When choosing diapers for children with special needs, there are several factors to consider. Some factors to evaluate include:
- Absorption capacity
- Incontinence type (urine and bowel)
- Sizes available
- Materials used
- Fastening
While there is no one-size-fits-all answer to choosing the perfect diaper for your child, we talked with several special needs families to help you narrow the list to the best options.
Here’s what they had to say:
Best Diapers For Kids With Special Needs
The best diapers for kids with special needs are Pampers’ Swaddlers, Tranquility’s ATN Disposable Brief, and Prevail’s Daily Brief. Pampers Swaddlers is the overall #1 choice, but if you want it covered by insurance, you should check out Tranquility and Prevail.
Most Comfortable Diaper for Kids with Special Needs
Pampers Swaddlers is the best and most comfortable diaper for children with disabilities. You can find Pampers Swaddlers here on Amazon. Pampers is the #1 brand among many special needs parents, with the Pampers Swaddlers as the top recommended diaper.
Pampers offers ultra-soft diapers up to a size 7 for children over 41 lbs. Several parents shared they have little-to-no issues with leaks using Pampers Swaddlers for their children.
Below, we’ve included a size chart sourced from the Pampers website. You can find their “Diaper Size and Weight Chart Guide” here.
| Pampers Diaper Size | Weight (lbs) |
| Size P1 diapers | <6 |
| Size N diapers | <10 |
| Size 1 diapers | 8-14 |
| Size 2 diapers | 12-18 |
| Size 3 diapers | 16-28 |
| Size 4 diapers | 22-37 |
| Size 5 diapers | 27+ |
| Size 6 diapers | 35+ |
| Size 7 diapers | 41+ |
Here are a few of the key benefits that set this diaper apart from the competition:
- Blowout barrier
- The LockAway Channels help distribute the wetness evenly
- Wetness indicator
- Dual leak guard barriers near the leg openings prevent leaks
- Ultra-soft material is excellent for kids with sensory sensitivity
Of all the brands discussed, Pampers was the well-loved favorite. The most significant disadvantage is that Pampers’ ultra-soft, practically leakproof diapers may not fit some older children and teens, depending on their weight, height, and body shape.
Some insurance providers cover Pampers. However, many families cannot cover the cost of these diapers. So, for families that cannot get Pampers covered by insurance, Tranquility All-Through-The-Night Disposable Briefs are another great option.
Best Diaper for Teens with Disabilities
Tranquility All-Through-The-Night Disposable Briefs are a popular choice for teens with disabilities. Tranquility is a brand that many insurance providers and Medicaid plans cover. Known for their highly absorbent diapers, many children and teens with disabilities use the Tranquility All-Through-The-Night Disposable Briefs. You can find the Tranquility ATN Disposable Briefs here on Amazon.
A great aspect of the Tranquility ATN is that the sizes range from X-Small (28-42 lbs) to adult size XL (200 – 250 lbs). It may take a couple of tries to figure out the right size to fit your child. Some parents said that while the absorbance is excellent, their child’s diaper didn’t fit right initially, so they still had to use incontinence bed pads at night.
Below, we’ve included a size chart to help you decide what should work best for your child:
| Size | Waist/Hip (in) | Weight (lbs) | Capacity (oz.) | Capacity (mL) |
| X-Small | 18 ” – 26″ | 42 – 90 | 18.5 | 547 |
| Small | 24″ – 32″ | 85 – 100 | 22.2 | 657 |
| Medium | 32″ – 44″ | 100 – 150 | 27.5 | 812 |
| Large | 45″ – 58″ | 150 – 200 | 33 | 975 |
| X-Large | 56 – 64″ | 200 – 250 | 34 | 1,005 |
Here are the benefits that make the Tranquility ATN one of the best diapers for kids with disabilities:
- Wetness indicator
- Micro-hook closure tabs
- Inner leg cuffs
- Holds 18.5 – 34 oz (depending on diaper size)
While Tranquility can’t beat the comfort of Pampers Swaddlers, it is an excellent alternative for children who can’t fit in the Swaddlers. If your child doesn’t require the heavy absorbency of Tranquility ATN but still needs a brief for moderate to heavy bladder leakage, you should check out the Prevail Daily Briefs.
Most Common Diaper for Kids with Special Needs
Prevail Daily Briefs is a popular choice if you’re looking for a diaper often covered by insurance and Medicaid. Prevail is one of the top-mentioned options by parents and caregivers. You can get the briefs here on Amazon.
