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Sheet protectors can help a person with incontinence wake up dry. These large pads cannot stop a person from leaking urine, but they can keep the urine from the person’s skin and protect their bedding.

Pads come in two different styles: washable and disposable. Although washable pads are more environmentally and budget-friendly, disposable pads offer some convenience, as a person can just throw them away after use.

This article reviews sheet protectors and highlights what to look for, specific brands to check out, and how to find the right sheet protector.

About one-quarter to one-third of adults in the United States have urinary incontinence. The National Association for Continence estimates that around 25 million people in the U.S. experience at least some urine leakage each year.

Different factors can affect a person’s risk of developing urinary incontinence. They include:

Sheet protectors can help a person with incontinence have a higher quality of life. Sheet protectors can:

Although sheet protectors can protect the sheets, mattress, and a person’s skin, they cannot treat incontinence itself. A person who finds that they are frequently leaking during the day or night should talk with a doctor about possible causes and treatment options.

Some potential treatments for urinary incontinence include:

Sheet protectors can help a person with incontinence avoid nightly sheet changes and help prevent damage to the mattress. Not all sheet protectors have the same features, however, which can make it difficult to decide which mattress will work best for a person.

When shopping for sheet protectors, some factors to take into account include:

Please note that the writer of this article has not tried any of these products. All information presented here is purely research-based and correct at the time of publication.

Conkote has developed a heavy absorbency bed pad that protects the sheets and mattress from incontinence.

The company sells several different pad sizes to fit most people’s needs.

Reviews on Amazon are mostly positive. The product has an average of 4.7 out of 5 stars from over 4,500 reviews. A 34-inch (in) x 52-in pad costs around $20 for a single pack.

Vive’s washable incontinence bed pad comes in two different sizes. It can work for twin and full-size beds and can be a good option for people with incontinence or children.

The product has a rating of 4.8 out of 5 stars from over 5,000 customer reviews on Amazon.

The pad’s manufacturers do not specify how much liquid it can hold, which may be an issue for people who leak large amounts of urine.

A double pack costs around $27.

CoolShields offers a waterproof bed pad in one- and two-packs. The pad’s features include:

In addition, it has around 4.6 out of 5 stars based on user ratings on Amazon. A single pack costs around $21.

These underpad sheet protectors come in packs of 50 disposable pads.

It is unclear how much liquid these pads can absorb in a single pad and how well the pads stay in place.

The product currently has 4.6 out of 5 stars from user ratings on Amazon. A pack of 50 costs around $42.

These pads by McKesson are disposable and come in packs of 100. They feature:

McKesson offers several sizes and absorbencies for its pads. Although the sizes use inches to give an idea of how large the pad is, it is not clear how much liquid each absorbance level can handle.

The pads have an average of 4.6 out of 5 stars from Amazon shoppers. A pack of 100 costs about $40.

Alsunny Health offers bed pads to protect sheets and mattresses from urine.

The pad’s features include:

The pad has an average of 4.6 out of 5 stars from users on Amazon. A pack of two costs around $30.

Careboree offers sheet protectors that can tuck in on either side of the bed to keep them in place.

In addition, the pads feature:

It is not clear how much liquid these pads can hold per use. They also may be difficult to travel with due to the extra size of the wings.

On Amazon, users provide an average rating of 4.6 out of 5 stars. The twin-size pads start at around $37 for a twin pack.

Sheet protectors can help a person with incontinence avoid waking in the middle of the night or waking up wet. They can also help protect the sheets and mattress from urine.

These pads are either disposable or reusable. Most pads cover a large area of the bed and can absorb plenty of liquid. However, some may move during the night.

Last medically reviewed on December 21, 2021

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