like running errands or attending appointments. Additionally, you may feel ready for more adventures, like taking day trips, seeing performances, and traveling overnight.

Less Stress for Caregivers

Caregivers can benefit from booster pads as much as the people who wear them. Less risk of leaks means less time cleaning and more time to attend to individuals’ other needs.

When to Use Booster Pads

If you routinely experience leaks while wearing incontinence underwear, wearing booster pads every day may be the right option for you. In other cases, people may only need the extra protection of booster pads in a specific situation, such as:

At night, whether at home, in a hotel, or staying with friends and family
While exercising or playing a sport like golf
While recovering from an injury, surgery, or a medical procedure
When taking long trips by plane, train, bus, or car
During concerts, other performances, and sporting events
When visiting attractions like amusement parks and museums
When camping, hiking, and enjoying other outdoor activities
While running errands or attending long appointments

A visual representation for how booster pads work alongside protective underwear.

How to Use Booster Pads

To use booster pads correctly, follow these steps:

Wash your hands with soap and warm water.
Remove your incontinence underwear from the packaging and put it on like usual, but don’t pull it up higher than your knees or lower thighs.
Peel the backing off the self-adhesive strip on the booster pad.
Line the pad up with the crotch area of the underwear. Center it so that the edges are aligned. It's usually easiest to do this when you’re sitting on the toilet, the edge of the bed, or on a chair.
Press the pad into place in the center, smoothing it down with your fingertips.
From the center, run your hand forward to the front of the pad, applying gentle pressure.
Return to the center and run your hand back toward the back of the pad.
Stand up, take hold of your incontinence underwear, and pull it up.
Wash your hands with soap and warm water.

If you need to change your incontinence protection, remove the used products after step one and throw them away in a disposal bag. Then, cleanse your skin thoroughly with a no-rinse cleansing spray or disposable wipes. Apply a thin layer of barrier cream to protect your skin. Finally, move on to step two above.

The Best Incontinence Booster Pads

There are many brands of booster pads out there for you to consider. To choose the right ones for your needs, consider the following.

Materials

Look for booster pads made of soft, breathable material. Breathable fabrics with a soft texture feel comfortable and improve air flow to support drier skin. If you have sensitive skin, booster pads made out of hypoallergenic materials may reduce the risk of irritation.

Size

Unlike incontinence underwear that comes in several sizes, most booster pads are one-size-fits-all. However, the dimensions vary between brands. Choose pads that cover the entire length of your incontinence underwear to reduce the risk of leaks in the front and back.

Shape

Booster pads come in different shapes. Generally, the hourglass shape offers the best fit because it is similar to that of the contoured crotch in incontinence underwear.

Capacity

The capacity of booster pads tells you how much fluid a booster pad can hold. Brands may represent capacity by cups, ounces, milliliters, or liters. Use this handy online calculator to convert units and easily compare products.

Because Market Premium Boosters stand out due to their soft, breathable cloth faces, their wide hourglass shape that provides full-length coverage, and their ability to increase absorbency by four cups (32 ounces). Discover the difference for yourself by ordering a package today and get free shipping on orders over $75.