To put on a tabbed adult brief, position the back panel higher than the front, bring the front up between the legs, then fasten the lower tabs angling upward and the upper tabs angling downward. Finish by running a finger around each leg opening to lift the leg cuffs outward.
Almost every problem people have with adult incontinence products — leaking at the legs, sagging by mid-afternoon, redness at the waist, a product that feels bulky and obvious under clothing — comes down to how it was put on rather than which one was bought. The last step below, lifting the leg cuffs, takes two seconds and prevents a large share of leaks. Most people have never been told to do it.
This guide covers putting a product on yourself and putting one on someone else. Start with the style you are using.
What you need
- A clean brief or pull-up in the correct size
- Disposable washcloths or a no-rinse cleanser
- A barrier cream
- A disposal bag
- Disposable gloves, if you are assisting someone else
- A towel or absorbent pad, if the change is happening in bed
Lay everything out before you start. Stopping partway through to fetch a missing item is how changes go wrong.
Getting the size right first
No technique compensates for the wrong size. Measure the waist at the natural waistline and the hips at the widest point, then use the larger of the two numbers against the size chart. UnderX briefs and pull-ups run Medium 31"–47", Large 43"–59", and X-Large 47"–67" at the waist.
Two failure modes to know: a product that is too large will not seal at the thighs, so the leg cuffs never form a barrier and it leaks regardless of capacity. A product that is too small binds at the waist and thighs, gaps at the back, and causes friction against the skin. If you are between sizes and the hip measurement is the larger one, size up.
How to put on a pull-up yourself
- Check the front and back. The rear panel is usually taller, and most products have a printed marker or a wetness indicator running down the front.
- Step in one leg at a time, sitting on the edge of a bed or chair if balance is a concern. Holding a wall or grab bar is safer than trying to balance unsupported.
- Pull it up in stages, alternating sides at the hips rather than dragging it up from the waistband in one motion. Pulling from a single point stretches the elastic unevenly and can tear the side seam.
- Settle the waistband at your natural waistline — not on the hips. Sitting too low is the most common cause of a pull-up sagging during the day.
- Smooth the front and back panels flat so there are no folds through the crotch. A fold creates a channel that liquid follows straight to the edge.
- Run a finger around the inside of each leg opening and lift the cuffs outward so they stand against the thigh. If they are tucked flat inward against the core, the leak barrier is not there.
Then do a quick check: two fingers should slide under the waistband comfortably. Any looser and it will slide as it fills; any tighter and it will bind.
How to put on a tabbed brief yourself, standing
Tabbed briefs are usually applied by a caregiver, but they can be managed independently with practice, and they are worth the effort if you need the extra capacity.
- Hold the brief with the tabs at the back and the printed front panel facing forward.
- Position the rear panel against your lower back first, higher than you think it needs to be. The back should sit higher than the front — that is what stops leaks when you sit down.
- Hold the rear panel in place with one hand while you bring the front panel up between your legs with the other, pulling it snug into the groin so there is no gap.
- Fasten the two lower tabs first, angling them slightly upward across the hips. This is what secures the leg openings.
- Fasten the two upper tabs, angling them slightly downward. The two angles together pull the brief into the body's shape rather than leaving it as a straight tube.
- Run a finger around each leg opening to lift the cuffs outward.
Men: point downward before fastening the front panel. Liquid directed along the top edge rather than down into the core is a very common cause of front leaks, and it is a one-second fix.
How to put a brief on someone else who can stand
If the person can stand with support, this is faster and more comfortable for them than a change in bed.
- Have them hold a grab bar, a walker, or a stable surface. Never ask someone to balance unsupported during a change.
- Clean and dry the skin, opening every fold, and apply barrier cream.
- Standing behind them, position the rear panel against the lower back, higher than the front.
- Reach between the legs from behind and draw the front panel up, pulling it snug into the groin.
- Move to the front, fasten the lower tabs angling upward, then the upper tabs angling downward.
- Check that the leg cuffs are standing outward on both sides, and that the brief is centred rather than twisted.
Our full guide to changing an adult diaper standing up covers this in more detail, including how to remove a soiled brief without spreading the mess.
How to put a brief on someone in bed
For anyone who cannot stand safely, the rolling method is the standard technique.
