How to Choose the Right Incontinence Products

Urinary incontinence is a common problem that affects millions of people. It can be caused by pregnancy and childbirth, hereditary factors, and ageing. There are four types of incontinence - stress incontinence, urge incontinence, overflow incontinence, and total incontinence.

Many people find embarrassment and shame stop them seeking help, it is such a common issue, we here at Cheeky wipes hope to help dispel the taboos surrounding bladder weakness and give you back your freedom and confidence!

You can try to improve some types of urinary incontinence - stress and urge - yourself by improving your pelvic floor muscle, strengthening the muscles with kegel exercises using kegel weights, seeing a physio, losing weight, cutting out alcohol and caffeine. 

You can decrease the impact of urine leaks by having the perfect pants and pads to hand for every occasion so you feel comfortable and secure, and so you never have the worry of running out.

Bladder issues and pee leaks can affect men and children too. 

Here's how to choose the right incontinence products, you need to consider the following factors:

• 1. Type - disposable or reusable pants, pads for womens incontinence, mens incontinence and kids incontinence.
• 2. Absorption Level - light, moderate, or severe incontinence? 
• 3. Practicality - easy to use and how often to change. 
• 4. Material - comfort, breathability and kind to sensitive skin.
• 5. Odour control - peace of mind with smells.
• 6. Convenient accessories - everything to make things easier from wetbags, wipes, mattress protectors, to pelvic floor trainers!

"Brilliant pants,my daughter suffers from giggle incontinence and these knickers have been brilliant for her when at school. They make her feel confident and are very comfortable to wear.

We have tried other brands but cheeky are definitely the best. She uses them on her period as well and stays clean and dry. I would highly recommend." 

1.Type of product - pants or pads?

Disposable pads and pants

Disposable pants and pads can be expensive, add to landfill, run out and put lots of chemicals next to your skin for prolonged time. They are easily wasted if used 'just in case' stress incontinence occurs.

They offer a false convenience but once you have knowledge of reusable pants and pads they become the easier option! No more bulky waste smelling in your bins!

Reusable Incontinence Pads

Cheeky wipes reusable bladder weakness pads come in four sizes and absorbencies to suit your needs from super light 19cm pads to hold urine from infrequent small leaks, to 33cm pads shaped to help overnight or if you spend time sitting down.

They can be poppered around the gusset of your normal knickers or pants, they can be used by anyone at any age. 

"They are really soft and nice to wear, and I'm so pleased that I've found them. I've tried other reusable pads before, but because they were primarily menstrual pads they just didn't do what I bought them for.

These are proper incontinence pads - and boy, do they do the job! Certainly going to buy some more." 

Reusable Incontinence Pants

Pee proof panties and period pants are interchangeable as are reusable sanitary pads - no need to buy twice. With more than a dozen styles in three levels of absorbency our womens urinary incontinence pants cater for all. Choose the style and absorbency that best matches your urine leaks.

Just put them on as you would your normal underwear, change when needed, rinse and wash alongside your everyday clothes. We have styles and sizes for men and children too.

"Pants for Incontinence. Ordered pants for my mum who has dementia and mild incontinence. She hates the usual incontinence pads and pants and these pants have been great.

She doesn’t want to take them off unlike the other underwear, which she just refuses to wear. They just feel like pants and are not too bulky. Less washing of outfits and more importantly less embarrassment for mum. Happy customers." Isobel Sept. '21 trustpilot

2. Absorbency

Peace of mind is the most important factor so choose pads and pants that ensure you have enough absorbency but with as little bulk as necessary.

Our pads are super thin so you won't feel self conscious and our pants range from a light flow thong, through to light to moderate flow pants including seamfree styles, to our extra absorbent shorts and high waisted pants.

With absorbent protection from the front waistband to the back waistband you will be able to relax! With layers of absorbent cotton or bamboo and with a PUL layer to keep you leak free.

3. Practicality

Feeling Fearless incontinence pads are a perfect option for older people with mobility issues and for those coping with disabilities that make getting to the toilet in a hurry tricky.

They have an extra tab on the poppers especially for less dextrous hands. They can be used for periods too.

For little ones getting to grips with toileting independently kids absorbent pants are the way forward, they are easy to pull up and down, look like big kid pants and have hidden layers of absorbency to catch any little slip ups.

They can be boosted for extra absorbency for a larger amount of urine overnight - perfect for school residentials, ranging from size 3-4 to 9-10 they meet up with our size 2 adult underwear.

"Excellent products, my 7 year old is incontinent due to sensory issues, she wears the children's incontinence pants and boosters everyday to school, they are comfortable, absorbent, and prevent any potential embarrassment for her" 

Incontinence panties and incontinence boxer shorts for men  are great for those with an enlarged prostate, overactive bladder or functional incontinence. They give clean lines under clothes and peace of mind to work, exercise or to be able to get out and enjoy an Autumn walk knowing they won't panic when trying to get back in the front door.

Both pads and pants are easy to change, easy to store and wash

4. Material

As most people with bladder issues want the security of protection at all times it is so important to put natural, soothing fabrics next to your skin.

Avoiding chemicals and plastics that encourage fast absorption and leach moisture from the skin will help prevent irritation. All Cheeky wipes reusable pads and pants are made with a cotton or bamboo layer next to the skin.

Our pants are black which uses the least amount of dye and avoids bleaching. All of our dyes meet Oekeo 100 standards.

5. Odour control

Changing your incontinence pants or pads after a leak and washing regularly throughout the day will help to avoid the added worry of smelling of pee.

This is easy to manage at home in the comfort of your own bathroom. Wiping with toilet paper alone may leave you with ammonia sitting on your skin causing soreness and smells. Using reusable wipes can be more hygienic and soothes sensitive skin.

When out and about just pop a couple of damp wipes in a wetbag, much easier than trying to discreetly wet toilet tissues before disappearing into a stall.

If urine smells are a worry for you our Feeling Fearless pads are the perfect solution. They are impregnated with charcoal to avoid odour build up.

6. Convenient accessories

Once you have rinsed your pads or pants they can be stored in a soaking tub with water and tea tree or dry stored in a wetbag, to avoid disruptive bed changes in the night use a mattress protector for extra leak prevention, reusable wipes are convenient and much softer on skin, you can shop our accessories here.

As always, if you're unsure of what you need to make the switch, please do drop the team a line or use the online chat function. The team all use the products themselves and just LOVE to chat pee poo and periods, all day long, nothing is TMI and we all love to overshare based on our own experiences...

About the Author:  Kirstin is part of the Customer Experience team at Cheeky Wipes, which since 2008 has been selling the original reusable wipes kit. She is mum to 3 and loves the forest, the sea and the hills!

Along with the rest of our crack team, she spends most days talking about bodily functions and loves a chance to overshare. The business was recognised with a Queens Award for Enterprise in Sustainable Development in 2021, celebrating their hard work over the last 13 years.