People who have a diaper fetish gain some sort of sexual pleasure from using a diaper. If you’re even mildly curious about this kind of fetish and what it can entail, then you’ll want to read on.
It may be odd and surprising to think that anyone would want to keep wearing a diaper past the age of three or four, but ask anyone with a diaper fetish, and they will tell you that it is an enjoyable way of life for them.
Having a diaper fetish means that, as an adult, wearing a diaper (an adult diaper) either gives you sexual gratification or is something that you do socially. It should not be thought of as a psychological disturbance. After all, an article in Psychology Today states that, at least as of 2013, the majority of people with a diaper fetish are men in their late thirties with stable occupational and relational lives. You may be inclined to give little thought to this fetish, as it may not concern you personally; but what if, unknown to you, it’s something practiced by a close friend, a relative, or a person that you’re romantically attached to?
What Is a Diaper Fetish? 
Some people will immediately jump to associate the word fetish with sexual gratification, but that would be a wrong assumption, as not all fetishes are erotic This ultimately raises the question: does this fact make a diaper fetish a bit more normal and acceptable, or does it make it even stranger than initially thought?
Most folks with a diaper fetish would fall into one of two groups of people: (1) someone who enjoys using diapers (i.e., diaper lover), or (2) someone who has autonepiophilia, that is, a person with a case of so-called “adult baby syndrome”.
As you might have guessed from the name, the adult baby is a person who tends to adopt an array of childlike behaviors. Such behaviors may include things like wearing a diaper, playing with infant toys, sucking a binky, and all-around acting like a child. This differentiates them from diaper lovers, as the latter group does not adopt any kind of baby-like behavior.
The term ABDL was developed to help differentiate these forms of diaper fetish. AB (adult baby) refers to those who do it for age play and to embody the persona of a baby while wearing a diaper. DL (diaper lover) refers to those who do not necessarily want to act in any particular way but still find some comfort or pleasure in wearing a diaper in their everyday lives.
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The kind of feelings that a person with a diaper fetish hopes to experience cannot easily be placed in one category – and probably not even two. Some might get sexual pleasure or arousal from wearing a diaper while others do it to get some sense of comfort. This is an experience that depends heavily on the fetishist’s personality.
And the same is true of anyone with any other sexual fetish or kink. If you ask them what gives them satisfaction in the realization of their unusual desire, then you’ll probably get a different answer with each person you ask – that’s of course if you get a clear answer at all. But that doesn’t mean that there aren’t some typical reasons.
Why Do Some People Find Diapers Sexual?
One reason you may hear from diaper fetishists is that they simply grew up with a particular enjoyment of diapers and have kept that enjoyment even later into life. They’d tell you that it’s a pleasure that they never grew out of and now it’s just a part of their lives.
Others might tell you that, while they had the interest for a while, they never practiced the fetish until a partner ignited in them the desire to pursue it. Still, others might have never had a desire to wear a diaper before hearing or reading about it, yet tried it out of curiosity and found immense pleasure in it.
If you have a diaper fetish but never thought much about why, then it might be worth your while to do some reflection to figure out where it stems from. Similarly, if your romantic partner has this fetish, it would be good for your relationship if you were to inquire about it to better understand it – and maybe even explore it further together.
Is the Adult Diaper Fetish about Kids?
We naturally associate diapers with children. It is one of the first things that come to mind when you think about children. But for a diaper fetishist, there is no association between children and the desire to wear a diaper. For the diaper fetishist, what’s interesting is the idea and act of wearing a diaper; it most likely has nothing to do with children. As with other fetishes (e.g., paddles, feathers, cuffs, etc.), it’s the fetish object (diapers, in this case) that matters most.
Some fetishists wear diapers for the physical feeling that they provide when in contact with the body. But there are others who do it as a way to get into a certain headspace for age-related role play. Still, none of this relates to children in any way because fetishes are mostly about living a fantasy, not a reality.
To consider a different example, think of it as like kitten play. Some people find fun and pleasure in donning the innocent personality of a kitten (or another pet). But that does not in any way mean that these people are into bestiality or have any kind of sexual attraction towards animals. All they want is to act a part that gives them the freedom of a simpler, innocent, more fun time.
Facets of a Diaper Fetish
The facets of a diaper fetish are numerous, and you may not be aware of all – if any – of them. You might have assumed that diaper fetishists do what they do for the simple enjoyment that they get from wearing a diaper. But that couldn’t be further from the truth. People with diaper fetishes can be found enjoying a number of common sub-fetishes. Here are just a few.
1) Wearing a Diaper in Public
Some people get excitement from wearing a diaper under their regular clothes as they go out in public. One explanation for this revolves around the fact that some people enjoy feeling like they’re doing something wrong or naughty. Another would be that some fetishists like the ability to wet themselves in public, in plain sight, while no one realizes it.
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2) Diaper Noises
Some find comfort in the noises that diapers make; others may find it sexually arousing. Whatever the nuanced reason, we know that a significant number of fetishists find the puffing and crinkling noises to be very satisfying.
