India may be the youngest country in the world in 2020, however by 2050, as many as 325 million people will be ‘elderly’, says a report by the non- profit organisation ‘Help age India’. India is in the position to develop a lot of support facilities to handle the health problems faced by aged people. In addition, there will be a lot of marketing opportunities for healthcare products. The present study focuses on one such product- ‘Adult diapers.’

 

The History of Adult Diapers

Diapers; super absorbent, super helpful, and vastly underrated. While most people associate diapers with babies, adults make excellent use of them too.

Adult Diapers Solve Problems for a Lot of People

All sorts of people need adult diapers. For instance, a woman who has just given birth would find adult diapers very convenient, because she needs to wear something that absorbs fluids while she is healing. She may find herself stuck in the same position for several hours feeding or taking care of her baby. Adult diapers can give her the assurance she won’t need to rush to the bathroom to change a menstrual pad several times throughout the day.

Another example is a disabled person who is in a wheelchair or finds it difficult to quickly get to a restroom. Let’s face it, accessible bathrooms can be really difficult to find, and the comfort of knowing they won’t have an embarrassing accident due to an adult diaper is invaluable.

Finally, adult diapers would be nothing without astronauts. Space is the final frontier, and there are certainly no bathrooms. The technology advancement with liquid absorption is definitely a reason we have the adult diapers we do today. Keep reading to learn the amazing history of our modern-day adult diapers.

The 1800’s Kept It Simple with Adult Diapers

Diapering elements were being mass-produced by the end of the 1800’s, Things like cloth and safety pins were the norm for babies and adults alike. However, the cloth being used was great for a baby, but could nowhere near absorb enough for adults. Not to mention, they didn’t fit very well and you needed to wash them by hand.

Small Strides with Convenience in the 1970’s

By the 1970’s disposable adult diapers started to include reusable tape and more absorbent materials. However, they were made with plastic lining and were still very ill-fitting.

The 1990’s Provided Better Absorption for Longer Wear

There was a big technological leap in the absorption materials used in adult diapers, in the 1990’s. A chemical called sodium polychromate proved to be exceptional at absorbing large amounts of liquid. In fact, this chemical enables the production of the best adult diaper, the  NASA super-diaper, that is worn by astronauts for very long periods of time.

 Fighting the Stigma

The stigma against adult diapers is constantly being explored. Often a person feels embarrassed and ashamed when he or she needs to wear one. However, many scientists and brands are working hard to fight this stigma. Many people need to wear adult diapers for a variety of reasons, and the best adult diaper brands are here to help people look and feel their best. 

Most importantly, adult diapers offer freedom. Adults like the disabled and the elderly no longer need to depend on someone else for their trips to the bathroom. They get to keep a little more independence, and be confident they are protected from any accidents with a full adult diaper. That’s why brands are working hard to provide people with styles they need to live a full and happy life.