Prevail is a common choice, but it’s not always a parent’s first choice. Some parents say the Prevail material is less comfortable than other diaper brands. If you’re looking for a diaper brand commonly covered by insurance providers, Prevail is used by many children with disabilities.
Many parents have had success with little-to-no leaks with Prevail’s Daily Briefs. If your child uses this diaper at night, consider adding a booster pad and incontinence bed pads. You can find booster pads from Tranquility here on Amazon.
This particular Prevail Daily Brief is designed for kids and people with a small waist size, so it doesn’t have the same size variety as the other options. Here are the brief sizes currently available on Amazon:
| Size | Waist/Hip (in) |
| Youth | 15″ – 22″ |
| Small | 20″ – 31″ |
This brief features:
- Ventilated waist panels
- Odor control materials
- Absorption for moderate to heavy bladder leakage
- Panels with two fastener strips that release and attach without unfolding the tabs
Additional Special Needs Diapers To Consider
Our conversations with special needs families did not discuss the following options. However, we explored these alternatives:
Tranquility SlimLine Original Disposable Brief
Finding diapers that fit well is challenging for older kids and teens with slim body shapes. Even though options are limited, Tranquility SlimLine is an excellent choice. The SlimLine is highly absorbent and leaks less than many other diapers. The SlimLine is less absorbent than the ATN brief, so consider adding a booster pad. Like the ATN brief, the SlimLine sizes range from X-Small (42-90 lbs) to adult size XL (200 – 250 lbs).
Here is a size chart that includes the brief’s capacity:
| Size | Waist/Hip (in) | Weight (lbs) | Capacity (oz.) | Capacity (mL) |
| X-Small | 18 ” – 26″ | 42 – 90 | 10.9 | 322 |
| Small | 24″ – 32″ | 85 – 100 | 12.7 | 374 |
| Medium | 32″ – 44″ | 100 – 150 | 20.4 | 602 |
| Large | 44″ – 58″ | 150 – 200 | 21.4 | 632 |
| X-Large | 56 – 64″ | 200 – 250 | 23.7 | 702 |
This brief includes:
- Slim fit
- Wetness indicator
- Micro-hook closure tabs
- Cloth-like outer layer
- Inner leg cuffs
- Holds 10.9 – 23.7 oz (depending on diaper size)
This is a great alternative to explore if you’re looking for a diaper for your child who has outgrown a size 7 diaper and has a slim frame. You can find it here on Amazon. If you’re looking for a slightly larger size 7 diaper but are still deciding whether to transition your child to an adult brief, consider the following option.
Gentle Steps Premium Diapers
If you live in the U.S., you can visit your local Dollar General and find Gentle Steps Premium Diapers up to a size 7. The best part is that Gentle Steps size 7 is slightly larger than Pampers Swaddlers. Gentle Steps did not have a size chart in their product images or on the Dollar General website, but upon review, it appears to be the same as the Pampers size chart.
| Diaper Size | Weight |
| Size P1 diapers | <6 |
| Size N diapers | <10 |
| Size 1 diapers | 8-14 |
| Size 2 diapers | 12-18 |
| Size 3 diapers | 16-28 |
| Size 4 diapers | 22-37 |
| Size 5 diapers | 27+ |
| Size 6 diapers | 35+ |
| Size 7 diapers | 41+ |
This diaper features:
- Wetness indicator
- Stretchy tabs
- Flexible waistband
- Free from fragrances, parabens, elemental chlorine, and natural rubber latex
Gentle Steps may not match the comfort of Pampers, but if your priority is a larger diaper with a similar feel and fit to Pampers, this is a good alternative. And if your insurance provider won’t cover incontinence products, this is an economical option. You can find Gentle Steps diapers in stores at some Dollar General locations and online here on Dollar General’s website.
Depending on your location, some stores offer a $5 coupon on Saturdays when you spend $25. Just download the app and add the coupon. When checking out, put your phone number in, and it automatically subtracts the coupon value.
Conclusion
There are many other options for diapers for kids with disabilities, but based on our conversations and research, the top 3 products listed are an excellent place to start.
Ultimately, it’s up to you to try different products to see what works for your child. Buy small packs of the other options and see what works.
Check with your child’s pediatrician to see if you can get free samples.
