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A good night’s sleep can feel especially elusive when you have incontinence concerns.
From frequent wake-ups to needing to change your sheets — incontinence pads are one solution that can help you protect your bed linens and mattress. You traditionally place these pads over your sheets to keep fluids from reaching your sheets and mattress.
We’ve compiled a list of the best incontinence bed pads and other options to help you sleep better (and drier) at night.
As a nurse who has cared for patients from a few days old to 100, I’ve also used many incontinence bed products to help my patients stay dry. I’ve used many of the products on this list and ruled out some that did not work as well in terms of protection and skin integrity.
- Discreet: Medline – Heavy absorbency underpads
- Ulta-absorbent: Medline Ultrasorbs premium underpads
- Best for larger-area protection: Extra-large waterproof mattress pad
- Reusable, washable bed pads: PharMeDoc reusable bed pads for incontinence
- Waterproof, reusable bed pads: Cardinal Health essentials reusable underpad
- Best breathable bed pad: Incontinence washable bed pad
- Best positioning bed pads: Bed positioning pad with reinforced handles
You can use incontinence bed pads any time you’re worried your bed linens may be soiled due to incontinence (urine or stool) or bleeding. Some examples include:
- For a child who has frequent bedwetting episodes.
- After a surgical procedure, like a
prostatectomy . - In the recovery period
after childbirth . - For a loved one who has periods of bladder or bowel incontinence.
There are a number of conditions, including dementia and post-stroke, that can result in incontinence. Using incontinence bed pads can help keep linens clean.
Some are washable while others are disposable. What’s most important is that you choose a bed pad that protects your skin and linens.
We kept in mind that pads may be used for urinary or bowel issues and looked for a mix of disposable and washable options to enable you to pick the one you most prefer. We took into account factors like:
- absorption
- material comfort (for example, smoother and softer surfaces are better for skin integrity)
- size
- components
- construction when selecting the best options
We scoured medical supply sites and some of the country’s largest retailers to identify the best incontinence bed pad options.
As a nurse, I’ve used many of the products that made the list, and I was able to rule out some that didn’t work as well for protecting bedding or skin.
Pricing guide
Incontinence pads come in a variety of options and price points. Remember to consider how many pads you get when evaluating disposable options. Here’s how we broke down pricing in this article:
- $ = under $25
- $$ = $25 to $50
- $$$ = over $50
Most discreet
Medline Deluxe Fluff/Polymer Underpad
Price: $$ for a box of 50
When I worked in a busy intensive care unit, these disposable pads were always our top choice for those who were bed-bound and had thin skin or pressure ulcer concerns. These pads are super-soft, so they’re less likely to cause friction and shear injuries.
In addition to the soft benefits, they’re very absorbent. I also like that they’re pre-folded, which makes it easy to stash a few in your suitcase when you’re traveling. If I can say one drawback, it’s that those who toss and turn end up with some of the soft “fluff” on their backside. So if you’re a restless sleeper, you may want to check out the next option in the odor-reducing category.