How to Change a Disposable Pull-Up Adult Diaper

Learn the proper way to change a pull-up for adults

Co-authored by Sarah Dulaney and Aly Rusciano

Last Updated: March 21, 2025 Fact Checked

Incontinence underwear, or pull-up style adult diapers, can help you feel comfortable and relaxed throughout the day, especially with their discreet design. But when it comes time to change your disposable underwear, how do you do it? What if you’re in a public space or can’t take off your clothes? In this article, we’ll teach you how you can easily change and put on a pull-up style adult diaper by yourself or with assistance.

Easy Way to Change an Adult Pull-Up Diaper

Start by taking off your pants and shoes to keep them clean. Undo the diaper, use baby wipes to clean yourself up, and throw them all away. Then, put on a fresh and clean diaper before getting dressed again.

1

Take off pants and shoes to keep them clean.

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Taking off pants and shoes isn’t necessary for removing and putting on a pull-up style diaper, but it can make things a little easier, especially if you’re a caregiver.

2

Remove the soiled diaper.

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Pull, rip, or cut the diaper off. Disposable pull-up adult diapers can be taken off in various ways, thanks to their stretchy and tearable waistband.^{[1]
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Expert Source

Sarah Dulaney
Clinical Nurse Specialist

Expert Interview} If the clothes have been removed, consider pulling the diaper down the legs, so you or the patient can step out of it. A quicker method could be ripping the diaper’s side seams with your fingers or cutting them with scissors.^{[2]
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- Tear or cut 1 of the side seams if you or the patient is sitting, and tear or cut 2 of the seams if you or the patient is standing.
- Hold the crotch or band of the diaper securely when ripping or cutting the diaper, as this can help lessen the risk of spills.
- No matter what removal method you choose, be careful not to touch or spill what’s inside the diaper.
- If you’re a caretaker, consider wearing disposable gloves for this step.

3

Dispose of the soiled diaper.

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Roll the soiled diaper up and throw it away. Fold the diaper's material in on itself, concealing and encasing any soilage.^{[3]
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Expert Source

Sarah Dulaney
Clinical Nurse Specialist

Expert Interview} Toss the rolled-up diaper in a bagged and lidded trash can or a diaper pail.^{[4]
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- Line the trash can with scented bags to reduce the diaper smell.
- Bring scented, biodegradable bags with you to dispose incontinence products in public. Wrap the soiled diaper in the bag, and place it in the bathroom trash can or sanitary bin.
- Never flush incontinence products down the toilet, as this can clog the pipes.

4

Wipe and clean the genital area.

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Make sure everything is clean before putting on a new diaper. Use toilet paper and/or baby wipes to clean the area, and then apply any creams or powders if needed.^{[5]
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- If you’re a caretaker, ask your patient what they prefer to use—diaper cream or baby powder.

5

Wash your hands.

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Make sure you clean your hands after handling a soiled diaper. Wash your hands by wetting your hands with water and lathering them with soap, rubbing the soap between your fingers and on the backs of your hands.^{[6]
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Expert Source

Sarah Dulaney
Clinical Nurse Specialist

Expert Interview} Scrub your hands for 20 seconds (the duration of the song “Happy Birthday” sung or hummed twice), then rinse your hands.^{[7]
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Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Main public health institute for the US, run by the Dept. of Health and Human Services

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- Washing your hands lessens the spread of bacteria and can prevent illness.

6

Step into a clean diaper if you’re standing up.

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Put on the pull-up as you would regular underwear. Hold the diaper in front of you, making sure it’s facing the correct way. Step your right foot into the right hole and then the left foot into the left hole (or vice versa). Pull the diaper up by the band until it’s resting comfortably on your hips.
- If you’re assisting a patient or loved one with this task, crouch low to the floor and help guide their feet into the holes. Carefully bring the diaper up their legs as you stand, checking that the diaper doesn’t bunch up around their crotch.
- If you or your patient cannot stand, put the clean diaper on while sitting on the edge of a chair, toilet, or bed. You or the patient will need to be able to hover for a few moments while the diaper is pulled up to the waist.

7

Slip a clean diaper over shoes and pants for efficiency.

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Try putting on a clean pull-up diaper without taking off your clothes. If you or your patient don’t want to remove their clothes, that’s okay because there’s a quick hack to help. Sit (or have the patient sit) on the edge of a chair, toilet, or bed. Slide yours or the patient’s pants to the floor. Put one foot through the corresponding diaper hole, and pull the diaper up and through the pant leg, so the diaper is now inside the pants. Feed the other diaper hole down and through your or your patient’s other pant leg, pulling it under and over your or their foot. Pull the diaper up, and you’re done!^{[8]
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- Make sure not to twist any part of the diaper during this process, as that’ll make wearing the incontinence underwear uncomfortable.

Expert Q&A

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How do I deal with diaper leakage issues?

Sarah Dulaney
Clinical Nurse Specialist
Sarah Dulaney is a Clinical Nurse Specialist based in San Francisco, CA. With over 11 years of experience, Sarah specializes in geriatric nursing and dementia caregiving. She is currently the clinical director of the Care Ecosystem at the UCSF Memory and Aging Center, innovating care for older adults and persons with dementia. With a focus on person-centered outcomes, she also helped develop Care Ecosystem, a collaborative care model for dementia. Sarah is passionate about helping health systems and community organizations learn to implement dementia care navigation programs. She enjoys collaborating with multidisciplinary teams to develop, implement, and evaluate programs that aim to improve outcomes for people living with dementia and their families. She provides training and education on non-pharmacological strategies for behavior symptom management and caregiver support. Sarah has a BA from the University of Washington, and a Master’s in Gerontological Nursing from the UCSF School of Nursing.

Sarah Dulaney

Clinical Nurse Specialist

Expert Answer

The first thing you can check is if there's a poor fit—too loose or too tight—can cause leaks, so make sure it fits snugly without being uncomfortable. If size isn’t the issue, consider adding a booster pad for extra absorbency. You can also look into other briefs with higher absorbency levels, such as all-night options, which are great for minimizing leaks during extended periods, like overnight.

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Tips

Adult pull-up diapers come in many sizes. Measure your or your patient’s waist width below the belly button, the widest part of the hips, and the thigh between the knee and pelvis. Compare these measurements to a product’s packaging to determine if it’s the right size.^{[9]
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Pack an incontinence care kit for whenever you or your patient go out in public. Fill the bag with extra diapers, cleaning supplies, clothes, and biodegradable clean-up bags.^{[10]
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If you’re a caretaker, talk to your loved one or patient about how they would like to change their incontinence underwear—with or without removing their clothes and/or standing or sitting up.

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