When your child has special needs, finding the perfect pull-up can be challenging – especially when your child outgrows traditional pull-ups but is too small for adult pull-ups, known as “disposable underwear.”
We talked with several special needs families, who shared their insights on the best pull-ups (disposable underwear) based on their experiences.
Here’s what they had to say:
Best Pull-Ups for Kids with Special Needs
The best pull-ups for kids with special needs are Goodnites Nighttime Bedwetting Underwear, Tranquility Premium Overnight Disposable Absorbent Underwear, and Prevail Daily Underwear. Parents shared that Goodnites are the most comfortable. Prevail and Tranquility are great for older kids and teens.
How To Choose The Best Pull-Ups
The best pull-up option for your child will depend on a variety of factors, including:
- Absorption capacity
- Incontinence type (urine and bowel)
- Sizes available
- Materials used
- Waistband
Also, it’s important to note that while many refer to incontinence products as “pull-ups,” it is not from the Pull-Ups brand. Most pull-up-style products are listed as:
- Youth pants
- Disposable underwear
- Incontinence underwear
For the sake of simplicity, throughout the article, we refer to the products as “pull-ups” or “incontince underwear”. We asked families with children of many ages and abilities what worked for them, and here’s what they shared:
Most Comfortable Pull-Up for Kids with Special Needs
Goodnites Nighttime Bedwetting Underwear is the most comfortable pull-up for children with disabilities. Parents share Goodnites fit their children like regular underwear and prevent most leaks, even at night. Goodnites offers sizes up to XL (95 – 140+ lbs).
We searched for a size chart that included waist measurements but it was unavailable. Since every body shape is different, and the material stretches to fit, Goodnites measures their sizes based on weight instead of waist size.
Here is the size chart they provided via Amazon:
| Size | Weight (lbs) |
| XS | 28 – 43 |
| S/M | 43 – 68 |
| L | 68 – 95 |
| XL | 95 – 140+ |
Here are a few of the key benefits:
- Stretchy sides
- Fun designs
- Hypoallergenic: free of added fragrances, latex, parabens, and elemental chlorine bleaching
- Boys XL holds up to 24 fl oz
- FSA/HSA-eligible in the US (go to Goodnites website for more information)
There were only two complaints when talking with parents:
- Sometimes, the sides rip, so be careful when helping your child get into their pull-up.
- The Goodnites fit will change as your child grows and potentially cause leaks.
Despite these two complaints, Goodnites is well-loved by many special needs families. You can find the boys’ Goodnites on Amazon, and you can find the girls’ Goodnites on Amazon as well.
If you’re looking into a pull-up for your child who has outgrown Goodnites XL and needs extra absorbency, check out this next option.
Best Pull-Up for Teens with Disabilities
Tranquility Premium Overnight Disposable Underwear is a popular choice for teens with disabilities. Tranquility is a brand that many insurance providers and Medicaid plans cover. They are also well-known for their highly-absorbant products that prevent most leaks.
You can find the Tranquility Premium Overnight Disposable Underwear here on Amazon.
Some parents shared that while many pull-ups don’t fit snugly around their child’s leg, this pull-up works well, thanks to the inner leg cuffs. Another great aspect of this disposable underwear is that the sizes range from X-Small (65-85 lbs) to adult size 2XL (250+ lbs).
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 | 17″ – 28″ | 65 -85 | 20.3 | 600 |
| Small | 22″ – 36″ | 80 – 125 | 20.3 | 600 |
| Medium | 34″ – 48″ | 120 – 175 | 34 | 1,005 |
| Large | 44″ – 54″ | 170 – 210 | 34 | 1,005 |
| X-Large | 48″ – 66″ | 210 – 250 | 34 | 1,005 |
| 2XL | 62″ – 80″ | 250+ | 34 | 1,005 |
This disposable underwear is ideal for both urinary and bowel incontinence needs. If you’re only looking for an option covering urinary incontinence, check out Prevail.
Most Common Pull-Up for Kids with Special Needs
Aside from Goodnites and Tranquility, Prevail’s Daily Underwear is popular for older children with special needs. Prevail is often covered by insurance providers and Medicaid, making it an economical choice for families.