3) Wetting the Diaper
As it turns out, when it comes to huge turn-ons for the diaper-loving community, wetting oneself is a big one for a lot of people. Some folks try to get the gratification by emulating the wetness with water. Others, however, want the full, authentic experience, and for that, they’re willing to go all the way by urinating in the diaper.
4) Defecating
As you were reading the previous paragraph, you may have already been thinking about this. As much as some may not want to acknowledge or admit it, it is true. If a diaper fetishist puts on a diaper, there’s a high chance that they’ll be using it to the max. Defecating in a diaper, and even in some cases deliberately sitting in it for an extended period of time, gives some people with diaper fetish pleasure. For others, having the diaper changed by a partner is the next step in reaching the gratification that they’re seeking.
5) Seeing Other People Wearing Diapers
A number of diaper lovers enjoy looking at pornography that has someone with a diaper. Why? They may like the humiliation that the person goes through in that situation, or they may want to see a person mess himself in a diaper. The gender to which you feel attracted to does not necessarily matter in this case. The point is, this: if you have a diaper fetish, odds are that you like looking at other people wearing diapers as much as you like wearing them yourself.
6) Comfort
This is more of a tame reason in comparison. Some people simply find the physical comfort provided by wearing a diaper too good to pass up. As unusual as it might be, they prefer diapers to traditional underwear.
7) Masturbating
As with other fetishes, this is a common occurrence, to the point that it would be odd to not see it on the list. Being in a diaper or seeing someone else in a diaper can give diaper fetishists arousing sexual thoughts, which they may act upon through masturbation or some other sort of sexual activity. Such sexual activity can even be with a partner, with the diaper being used during sex or in foreplay.
8) Diaper Clubs
This is one maybe a little more surprising and harder to believe, but diaper lovers have created small communities where they can gather together and do daily activities. And no, the activities are not sexual in nature. They can be as platonic as watching a football match, or something similar.
9) Psychological Issues
Aside from all the previously mentioned reasons, some diaper fetishists may be attracted to the idea of wearing a diaper because of a psychological condition. It can be something that they dealt with in their childhood. An example could be childhood incontinence, where a person had to use a diaper later into life than is typical, and then slowly developed some sort of attachment to it and the emotional comfort that it gives them.
Some studies show a link between being a person with diaper fetish and being transgender or having some sort of abusive experience during childhood. There’s a reported case of a man who, at eight years old, was beaten by his mother. This abuse caused him to wet himself. Her punishment was sending him to bed in a diaper. This resulted in his experiencing arousal from contact with the diaper. This, then, let to the formation of a link between sexual pleasure and wearing a diaper.
How Can You Pick a Diaper for Yourself?
Various aspects affect this choice. One of them is the look. Diapers come with different designs, so look for the one that gives you the feeling you’re looking for. For example, if you want to do age play, a colorful and playful design would probably do the trick.
Next up, think of the capacity. There are those who actually want to use the diaper as they wear it. As such, they must get one with high capacity and absorbency. Anyone wearing the diaper solely for physical comfort wouldn’t have to worry about this aspect.
The last aspect is the tape design. Some diapers come with two tapes on each side, while others come with one on each side. You’ll find compelling arguments for both designs, but you’ll never know what’s best for you without trying. We do recommend that anyone with a wide waist-to-hip ratio should get a diaper with two tapes on each side for more snugness.
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How Can You Diaper Yourself?
The first step is to position yourself on a clean surface. A hard surface, like a floor, would be best for beginners; but once you get used to it, you can easily do it on the bed or even when standing up.
Open the diaper and sit on the back side, which is the side that has the tapes. Try to find the best position for your butt. It may take some time, but don’t fret too much, because you can adjust later anyway.
Now take the front piece and pull it between your legs and fasten the tapes up tightly. There you go, you’re all diapered up and ready!
Are There Non-Sexual Uses for Adult Diapers?
Yes, there are! Some people do not feel comfortable enough using the restroom, especially a public one that may not be clean enough. Others have a bladder that can’t hold urine for too long. A common solution that they all opt for is wearing a diaper.
There are also people who suffer from incontinence. These individuals, owing to any number of various reasons, ranging from surgery to old age, have little to no control over their urinary and/or bowel processes. For some, it might be an issue only at night, while, for others, it could be an issue throughout the day as well. In order to contain the otherwise inevitable mess, these individuals wear diapers.
What to Do When You Know Someone Has a Diaper Fetish?
Well, you don’t have to do anything at all.
If it’s a friend that’s revealing this new aspect about themselves to you, listen to what they have to say and act as if nothing has changed afterward. Try not to make a big deal out of it so that you don’t make them uncomfortable about it.
If it’s your romantic partner, you must appreciate their honesty and be supportive of this aspect of their personality, as they might be feeling ashamed of it at first.
Who knows, maybe you’ll be trying it out yourself sometime soon. But if you’re not comfortable with it, or if it bothers you, it may be best for you to not continue with the relationship. It’s a good idea to not put yourself through something that doesn’t please you, especially when it comes to your sex life.