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purrna2go Asked July 11, 2023

Pads vs Depends for continent patient? I have a different solution.

After years of pads and Depends for my mom, who is now 100 years of age, I have come up with an additional option: two pair of cotton underwear. My mom is not incontinent, but has frequency. The Depends and the pads both have drawbacks, as you all know. Both are expensive and chafe and are a disposal problem. The packaging itself is no fun either. The pads double over and stick to the skin, or are wrong sizes. I'm now using two pair of cotton underwear. The advantages are that it is airy, lightweight, easy to pull up and down, no packaging, washable, and no chafing. It provides just a bit of leak protection, perfect for someone like my mom who is not incontinent but has to "go" very often. And I suppose if someone were handy with a sewing machine, adding panels of folded cotton fabric or batting would work very well.

Grandma1954 Jul 12, 2023
What you are doing essentially is what used to be called "training pants". (probably really showing my ages with that!)
There are now these wonderful washable pants that are designed to hold fluid.
"Period pants" is what I see often on the shelves at the store. Washable panties that will hold fluid from bladder leaks or period flow.
These are probably a little less bulky than putting on 2 cotton underpants.
Or there are washable cotton pads that can be used just like the disposable pads that are sold.

Way2tired Jul 12, 2023
There are cloth washable panty liner pads with ( velcro) wings for sale on Etsy as well, in case Mom needs alittle more protection . I don’t know how much the period underwear is. I’m just guessing a bundle of these pads are cheaper .

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brandee Jul 11, 2023
cotton cloth would have been used prior to the 1960's

NeedHelpWithMom Jul 11, 2023
Well, I am glad that works for your mom. It would never have worked for mine!

You must save a ton of money too! My gosh, my mom spent a fortune on pads and then Depends.

funkygrandma59 Jul 11, 2023
Wow!!! Your mom is 100 years old and she's not incontinent? That's unheard of I must say. I want to be like your mom when I grow up.

JoAnn29 Jul 11, 2023
There is special underwear for this problem. If its just trying to hold it till she gets to the bathroom, why not panty liners. Carefree has some with a little padding and some that are shaped to the panty. I have never had problems with them.

polarbear Jul 11, 2023
Good for you for not adding more stuff to the landfills. Hope your mother stays continent for the rest of her life.

cwillie Jul 11, 2023
Hm, that would be very light protection indeed. They do already make washable incontinence (and period) underwear if you are interested in going that route.

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