- Lower the bed rail on your side and raise the bed to a height that protects your back if it adjusts.
- Clean and dry the skin thoroughly, opening every fold, and apply barrier cream.
- Roll the person gently onto their side facing away from you, with their top knee bent forward for stability.
- Place the open brief lengthwise along their back, rear panel high, and tuck the near half underneath them as far as it will go.
- Roll them back over the tucked portion toward you, then reach under and draw the tucked half through.
- With them flat on their back, bring the front panel up between the legs, snug into the groin.
- Fasten the lower tabs angling upward, then the upper tabs angling downward.
- Run a finger around each leg opening to lift the cuffs.
For overnight, position the absorbency slightly toward the back, since liquid pools rearward when someone is lying down. The full step-by-step, including a two-person variant, is in how to change an adult diaper in bed.
The five most common mistakes
| Mistake | What it causes | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Leg cuffs left folded flat inward | Leaks at the legs even when the product is barely used | Run a finger around each leg opening after fastening, every time |
| Back panel positioned level with the front | Leaks out the back when sitting or lying down | Always set the rear panel higher than the front |
| All four tabs fastened straight across | A tube-shaped fit that gaps at the hips and slides down | Lower tabs angle up, upper tabs angle down |
| Waistband worn on the hips | Sagging, dragging, and a visible outline under clothing | Sit the waistband at the natural waistline |
| Folds or bunching through the crotch | A channel that liquid follows straight to the edge | Smooth both panels flat before fastening |
If leaks continue after correcting all five, the issue is size or capacity rather than technique. This leak troubleshooting guide works through it by where the leak appears.
Which style to use
Pull-ups suit an independent, mobile adult who dresses and toilets themselves. They look and feel closest to regular underwear and UnderX pull-ups hold up to 8 cups.
Tabbed briefs suit heavier needs, overnight, bowel incontinence, and anyone receiving help with changes. They can be applied lying down, adjusted after positioning, and UnderX briefs hold up to 10 cups with four adhesive tabs and dual leak guards.
Shop by need: men's, women's, overnight, or care essentials including XL disposable washcloths for cleanup at each change. The fit quiz takes about a minute, and free samples let you check the fit before ordering a case.
Frequently asked questions
How do you put on an adult diaper correctly?
Position the back panel higher than the front, bring the front up snugly between the legs, fasten the lower tabs angling upward and the upper tabs angling downward, then run a finger around each leg opening to lift the cuffs outward. For a pull-up, step in, pull up in stages alternating sides, settle the waistband at the natural waistline, and lift the cuffs.
Which way do the tabs go on an adult brief?
The tabs are at the back. Fasten the two lower tabs first, angling them slightly upward across the hips, then the two upper tabs angling slightly downward. The opposing angles pull the brief into the shape of the body. Fastening all four straight across leaves a tube-shaped fit that gaps and slides.
Should the front or the back be higher?
The back. Liquid travels rearward when someone sits or lies down, so a rear panel positioned higher than the front closes the most common escape route. Setting them level is one of the most frequent application errors and a leading cause of back leaks overnight.
Can you put an adult diaper on by yourself?
Yes. Pull-ups are designed for independent use — step in seated or with support, pull up in stages, and settle the waistband at the waistline. Tabbed briefs can also be self-applied standing: hold the rear panel against the lower back, draw the front up between the legs, then fasten the lower tabs upward and the upper tabs downward.
Why does it leak even when I put it on properly?
The most common reason is leg cuffs left folded flat against the core, which removes the leak barrier entirely. After that: a size too large for the cuffs to seal against the thigh, a back panel set too low, or folds through the crotch creating a channel to the edge. Only if all of those are correct is capacity the problem.
How tight should an adult diaper be?
Snug enough that the leg cuffs seal against the thigh, loose enough that two fingers slide comfortably under the waistband. Too loose and it slides and leaks as it fills. Too tight and it binds, marks the skin, and causes friction irritation at the waist and thighs.
How do you put one on someone who cannot stand?
Use the rolling method. Roll them onto their side facing away, lay the open brief along their back with the rear panel high, tuck the near half underneath, roll them back over it, and draw it through. Then bring the front up between the legs and fasten the lower tabs upward and the upper tabs downward.