New Here, Looking for Insights and Advice

[msshendo]

Yes, I've done the math and for us it's averaging more like 8 diapers a day. Cost is definitely a factor although my first and foremost consideration is David's comfort.

Cheryl, I think if you are looking to buy a more quality premium diaper online, you will find that you will go through less diapers per day so the cost trade off might be better.

I am really open to trying it if I could find the right cloth diapers. The only ones I've seen are the pull-up kind and that won't work for changing David. If I can find something more like baby diapers I think I would give it a try. Is there such a thing?

You can try looking at Angel Fluff Diaper company, AFDC.com for some good ones. That is where I bought mine. They make some that have velcro straps for attaching and holding in place. That might work out for you.

[Cheryl]

Hi John,

Thank you for another warm welcome. I'm amazed at how nice and open everyone is. I actually read through parts of your primary before posting and last night read through the rest. It was very informative and did help me understand a few things that puzzled me. One of the common themes in your documents as well as the posts seems to be that I need to do more looking online. I've starting hitting the links to the online stores and products that have been mentioned and I've already started ordering some samples to try. My reading has helped me form some more intelligent questions but I want to see if I can find the answers and I'll certainly be checking back often.

Thanks,
Cheryl

[msshendo]

My reading has helped me form some more intelligent questions but I want to see if I can find the answers and I'll certainly be checking back often.

Feel free to ask away. As you stated we are all very open and try to be helpful here.

[Papa]

Cheryl, Comfort is a must but so is absorbency. Unless your son can convey what he finds comfortable you will never know if you have found the right products. Comfort is also different things to different people. Short of actually wearing the diapers yourself you will be guessing. Everyone here has a different approach to finding the combo of comfort and absorbency. Just keep trying. Papa

[JDinVirginia]

Cheryl,

Before looking online, please read through the archived messages here. There is a treasure trove of information right on this forum.

--John

[Cheryl]

Another great adult diaper is from http://www.SecurePersonalCare.com and is called the X-Plus. That is a good over-sight diaper that is not so thick it can't be worn during the daytime, even in public.

Hi SeattleDoug,

I took a look at the web site but unfortunately the X-Plus doesn't come in a size small enough for my son. But that is the kind of thing I want. He's a very heavy wetter so I think a night time diaper would be the best choice. Bulk is not an issue and I don't care about concealing them. I'm only concerned with his comfort and preventing leaks. I have ordered a number of samples of different premium brand diapers and hopefully I'll be getting them in a week or two.

Tanks,
Cheryl

[Cheryl]

Cheryl, Comfort is a must but so is absorbency. Unless your son can convey what he finds comfortable you will never know if you have found the right products. Comfort is also different things to different people. Short of actually wearing the diapers yourself you will be guessing. Everyone here has a different approach to finding the combo of comfort and absorbency. Just keep trying. Papa

Very good points, Papa. My two goals are to make David as comfortable as possible and to stop the leaking, which seems to equate to fit and absorbency. No, he can't intentionally convey what he finds comfortable, but I'm learning to pick up on clues about what he finds uncomfortable. For example, I don't think he sits there in a wet diaper and thinks, hey I think I'm wet, I hope mom changes me soon. But I have noticed that he can be playing very happily and then after a while he gets cranky and fussy. I check and sure enough, he's flooded his diaper and the crotch and legs of his pants are soaked through. So I draw the conclusion that his wet pants are uncomfortable. But you're right, I have no way of knowing if one diaper would feel better to him than another. So now that I've thought through it I guess when I'm talking about comfort I really do mean absorbency. Maybe if I can keep his clothes, PJs, and bedding dry then he'll be more comfortable.

Thanks again,
Cheryl

[WetDad]

Hi Cheryl,
Another supplier to look at is Northshorecare.com. They have on in-house diaper that is as good as any premium and they do have smaller sizes as well. As others have said, finish the primer, as there is a great deal of wisdom and experience there.

[sociologygeek]

Cheryl,

I definitely think you are on the right track when it comes to absorbency equating comfort. I find that if I wear a premium quality diaper, my skin doesn't feel as uncomfortable as it does when i wear my attends. I have worn Abena, ConfiDry, and A+ for hours on end with multiple wettings and my skin still feels dry. I couldn't do that with my attends, so I definitely think your're on the right track. . You mentioned he is small for his age, but you didn't mention his exact waist size. Abena does make both small and extra small, as does Tranquility. Is he smaller than a 20 inch waist? If so, your best bet would be this product here: http://www.northshorecare.com/slimline1.html in the size Junior. As WedDad mentioned, Northshore care makes a housebrand diaper in size small. You can find it here: http://www.northshorecare.com/northshor ... riefs.html

As for diaper rash, I'd like to recommend a product that I find helpful when i have a rash thats particularly bad. I'm talking when I have red spots when the skin has rubbed off and it hurts like heck. It's called Calmoseptine, and you can probably find it at Walgreens. It is on the expensive side, at around 10 bucks for a tube, but if your son gets bad rashes, it may be worth it. What sets it apart from other rash creams is that it acutally has an analgesic built in, menthol. It really does feel soothing on the skin.

Since he is severely disabled, and probably isn't walking.. it is crucial to get a product that has outstanding leak guards in order to prevent leaks while sitting. Another factor is padding coverage. It is absouletly critical for males especially to get as MUCH padding coverage as possible, because our exit point is variable as it moves around. I have found that if i wear a product that doesn't ahve leak guards or padding coverage while sitting.. I may leak.. this has happened to me when im sitting in my computer chair wearing my Medicaid-provided Attends. Speaking of Medicaid, and I mentioned this in my email to you, you may want to look into seeing if you can get David's diapers covered, if you haven't already. Some states do cover diapers under their medicaid program, some don't. Some do have good quality brands that you can get, some don't. But, it is defintetly worth a try! While the attends I get won't work in every situation, they are a huge help in reducing costs.

I hope this information is helpful to you!

Peace out!

Rob

[Cheryl]

Hi Cheryl,
Another supplier to look at is Northshorecare.com. They have on in-house diaper that is as good as any premium and they do have smaller sizes as well. As others have said, finish the primer, as there is a great deal of wisdom and experience there.

Thanks, Tom. I will check out Northshore. I have finished the primer. In fact, I've read so much about diapers in the past week that my head is spinning. I have order a number of samples so maybe something good will be coming in the mail soon.

Cheryl