The Difference Between a Fitted and Pull On Adult Diaper

What’s the difference between fitted and pull on adult diapers? 

Short answer?

None.

Well, except for the obvious; one pulls on and the other has a front closure.

But before we get into the long answer and how they can work in your life, let’s take a defining moment.

What is a pull on and fitted diaper?

Pull on and fitted diapers are diapers made solely of absorbent materials. The pull on kind pulls on. The fitted kind has wings that wrap around the front of the body to close via snaps or hook and loop.

If they have a waterproof layer then they would technically qualify as an All-In-One (AIO) diaper.

I know, I know. Semantics.

I also know that not all places “properly” label their items. Luckily for me, I’m not a purist on these things, otherwise I would have probably driven myself crazy while researching everything. 

At the end of the day, a diaper is a diaper and you should be able to get a good idea on what a product is by reading the description. 

And if the description is rather lacking in, well, description, then perhaps that is not the best product to purchase. After all, just because you save oodles in the long run, doesn’t mean you don’t have to shell out the green in the beginning.

Why Use a Pull On or Fitted Adult Diaper

The best thing about pull ons and fitteds is their superior absorption. Not only does the absorbent material wrap around the entire body, but pairing it with an excellent diaper cover prevents unwanted wicking at the leg and waist.

If you DO end up with leaking, that means you most likely need more absorbency and adding an insert should take care of the leaks.

Thanks to the fact that the layer covers the whole body and that the absorbent layer is NOT attached to the waterproof layer, these are some of the best options for nighttime use.

The Difference Between Pull On and Fitted Adult Diapers

Now the plot thickens and the reason why we’re all here will finally make sense!

What really is the difference between pull on and fitted adult diapers?

Well, my friend, the biggest difference lies in how they get put on. While they both soak up copious amounts of eh-ehm, moisture, the process of getting them on and off differs.

Don’t worry, Captain Obvious over here will throw you a better bone than that.

For many people, the process of getting in and out of their cloth incontinence products is a matter of personal preference. For others, the success of the products they use depends on other factors like their physical capabilities and whether or not they have someone to help. 

For instance, if you don’t have great use of your hands, a pull on will be the better choice as long as you can bend over. Otherwise, a hook and loop option of the fitted might be best.

Another example. This one is useful to know how to change a diaper for someone in a wheelchair. Once upon a time, I was a caregiver to a lovely lady who wore a disposable for the occasional accident, but otherwise we spent a lot of time going back and forth to the bathroom. She was able to stand briefly when transferring from her wheelchair to the toilet and I found it easiest to pull the disposable up and down.

Any of these options can be done by either yourself or a caregiver. You would just have to try them out and figure out which works best for you.

My mannequin and I go back and forth with option 2 and 3 since it can’t sit down. Though I have to say that I prefer option 2. And it does take such lovely pictures for my Etsy shop 🙂 

Anyway, hook and loop is much easier to manage. But, I have it on the authority of a couple of my customers that hook and loop is also noisy and not always the best option for public places.

*Side note:

While hook and loop is by far easier than snap closure, it wears out faster and is a star-crossed with fold over elastic (FOE). To prevent your hook and loop from attaching itself to everything it touches while in the laundry, loosely stick the hook part to the loop. Or purchase a product that comes with laundry tabs.

If you need to front close your hook and loop diaper for the laundry, turn it inside out, so the inside can get cleaned better. 

Ultimately, if you’re looking for a cloth diaper for an adult or big kid, a pull on or fitted offers excellent absorbency with less hassle than a prefold or flat. The combination of an absorbent core that wraps around the body with a separate diaper cover helps prevent unwanted wicking and leaking. Just make sure that the absorbency matches the needs.

Whether you choose pull on, hook and loop, or snap, consider your lifestyle and abilities. Choosing the right diaper for you reduces the hassle of cloth and keeps you protected from unwanted leaks.

Related articles:

How to Sew Adult Cloth Diaper Inserts

Training Pant vs. Pull Up vs. Pull on Diaper: What’s the Difference?

8 Best Youth Pocket and AIO Diapers for 2022

8 Best Adult Pocket and AIO Diapers

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