Adult Nappy Sizing: How to Measure and What to Do Between Sizes
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Continence briefs are not sized like clothing. A person who wears a size 16 dress or 38 inch trousers cannot assume anything from those numbers, because brief sizing is based on a measurement around the body and the ranges vary between manufacturers.
Two minutes with a tape measure prevents most of the problems people write to us about.
How to measure
You need a soft tape measure. Measure over underwear or light clothing, not over bulky layers.
- Waist. Measure around the narrowest part of the torso, usually just above the belly button. Keep the tape level all the way round.
- Hip. Measure around the widest part of the hips and buttocks.
- Take the larger of the two numbers. That is the number you buy to. A brief has to pass over the hips to reach the waist, so the widest point governs.
If the person is in bed, you can measure lying down. Roll the tape underneath at the hip, bring it round, and keep it flat rather than pulled tight. Record the number somewhere you will find it again, because you will need it every time you reorder.
The Equipit size ranges
| Size | Waist and hip range | Inches |
|---|---|---|
| Medium | 81 to 102 cm | 32" to 40" |
| Large | 102 to 142 cm | 40" to 56" |
| Extra Large | 132 to 173 cm | 52" to 68" |
All three are unisex tab-style briefs, ten to a pack.
Does a bigger size hold more?
Not in our range, and not in most ranges. This is worth saying plainly because a lot of product pages let people assume otherwise.
Our Large and Extra Large share the same manufacturer-stated absorbent capacity. Extra Large is a wider fit, not a higher capacity. You choose it because the measurement calls for it or because someone needs more room to be comfortable, not because you want more protection.
If someone needs genuinely more capacity, sizing up will not deliver it. A booster pad inside the brief will, because it is designed to absorb and then pass the overflow through to the core beneath.
What to do when you fall between sizes
Say the measurement is 101 cm, which sits at the top of Medium and the bottom of Large. Or 140 cm, which is near the top of Large and inside Extra Large.
The usual advice is to size up for comfort, and that is reasonable in most cases. But it comes with a caution worth understanding, because it cuts both ways.
A brief that is too big leaks. It cannot seal against the crease of the leg, so gaps open at the groin and fluid finds them. Too big leaks more reliably than slightly snug.
A brief that is too small is uncomfortable and can mark the skin. Red pressure lines at the waist or the leg that are still there twenty minutes after a change mean it is too tight.
So the practical answer: if the person is mobile and active, take the smaller size, because the seal matters more when they are moving. If they spend most of the day seated or in bed, or if comfort over long wear is the priority, take the larger size and pay close attention to the leg cuffs and tab angle when fitting it. Either way, buy one pack before you buy ten.
Signs the size is wrong
- Leaking at the leg while the core is only partly used. Usually too big.
- Tabs meeting in the middle with barely any overlap. Too small.
- Tabs crossing over each other significantly. Too big.
- Red marks at the waist or thigh that persist after removal. Too small or fastened too tightly.
- The brief sagging away from the body when the person stands. Too big, or the bottom tabs were fastened flat instead of angled up.
- Gaps you can see at the groin when the person is standing. Too big.
When the measurement changes
Weight changes, and so does the right size. Illness, a change in mobility, a change in medication or a stay in hospital can all shift the measurement enough to matter within a few months. If a product that has worked for a year suddenly starts leaking and nothing else has changed, measure again before you change brands. It is a surprisingly common answer.
Common questions
Should I measure over clothing?
Over underwear or light clothing. Bulky layers will add several centimetres and push you into the wrong size.
Are men's and women's sizes different?
Our briefs are unisex and the measurement approach is the same. Fluid distributes differently, which affects where you check for leaks, but not which size you buy.
Can I mix sizes for day and night?
Some people do, using a slightly roomier fit overnight and a snugger one during the day. There is nothing wrong with it as long as both are within the person's measured range.
What if the person cannot stand to be measured?
Measure lying down, rolling the tape underneath at the hip. Keep it flat and do not pull it tight.
Ordering from Equipit
Our unisex tab-style briefs come in Medium, Large and Extra Large, with refastenable tabs so you can adjust the fit rather than write off a brief that went on wrong. Equipit is the product-supply arm of Kinship Uniting Services, an NDIS registered and CHSP approved provider since 2017.
If you have a measurement and are not sure which size it points to, send it through. Call 0448 663 293 or email products@equipitdsp.com and we will tell you, including when the answer is that neither size is right for you.
General information only, not medical advice. Absorbency figures are manufacturer-stated.