Incontinence Products FAQ: Sizing, Absorbency, Types and Ordering
By Kim Hando , Owner & Founder │ 01 July 2026
Last reviewed: 21 June 2026

Most people who ring us for the first time open with the same line: they are not sure what they are meant to be asking. Continence products come with their own vocabulary, a wall of sizes, and absorbency numbers that mean nothing until someone explains them. This incontinence products FAQ pulls together the questions we actually hear on the phone in Bendigo, with plain answers you can act on. If you want the bigger picture on selection, the choosing the right product hub sits behind all of this.

The short version: get measured, match the product type to mobility, and look after the skin. The detail is below.

How do I choose the right product and size?

Start with a waist measurement, not a guess. Measure around the widest point between your waist and hips over light clothing, keep the tape snug and flat, then match the centimetres to the size chart for that product. Sizing differs between product types, so a medium in pull-ups is not the same waist range as a medium in slips.

The most common sizing mistake is not measuring at all. People assume a size from their clothing, and clothing sizing has nothing to do with continence product fit. A pull-up that gaps at the legs leaks, and the wearer usually blames the product rather than the fit. If you sit between two sizes, try the smaller one first. A snug fit holds better and protects the skin. The full method is in our guide on how to measure for incontinence products.

What do absorbency levels actually mean?

Absorbency is the volume a product can hold before it needs changing, usually shown in millilitres. A higher number means more capacity, not better protection on its own. A product that fits correctly at 2,300ml will outperform a bulkier one at 3,000ml that gaps at the leg, because leaks happen at the gaps, not at the absorbent core.

Match absorbency to your day. Lighter daytime needs do not call for the heaviest product, and overnight protection usually does. Worth noting: adding a booster pad inside a pull-up can extend wear time without stepping up to a bulkier product, which is one of the least understood options in the range.

A rough way to read the levels: light products suit occasional small leaks, moderate products suit regular daytime use with a few changes a day, and heavy products are built for overnight or higher-volume needs. The drop rating you sometimes see on packaging is the same idea shown as a symbol rather than a number. If you are buying for someone else and are not sure where they sit, start moderate and adjust after the first week of real use.

What is the difference between pull-ups and slips?

Pull-up pants go on like underwear and suit people who are mobile and manage their own toileting. Slips, also called wraparounds, fasten at the sides and suit people with limited mobility or who need help from a carer. The right product type matters as much as the right size.

Slips tend to get overlooked because carers assume they are harder to put on. They do take slightly more work, but the fit and comfort are excellent, and most people who try them do not go back to pants. We compare the two in detail in pull-up pants and slips compared. If you already know what you want, the Comfort First pull-up pants and the slips sit on their own product pages with full size charts.

How do I look after the skin, and how often should products be changed?

Change before the product is saturated, not after. Prolonged contact with moisture is what damages the skin barrier, so a product that manages volume properly and gets changed at the right interval is itself a skin care step. As a guide, daytime products are changed across the day as needed and overnight products are designed to last the night.

Cleansing matters as much as changing. A gentle, unscented wipe is well suited to skin that is cleaned several times a day. Our body wipes are unscented bamboo, hypoallergenic, and dermatologist tested, and made for exactly this. One question people are too embarrassed to ask: it is not normal to smell. If a product fits and is changed on time, odour should not be an issue.

If you notice persistent redness or broken skin, that is worth acting on rather than waiting out. It often points to a product that is fitting poorly or being left on too long, and correcting the fit and change routine usually settles it. If it does not, see a GP or talk to a continence nurse, because skin that stays irritated needs a proper look. Comfort First is not a clinical service, so for anything that is not resolving, that referral is the right move.

Can I try before I buy?

Yes. We send a free sample pack so you can test the fit and feel before committing to a full order. Fit is personal, and a product that suits one person can be wrong for another even at the same waist measurement, so trying first takes the risk out of the decision. Request a free sample pack and tell us roughly what you are after, and we will match the sizes to your measurement.

If the first size is not right, we sort the swap and get you into the product that fits. No returns process, no forms.

Is it available through the NDIS?

Comfort First is a registered NDIS provider, and continence products are funded under the Core Supports budget in the Consumables category. Eligibility criteria apply, so it is not automatic, and we do not quote funding figures. For what your plan covers, speak with your plan manager or check ndis.gov.au. The details on ordering through us sit on the NDIS page.

How do I order, and what if I am not sure what I need?

You can order online from the full range, or call us on 03 5443 2239 and talk it through. A lot of our customers prefer the phone, and the person answering is in Bendigo and knows the products. If you would rather start with advice than a cart, that is the better first step. Five minutes with someone who knows the range saves months of buying products that do not suit.

If you are still weighing up options, start with a measurement and a free sample pack. Everything else follows from a fit that actually works.

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