This article discusses the various types of waterproof sheets available for bed-wetting. One thing that needs to be kept in mind as far as managing bed-wetting is concerned is this-even if a person wears diapers to bed they should also cover the bed with a waterproof sheet just in case the diapers leak.
The most common type of waterproof sheets are rubber and vinyl(also known as plastic). Vinyl sheets are available in two styles-fitted and zippered. Vinyl sheets can be purchased from stores such as Walmart,Sears,J.C.Penny,Target,Bed,Bath,and Beyond,and most department and linen stores. I would use a fitted sheet that way if the diapers do leak it's much more convenient to take off the bed(especially in the middle of the night) In addition it's less trouble to clean. Although you can wipe a zippered cover off,it's much more of a hassle to take it off in order to let it air out.
Rubber sheets usually have a backing of flannel on one side and rubber on the other. One company that manufactures these sheets is Duromed. Some pharmacies might have rubber sheets in stock,if not many can special order them. Additionally, many hospital supply stores stock incontinence supplies including diapers and waterproof sheets.
Besides the covers previously mentioned many people use other items as waterproof sheets-people have a lot of ingenuity in terms of improvising in various situations and managing incontinence is no exception. I've heard of people using vinyl shower curtains and vinyl table cloths as bed-wetting covers. One woman on an incontinence forum said she used a plastic tarp as a protective sheet. The next few sections discuss an idea for another type of waterproof sheet you can use to protect the bed. I actually found out about this several years ago from a friend of mine. Her daughter had a bed-wetting problem and she used a regular plastic sheet to cover her daughter's bed. I don't know if other people also use this type of plastic for this purpose, but I thought it might be worthwhile to talk about.
At this point I'd like to discuss this option. Many people have a roll of plastic sheeting on hand to use for such tasks as yard work(for raking up leaves and to put in flower beds),to cover outside materials such as firewood and mulch,painting,and if they do their own remodeling and construction work. Plastic sheeting comes in both black and clear and is available in several different thicknesses. The ones available in most contractor supply and hardware stores are 3,4,and 6 mil. 6 mil is the thickest and the most widely used. Several years ago after 9/11,the department of Homeland Security suggested purchasing a roll of 6 mil clear plastic sheeting to protect against possible terrorist attacks so you might have some plastic available or you might have some around to use for the tasks previously mentioned. If you do have a roll of plastic sheeting or are planning to purchase one ,you might consider cutting off a sheet and placing it under the youngster's bed. 6 mil plastic is very tough-afterall it's used in construction which means it's out in the elements all the time,it's put under concrete as a vapor barrier,and it's used as a drop cloth among other things, so it lasts for a long time.
Some waterproof sheets that are normally used as mattress covers can rip or tear after a period of time so the plastic sheeting is a viable option. 3 mil or 4 mil plastic can be used for this purpose but it's obviously not as strong as the 6 mil. The advantages of using this type of material as a cover is that it's tough and will not wear out. The disadvantage is that it makes a rustling or crinkling sound whenever the person moves around in bed. If the bed-wetter shares the room with another sibling this can make him or her feel self-conscious as well as disturb the other person. If the person sleeps in their own room this obviously won't be an issue but the crinkling of the plastic might make it hard for them to sleep. This problem can be minimized somewhat by placing several layers of cloth covers over the plastic. Since many bed-wetters are deep sleepers the rustling sound might not bother them or they might be able to get used to it over time. I would make up the bed with the plastic and see if it bothers the youngster. If it does you can ask them if they think it's something they can get used to over time. If they feel the crinkling sound is too loud and that they won't be able to adjust to the noise you can use another type of waterproof sheet to cover the bed. Plastic sheeting is available at stores such as Lowes,Ace,Home Depot,Southern States,contractor supply stores,paint stores,farm supply stores,and similar places.
Like protective garments,protective bedding and sheets are available in both disposable and reusable styles. HDIS(Home Delivery Incontinence Supplies) has different brands and sizes of disposable underpads. Another place that sells disposable underpads is Continence Connection. Other companies that sell both reusable and disposable bed pads are XP Medical and ABAIP which stands for A Better Absorbent Incontinence Product. Some companies that make bed pads are Tranquility and Attends. If you're considering going the disposable route you might want to ask the customer service rep from whatever company you're buying them from if they have samples. Most incontinence supply stores and hospital supply stores sell both reusable and disposable bed sheets so you shouldn't have any problem finding what you need.
I hope this article has given a good overview of the different options out there to help manage your bed-wetting. As I've pointed out in previous articles don't get discouraged if it takes a while to find the solution that works best for you. Just like everything else in life there's a lot of trial and error involved. As always I welcome any comments and feedback you might have.
About the Author:
I am a psychology major who writes about the stigma surrounding using diapers to manage nocturnal enuresis(the clinical term for bed-wetting) in older children,adolescents,and teenagers.The purpose of writing my articles is twofold-1.) to help people become more aware of the different diapering options out there for bed-wetters and 2.) to help older children and teens feel less embarrassed about wearing diapers to bed.