Diapers have Adult Diaper been worn throughout human history, and made of cloth or disposable materials. Whereas yard goods diapers are comprised of layers of fabric such as terry towelling and can be washed and reused multiple times, disposable diapers contain absorbent chemicals and are thrown away after use.

Presented to Fred Wells as project p-57 (this was the plane Wells had taught American pilots to fly during WWII), Mills stated "This peculiar will fly." Although Pampers were conceptualized in 1959, the diapers themselves were not launched into the market until 1961.