Parents shared that Prevail has been an excellent choice for their active kids. One thing to watch for is the sides of the pull-up since they’ll occasionally tear. Prevail is used by kids who are too large for traditional pull-ups but too small for adult incontinence underwear. The downside to this product is that it’s not designed for bowel incontinence.
The Youth size fits a 20″ – 34″ waist or 85 – 120 lbs. You can find it here on Amazon. There are additional sizes available there, too.
Here are the sizes currently available:
| Size | Waist (in) | Weight (lbs) |
| Youth/Small | 20″ – 34″ | 85 – 120 |
| S/M | 34″ – 46″ | 115 – 190 |
| L | 44″ – 58″ | 170 – 260 |
| XL | 58″ – 68″ | 200 – 300 |
| 2XL | 68″ – 80″ | 250 – 350 |
This brief features:
- Odor control materials
- Absorption for moderate to heavy bladder leakage
- Breathable, hypoallergenic material
Additional Special Needs Diapers To Consider
The families we talked with brought up the three options above the most. However, there are still a couple of other options to consider:
Pampers Ninjamas Nighttime Bedwetting Underwear
Pampers Ninjamas offers the softness of their diapers in the form of their disposable underwear. Some parents shared that their children preferred Ninjamas over Goodnites. However, the sizing is smaller than Goodnites, which may not work for some families.
In addition to the comfortable fit, Ninjamas can hold up to 24 fluid ounces. This product isn’t designed for bowel incontinence but is an excellent option for urinary incontinence. You can find the boys’ Ninjamas on Amazon, and you can find the girls’ Ninjamas on Amazon as well.
There are currently only two sizes available:
| Sizes | Weight (lbs) |
| S/M | 38 – 70 |
| L | 64 – 95+ |
One thing to note is that there’s a light fragrance added underneath the absorbent materials away from the skin. Some parents shared that they tried Goodnites and Ninjamas, but it wasn’t the right fit for their child. After trying a few options, these families found Sleepovers by Cuties Bedwetting Underwear the best solution for their child’s needs.
SleepOvers by Cuties Bedwetting Underwear
SleepOvers Bedwetting Underwear (a.k.a. SleepOvers Youth Pants) is an option if your child’s body shape doesn’t fit the other pull-ups. It’s also suitable for kids with sensitive skin that may have reacted to other products. The inner liner is hypoallergenic, and the materials are latex, fragrance, dye, and chlorine-free.
While Sleepovers did not list the total capacity of the pull-up, many parents shared that their child rarely has leak issues. The available sizes differ from the other pull-up options, which may make it harder to determine which size is best for your child.
Available sizes:
| Sizes | Weight (lbs) |
| SM/MED | 38 -65 |
| LG/XL | 60 – 125 |
| XL | 85 – 140 |
This pull-up includes:
- Hypoallergenic liner
- Stretchable side panels
- Free of latex, fragrance, dyes, and chlorine
- Unisex design
You can find Sleepovers on Amazon.
Pull-ups and disposable underwear have helped many special needs families manage incontinence care. However, despite using the best products, some families share that their child still leaks through. If this is the case with your child, here are a few ideas to consider.
What To Do If Your Child Leaks Through Their Pull-Up
If your child is leaking through their pull-ups, contact your child’s pediatrician (and other necessary medical professionals). We talked with parents who frequently experienced this challenge (after consulting with medical professionals), and these are additional incontinence products to consider:
- Add a booster pad
- Use a disposable brief (a.k.a adult diaper)
- Use bed underpads
Add a Booster Pad
The first solution many special needs families try is adding a booster pad to their child’s pull-up or disposable underwear. You can find booster pads from Tranquility here on Amazon.
Use a Disposable Brief
If your child frequently leaks through their pull-ups, consider switching them to incontinence briefs (a.k.a. adult diapers). We wrote an article diving into the best diapers for kids with special needs and how to find the best one for your child.
Use Bed Underpads
Another solution is adding bed underpads if your child leaks through their pull-up at night. Some insurance providers will cover disposable bed pads (a.k.a. chux or chucks pads). You can find disposable bed pads here on Amazon. And if you’d prefer a washable bed pad, you can also find them on Amazon, such as IMPROVIA® Washable Underpads, which are latex-paraben free.
Conclusion
In selecting the right pull-ups for your child with special needs, always prioritize their comfort and individual requirements. While we’ve provided recommendations, consult professionals for personalized guidance.