Hear from a mom, a peer and an expert about the best time to change your panty liner.
If it’s staying dry and clean, I recommend changing it once a day (or as needed due to leaks or discharge). If you’re wearing them overnight, I feel it’s best to change it first thing in the morning, even if the liner is clean. The purpose of changing a “looks-clean-to-me” liner is to prevent an overgrowth of (unseen) bacteria. Hope this helps!
I don’t think there are any hard and fast rules for panty liner, just personal preference – though you should change it after a day at minimum. Obviously, if you are wearing one on a very light day or to supplement a tampon, you should change it like you would change a regular pad. But say you’re wearing a panty liner in case your period starts – and it doesn’t start – then I don’t see a problem with leaving the panty liner on for a longer time. If you’re wearing a panty liner for discharge, then the pad-changing rules apply. Basically, if the panty liner still looks fresh and clean, there’s really no need to change it more often than once a day.
A panty liner is meant to be worn for one day. If you plan to wear one overnight, I recommend putting on a new one at nighttime. If the panty liner feels moist, that is a good time to change it, too.
This is not intended to be medical advice. Everybody is different so please make sure to consult your physician if you're having issues. Do not delay or refrain from seeking professional medical advice from your physician because of something you have read on this site.
