What Is The Best Mattress Protector For Bedwetting
Bedwetting is one of the top threats to the well-being of any mattress – while it mostly concerns toddlers, it can in some cases affect older individuals – even adults may suffer from bouts of incontinence. Its causes may be psychological or physiological, and while it can be treated in most cases – in the meantime – your bed needs to be protected.
One of the most proactive and popular solutions is getting a mattress protector. As the name implies, this product will safeguard your bed against threats such as fluids, allergens and bacteria. Today, there are dozens of brands selling covers that tout themselves as offering total protection.
The truth is a little different: you see, in order to cater to as wide a consumer base as possible (while keeping costs low) certain manufacturers use cheaper / flimsier materials in their products. While they may suit someone with milder concerns, they are certainly not meant for protection against continuous fluid exposure.
This guide will help you choose the best mattress protector for bedwetting based on what I’ve picked up in the industry over the years. I’ve supplemented it with choice product reviews to give you an actual idea of what to look for.
Table of Contents
- Introduction
- Table of Specifications
- Why Do You Need To Protect Your Bed Against Bedwetting?
- What To Look For?
- Top Rated
- Bedwetting Mattress Cover Reviews
- Conclusion
Table of Specifications
Name |
Materials Used |
Our Ratings |
|---|---|---|
Linenspa Premium Waterproof Mattress Protector |
Polyurethane and vinyl |
|
Zen Bamboo Mattress Protector |
Bamboo and plastic |
|
Luna Premium Mattress Protector |
Cotton terry surface, plastic membrane |
|
Priva Hypoallergenic Waterproof Vinyl Mattress Protector |
Vinyl |
|
Protect-A-Bed Luxury Waterproof Mattress Protector |
Tencel surface,polyurethane membrane |
Why Do You Need To Protect Your Bed Against Bedwetting?
Aside from the fact that urine is a waste product from the human body which makes it inherently repulsive, it can wreak havoc with your mattress if it manages to seep past its surface:
Permanent Odor
The moist inside of your mattress will become a breeding ground for bacteria and fungi, which will in turn produce odor. Even if you put it out in the sun to dry, it will not completely get rid of the smell.
Discomfort
If enough fluid gets in, you may have to deal with it seeping back out of the surface when you lay on the bed, essentially ruining your sleep.
Health Concerns
The microbial growth on (and inside) your mattress could cause allergy problems for you with prolonged exposure. The fungi / mold may even start thriving on your wooden bed (moist wood is an ideal breeding ground for mold).
Reduced Lifetime
Once moisture enters the mattress, it will weaken the structure of the foam and hasten its deterioration. It may also compromise the adhesive that binds the various layers of the mattress together.
?
Voided Warranty
Even the most high end manufacturers won’t provide coverage for a product that has been ruined by fluid exposure.
?
What Features To Look For?
- Waterproofing
- absorbency
- Easy to launder
This may seem quite obvious – but as I briefly stated above – modern protectors come in several degrees of waterproofing. Waterproofing is related to micron size – a term that defines the size of the microscopic holes in the protector’s membrane.
The smaller the micron size, the better protection you get against fluids and allergens. However, this comes at the cost of increasingly poor thermal ventilation, which is why cheap protectors are notorious for making people sweat at night.
For this reason, some manufacturers will make products with materials that have larger micron sizes to allow for better breathability and cooling. These are not reliable from a bed wetter’s security perspective and may even be labeled water-resistant as opposed to waterproof.
You should go for a product that is clearly stated as waterproof (user reviews may be a good indicator of its true capability). Even if it causes a bit of heating, it only means that it’s doing its job well.
Cheaper protectors will only keep the fluid from getting inside your mattress – which will cause it to collect in the form of a puddle on their surface. If you’re on a budget, this is absolutely fine – but if you want the sleeper to feel comfortable, the cover must wick the fluid away from their body.
This is especially true for smaller children in cooler environments – since they may develop pneumonia from sleeping in a pool of cold fluid. Fortunately, for a little extra, you can get a protector with an absorbent top surface that takes the fluid inside itself, so the child can sleep dry and comfortable.
However, this does mean you have to launder it properly in order to get the urine out of its fabric.
Depending on the frequency with which you have to deal with bedwetting incidents, you’ll need a protector that can be cleaned and reused reliably.
Vinyl, in spite of certain health concerns, is the top choice if you’re dealing with multiple bedwetting episodes during the week. Its thick fabric does not seep in moisture, so you can simply wipe it down thoroughly and have it on the bed for use all over again.
More absorbent varieties e.g. spun polyester or terry cotton, will require proper laundering. Make sure you get a product that has a reputation for continued performance after several wash / dry cycles. This can easily be deduced from consumer feedback.
