Standard bedwetting product ranges typically stop at age 15 or a children’s size large. If your child wears a size 16 or above — or if you’re a teenager managing this yourself — that cut-off creates a real practical problem. The pull-ups that worked last year no longer fit, and the alternatives aren’t always obvious. This guide covers what actually fits, where to find it, and how to make the best choice without having to wade through adult continence catalogues that weren’t designed with you in mind.
Why Size 16+ Is a Gap in the Market
Most children’s bedwetting products — DryNites, Goodnites, and their equivalents — are designed for children up to roughly 60–65 kg or a children’s size large. Beyond that, the product range simply ends. This leaves a significant number of teenagers in an awkward in-between space: too big for children’s products, but not always comfortable with adult incontinence ranges that carry their own associations and often don’t absorb the way a nighttime bedwetting product needs to.
It’s a gap the industry has been slow to address. As we’ve written about in The Gap in the Bedwetting Product Market, the needs of older children and teenagers simply aren’t well represented in product development. Size 16+ users aren’t unusual — they’re just underserved.
What Actually Fits at Size 16 and Above
DryNites and Goodnites: Upper Limit
DryNites come in two sizes: 4–7 years and 8–15 years. The older range is labelled for children up to 57 kg. In practice, some teenagers in the lighter end of a size 16 may still fit the larger DryNites — particularly if they have a slim hip measurement. It’s worth checking the waist and hip measurement on the packaging rather than going purely by age. If the fit is snug but secure, they can still work. If there’s gaping at the legs or waist, leaks are almost guaranteed.
For more on why fit matters so much for leak prevention, see Why Leg Leaks Are the Most Common Overnight Complaint.
Adult Pull-Ups: A Practical Option, Not a Last Resort
Adult pull-up products — such as Tena Pants, iD Pants, Lille Healthcare pull-ups, and Abena Abri-Flex — often start at a small or extra-small size that overlaps with older teenage measurements. The smallest adult sizes typically fit from around 60–80 cm waist, which corresponds to many teenagers at size 16.
Key brands and their smallest sizes:
- Tena Pants Discreet (Small): waist/hip 70–90 cm — a reasonable fit for many size 16–18 teenagers
- iD Pants Light / Plus (Small): similar sizing to Tena; available in supermarkets and online
- Abena Abri-Flex (Small): medical-grade pull-up with higher absorbency; designed for heavier output
- Lille SupremFit (Small): strong overnight capacity, soft texture, pull-up format
- Molicare Mobile (Small–Medium): popular with users who need reliable overnight protection without bulk
Absorbency in adult pull-ups is measured in millilitres (ml) or drops. For overnight bedwetting, aim for products rated at 1,000 ml or above. Many light or day-use adult products will not contain a full void.
Taped Briefs (Slip-Style Products)
For heavier wetting, or where pull-up style products have consistently leaked, taped briefs (sometimes called all-in-one nappies or slips) offer the most reliable containment. Products such as Tena Slip, Molicare Slip, Abena Abri-Form, and Seni Quatro are available in adult small sizes that fit many older teenagers.
These products are often better at containing large overnight voids because they maintain a more structured fit around the legs and waist. They’re also easier to apply if a carer is involved. There is sometimes reluctance around these products due to stigma — but they are widely used by adults of all ages for incontinence management and are clinically appropriate when they work. The goal is dry, comfortable sleep. The product type is secondary to that.
Absorbency vs Fit: Getting Both Right
At size 16+, fit becomes even more critical than for younger children because body shape varies considerably. A product that fits well around the waist but gaps at the leg will leak — typically at the inner thigh or back. A product with an excellent absorbent core but too-loose elastic will leak before the core is even close to saturated.
Measure before you order:
- Waist circumference (narrowest point)
- Hip circumference (widest point, including seat)
- Upper thigh circumference (both sides if there’s a difference)
Cross-reference these against the product’s size chart — not the weight or age guidance. Hip measurement is the most critical for pull-up fit. Waist measurement matters most for taped briefs.
Where to Buy Products for Size 16+
High street availability is limited. Most large supermarkets stock adult pull-ups in small sizes, but specialist products typically require online ordering. Useful sources include:
- Direct from manufacturer websites (Tena, iD, Lille, Abena) — often the most complete range
- Amazon and general online retailers — good for comparing brands; check seller ratings
- Incontinence specialist retailers such as NappiesR.Us, HARTMANN Direct, or Bladder & Bowel UK’s supplier listings
- NHS prescription — if a GP or continence nurse has assessed your child, products may be available on prescription. This is worth pursuing, particularly for specialist or higher-capacity products
If you’ve been seen by a continence service and discharged, you may still be able to request a product prescription via your GP. See our article on what to do after a bedwetting clinic discharge for more on this route.
Considerations for ASD and Sensory-Sensitive Users
For teenagers with sensory sensitivities, the shift from a familiar children’s product to an adult product can introduce new challenges: different textures, unfamiliar waistband materials, plastic backing, or a different sound profile when moving. These are legitimate concerns, not minor preferences.
Some practical approaches:
- Request samples before committing to a bulk order — most specialist suppliers offer these
- Look for products with a soft, cloth-like outer cover rather than a plasticky shell (Abena Abri-Flex and Molicare Mobile tend to score well here)
- If the product feels too different to manage, consider whether a booster pad inside a well-fitting adult pull-up could replicate the feel of what they’re used to
- Introduce changes gradually rather than switching overnight
Bed Protection as a Complement — or Alternative
For teenagers at size 16+ who wet infrequently, or where the volume is lower, layering bed protection with a well-fitting pull-up may be sufficient without needing a higher-capacity product. A quality waterproof mattress protector, a washable bed pad placed over the fitted sheet, and a waterproof pillow cover significantly reduce the consequence of any leak.
This is also relevant for those nights where the pull-up is close to its limit — a bed pad as a secondary layer catches what the product can’t quite hold.
Managing the Emotional Side at This Age
A teenager dealing with bedwetting at size 16+ is often acutely aware of the situation and may have strong feelings about product choices, particularly anything that looks or feels distinctly medical or babyish. Those feelings are worth taking seriously — not as an obstacle, but as information about what they need to manage this with dignity.
Involving them in the product selection process, ordering discreetly, and keeping conversations matter-of-fact rather than weighty all help. If bedwetting has become a source of significant distress at home, Managing Bedwetting Stress as a Family covers practical approaches for the whole household. And if you’re wondering how to talk about products and wetness without making it harder, How to Talk About Bedwetting Without Shame or Embarrassment is a useful starting point.
Finding the Right Fit for Size 16+ Bedwetting Products
The children’s product range running out at size 15 is a real gap, but it’s not the dead end it can initially appear. Adult pull-ups in small sizes, taped briefs with reliable overnight capacity, and targeted bed protection all offer workable solutions for size 16 and above. The key steps are measuring accurately, prioritising overnight absorbency ratings, and requesting samples before committing to a product. If NHS prescription support is available, pursue it — specialist products on prescription can make a significant difference to both cost and range. The right product exists; it may just take a short search beyond the children’s aisle to find it.