www.incontinentsupport.org

A good friend of mine, who also is IC, jokingly refers to his diapers as "Pampers." When I asked why, he explained that his elderly mother, who knows he wears diapers, always calls them "Pampers." This is because Pampers was the brand of diapers she used on him when he was an infant and that is the term that comes to her mind when she thinks of diapers. So, at some time in the future, will similar moms probably will call diapers "Depends?"

So, between the two of us, we both now refer to our diapers as "Pampers."

What about you guys (and gals)? Do you have any older relatives with similar choices of words?

--John
(double incontinent)

My parents referred to them as protective underwear and this terminology was used by grandparents etc. Outside of this close group people referred to them unkindly as nappies felt so so humiliated and ashamed as teenager especially as my incontinence was not my fault. Over the years have developed a thick skin however this embarrassment hurt!

Greenbank

My wife and I call it like it is and just say diapers. Interestingly enough, though, when I order online and/or when they are delivered and she asks what just got delivered, I say "supplies."

_________________
"When you die, on your deathbed, you will receive total consciousness. So I got that goin' for me, which is nice."

Pampers are strictly baby nappies (even though they make sizes fit for 5-6 year-olds now which are still branded Baby Dry in the UK). It's the first time I've heard it suggested that adult incontinence products be called that. I've no problem calling them nappies, but some people (both users and carers etc) don't even like calling them that.

My wife knows how triggering the word "diapers" use to be for me so we just use vague words to mention them. Words like, them, my underwear or say things in such a way that we don't have to say anything like, "Do you need to change?". Like 5bugles, when I get a case I will just call them my supplies.

I do have another question for you guys. Most big box stores like Walgreens or CVS where I live will have a sign over the isles naming what can be found in that one and where the adult diapers are, it is normally listed as Incontinence Supplies or just Incontinence. However there are also grocery stores that will mark those same isles Adult Diapers. Some if not most will display them right next to the baby diapers and diapers for older kids that still wet the bed and will just have a sign that says "Diapers".
There was a time that this was very triggering to me and I even went so far as to send an email to the store requesting that it be changed. Now I just let it roll off of me but I do have to admit, I do still find it a bit degrading.

Is it the same where you are and to those in the UK, are those isles marked Nappies instead?

My wife likes to call them "your protection" or "your supplies". Though once she started singing that "I'm a big kid now.." as a tease. In the past she didn't like it when I called them diapers because she explained that she associates diapers with smell and mess. We did raise three kids.

Around here, the isles are usually just labeled "Incontinence" or "baby needs" where baby diapers are sold. Usually they keep the two product groups separate but I can think of one store where I think I saw the products in the same isle.

We have worked many years with a nurse missionary in Ukraine and they call adult diapers in Russian, Ukrainian and English "Pampers" I always thought that was interesting. I go to a pharmacy to buy my Pampers when we arrive. They always have the Tena Slip and the Seni Super Plus that work for me. My wife and I both call our products diapers, even though she only wears the pullups.

My Wife tends to call everything "supplies", I just say "Depends" for any kind of diaper or pull-up and "Pad" for any kind of pad or booster. The only people I will be a more specific with about the exact type of product I'm using is my Wife and my Urologist. For anyone else it's basically TMI.

My wife and I both call them either diapers or nappies. I tend to use "diaper" when speaking to medical professionals - it gets straight to the point.

I cringe when I hear someone call them depends. I see it as giving free advertising to the worst brand available.

When I lived in Germany, I heard "pampers" a lot, referring to any disposable diaper - adult or baby.

Interesting post! For us (wife & I), they are just diapers. But like others have commented, they can be referred to as “supplies”, “stuff”, or “things”. On a few I’m starting to leak but haven’t realized it yet occasions she has told me “Oh my gosh!, you gotta change your pampers!”. Uproariously funny and I got the message!

Interesting note: medical professionals in the US mostly refer to diapers as briefs or pads; and they seem to lower their voice when they do so (just my observations of course). But since we split our time between the US and Costa Rica (CR), I’ve seen a few specialists in CR. Medical professionals in CR refer to them as diapers (in Spanish of course). And there is no sense of shame or otherwise. It’s as if they were eyeglasses or crutches or other assistive devices. Again, just my subjective observations.

ILuvLA