A disposable diaper including a chassis and an absorbent assembly has been granted a patent. The chassis includes laterally opposing side flaps formed by laterally inwardly folded portions of the chassis and deployable chassis ears formed by other laterally inwardly folded portions of the chassis. Each chassis ear is held laterally inwardly folded until being released and unfolded laterally outward so as to project laterally outward beyond the adjacent side flap. An elastically extensible stretch waistband overlies portions of the laterally opposing chassis ears and extends laterally across the waist region between them.