Chances are, your child will have an accident or two while he is transitioning from diapers to underwear. And nights can be a particularly challenging time, as deep sleep can make it harder for your child to recognize that he has a full bladder. Waterproof mattress pads and sheet protectors can help protect your child's bedding from stains, odors and moisture. Some pads, for instance, can hold up to 6 cups of fluid.
Waterproof mattress pads generally have several layers: an absorbent outer layer, a waterproof inner layer made of vinyl or polyurethane and a bottom layer. Sheet protectors have an absorbent outer layer followed by a waterproof layer that is placed over the sheets. If your child wets the bed, all you have to do is remove the wet sheet protector, get a new pair of pajamas and put him back to sleep. Sheets and mattress are saved!
What to Look for
Choose a mattress pad or sheet protector with a cloth bottom layer to cut down on the sleep-disrupting, crinkly sound you get when plastic rubs against a mattress or sheet. If your child is just an occasional bedwetter, think about investing in a sheet overlay, which is a pad with soft quilting on the outside and a waterproof material on the inside that can absorb light leaks. The beauty of an overlay: When your child wets the bed, you only need to pull out the overlay instead of changing all the sheets. Overlays that actually tuck into the mattress stay put better than those that merely lie on top of the sheet.
If your child is more of a regular or heavy-duty wetter, you'll need to protect the mattress as well as the sheets. In addition to using an overlay, consider buying a waterproof mattress pad; look for a pad with a polyurethane versus vinyl waterproof layer. Unlike vinyl, polyurethane is more breathable and, thus, more comfortable to sleep on.
Common Pitfalls
The biggest pitfall is not buying enough sheet protectors and mattress pads. Make sure you have at least 2 sets of each, so that when your child wets one set, you have the other ready to place on his bed. And while a simple, zippered vinyl covering that encases the whole mattress will give your mattress the protection it needs from bedwetting (not to mention dust mites and other allergens), it's not the optimal solution if you don't want to hear rustling with every toss and turn that your child makes.
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