Even the best mattress protector for bedwetting will eventually deteriorate with each subsequent laundering session it goes through, but you can minimize this by following the guidelines provided by the manufacturer.
If for some reason, your protector fails, here’s a quick guide on getting pee stains out of your mattress:
Top Rated Bedwetting Mattress Cover Reviews
Linenspa Premium Waterproof Mattress Protector
Key Points
- Material: Polyurethane and vinyl
- Waterproof: Yes
- Allergen Proof: Yes
- Bed Bug Proof: No
- Warranty: 10 years
- Extra Features: Elastic sides
The LinenSpa protector, made out of polyurethane and vinyl, is an ultra-cheap product that is well suited to the needs of someone dealing with frequent, repeated episodes of bedwetting.
The all plastic composition ensures that fluids stay on its surface even several hours after the incident occurred. Additionally, the cover is able to provide dependable protection against allergens such as dustmites.
The top layer is more breathable than the underlying membrane, and the overall form factor of the product is quite slim, so it doesn’t heat up as much as one would think. That said, you still have to deal with crinkly noises – but that is to be expected from a sub-$20 cover.
The major concern with this protector is that it won’t last after several washes, unless you follow its care instructions to the hilt – this means drying it on low heat (not beyond 125 F), and using only a small amount of mild washing detergent.
The good news is that manufacturer offers a 10 year warranty against defects in materials and workmanship, and stand by it more often than is the norm for such products. The protector has elastic sides that let it fit mattresses up to 18” deep.
Pros
- Incredibly cheap.
- Solid waterproofing.
- Can be cleaned rapidly by wiping down.
- Elastic sides allow it to fit deep mattresses.
- 10 year limited warranty.
Cons
- Prone to damage from improper laundering.
- Makes typical crinkly noise.
Recommended For
The LinenSpa protector, made out of polyurethane and vinyl, is an ultra-cheap product that is well suited to the needs of someone dealing with frequent, repeated episodes of bedwetting.
Zen Bamboo Mattress Protector
Key Points
- Material: Bamboo and plastic
- Waterproof: Yes
- Allergen Proof: Yes
- Bed Bug Proof: No
- Warranty: Lifetime / 30 day money back guarantee
- Extra Features: Hypoallergenic; anti-bacterial;free from PVC, phthalates and vinyl
With a surface made of bamboo, this somewhat unorthodox cover may be worth considering if you want a reasonable degree of cooling in addition to strong waterproofing.
The bamboo surface offers superior breathability and cooling as compared to cotton counterparts, while also negating much of the plastic sensation caused by the waterproof membrane underneath. The fact that bamboo is naturally hypoallergenic and anti-bacterial makes the protector suitable for allergy sufferers too.
Based on user feedback, the plastic membrane does its job as intended – keeping the fluid on its surface like mercury. Users have also been extremely appreciative of the comfort and cooling that this cover has to offer, especially at its low price point.
The product comes with an OEKO-TEX® certification meaning that it is free from PVC, vinyl and phthalates, another plus for those who are averse to harmful plastics.
The manufacturer offers a lifetime warranty for their product as well as a full 30 day refund policy – a strong indicator that they stand behind their claims. Given the dearth of complaints though, you will probably not have to use either.
Pros
- Reasonably priced.
- Bamboo top surface is naturally hypoallergenic, anti-bacterial, cool and breathable.
- Top surface conceals feel of underlying membrane.
- Reliable waterproofing.
- Lifetime warranty + 30 day refund policy.
- OEKO-Tex® certified.
Cons
- Very limited complaints of heating / non-breathability.
Recommended For
With a surface made of bamboo, this somewhat unorthodox cover may be worth considering if you want a reasonable degree of cooling in addition to strong waterproofing.
Luna Premium Mattress Protector
Key Points
- Material: Cotton terry and plastic
- Waterproof: Yes
- Allergen Proof: Yes
- Bed Bug Proof: No
- Warranty: 15 years
- Extra Features: Does not use PVC or phthalates; made in USA
With an especially thin construction and a cotton terry top, this cover is for individuals who want to keep urine away from their mattress without altering the feel of their bed.
The cotton terry surface is far more comfortable than standard spun polyester, and disguises the plastic membrane that is present underneath. The membrane causes less heating than usual also thanks to Luna’s signature Waterproof Airflow Technology that keeps out allergens and fluids, but allows air to ventilate.
The materials used in this protector are sourced from the US, so, in spite of using a plastic membrane, the protector is free from harmful chemicals and well suited to allergy sufferers. The protector enjoys a positive reputation for its comfort and reliability, and comes with a 15 year warranty to boot.
Keep in mind though, that the thinness of the product means you should be careful when laundering it, since it doesn’t take well to high temperature.
Pros
- Lightweight, dependable protection against fluids and allergens.
- Cotton terry surface is unobtrusive and comfortable.
- Uses materials sourced from the US.
- 15 year limited warranty.
Cons
- Thin profile makes it susceptible to damage from high temperature laundering.
Recommended For
With an especially thin construction and a cotton terry top, this cover is for individuals who want to keep urine away from their mattress without altering the feel of their bed.
Priva Hypoallergenic Waterproof Vinyl Mattress Protector
Key Points
- Material: Vinyl
- Waterproof: Yes
- Allergen Proof: Yes
- Bed Bug Proof: No
- Warranty: 10 years
- Extra Features: Rated for 300 machine cycles; free from phthalates and BPA
Here’s a cheap, machine washable vinyl cover that appears to be a good fit for people dealing with a frequent bedwetting condition that necessitates routine cleanups.
In spite of being made out of vinyl, the surface is much softer and undetectable than your average plastic cover – I was surprised myself, but that’s what the users are saying about it. Of course, being plastic, it does tend to run a little hot during the night.
The highlight of this cover is that it is rated usable for up to 300 wash cycles – which is a quite a bit higher than other products in its price segment, and in my opinion, makes it perhaps the best mattress protector for urine related problems.
To add to this, the vinyl used in the product is free from harmful phthalates and BPA, so you get thoroughly dependable waterproofing without any risk of ingesting dangerous compounds.
Speaking about the drawbacks, the product is advertised as being a ‘bed bug barrier’ in addition to water- and allergen-proof. This is not true, since it is a fitted style cover that leaves the back of the mattress exposed to an invasion.
The product comes with a 10 year warranty from the manufacturer.
Pros
- Low cost.High reusability.
- Vinyl provides excellent waterproofing.
- Vinyl is free from phthalates and BPA.
- Not as uncomfortable as typical plastic products.
- 10 year warranty.
Cons
- Not a bed bug barrier as advertised.
Recommended For
A cheap, machine washable vinyl cover that appears to be a good fit for people dealing with a frequent bedwetting condition that necessitates routine cleanups.
Protect-A-Bed Luxury Waterproof Mattress Protector
Key Points
- Material: Tencel surface and polyurethane
- Waterproof: Yes
- Allergen Proof: Yes
- Bed Bug Proof: No
- Warranty: 10 years
- Extra Features: Organic top surface, inherently anti-bacterial
If you want protection against infrequent bedwetting / incontinence problems where rapid cleaning / reuse are unnecessary, you may want to consider this cover which offers adequately dependable waterproofing and allergen protection with superb cooling and moisture wicking capabilities.
The top is derived from eucalyptus trees – a material known as Tencel, which is cooler, softer and more absorbent than cotton and polyester, while also offering intrinsic protection against bacteria and allergens. As such, it is an excellent choice for people who don’t like sleeping on plastic.
Protect-A-Bed’s own Miracle Membrane technology serves as the barrier against fluids and allergens. It is a plastic lining that is designed to keep out these threats while letting air pass through. Between this and the cooling properties of Tencel, you can expect to sleep cool and unperturbed.
I did note a few complaints directed at broken waterproofing – either from the get go, or after a couple washes, so I would recommend testing the protector before using it for the first time, and following the laundering instructions closely.
A 10 year warranty accompanies this product, which matches industry average but is slightly disappointing, considering its price.
Pros
- Organic top.
- Solid waterproofing and moisture-wicking ability.
- Superb cooling and comfort.
- Inherently hypoallergenic and anti-bacterial.
- 10 year warranty.
Cons
- Expensive.
- Limited complaints of faulty waterproofing.
Recommended For
If you want protection against infrequent bedwetting / incontinence problems where rapid cleaning / reuse are unnecessary, you may want to consider this cover which offers adequately dependable waterproofing and allergen protection with superb cooling and moisture wicking capabilities.
Conclusion
You will have seen now that there are plenty of options available to you for protecting your bed against damage from bedwetting incidents, but your choice will ultimately come down to striking a balance between the severity of the issue and how much comfort you’re willing to sacrifice in order to deal with it.
From the perspective of someone handling a full-blown bedwetting problem, one that requires regular washing throughout the week, I would recommend the Priva Hypoallergenic Waterproof Vinyl Mattress Protector as the best mattress cover for bed wetting.
I normally don’t condone the use of vinyl protectors, but in this case, the durability and reusability of this cheap protector really does make it the best choice. Furthermore, in spite of using vinyl, it is reasonably comfortable and does not contain harmful phthalates or BPA.
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