The Best Incontinence Pad

Buying Guide

Bed wedding isn’t limited to youth. In fact, incontinence affects an estimated 13 million Americans, 85% of whom are women. Overnight incontinence is particularly common and can be linked to a variety of causes, from hormonal changes to illnesses.

An incontinence pad can protect your mattress at night to give you the peace of mind you need. But these pads can also come in handy if you have an incontinent pet who sleeps with you or a puppy still in training. Of course, one of the most common uses for incontinence pads is for the beds of little ones, particularly babies and toddlers who are still toilet training.

If you’re looking for an incontinence pad, it’s important to balance absorbency with comfort. Many of these pads are built with multiple layers to contain any liquid they encounter throughout the night. But you’ll find that some also come with extra padding. If you tend to struggle to stay cool while you sleep at night, you may want to look for a pad that is built for breathability as well as absorbency.

Lastly, there’s cleanup. You’ll need to wash your incontinence pad. Some can simply be tossed in the washer and tumble dried. There are also incontinence pads that are disposable, which are perfect for traveling or if you only need to use them occasionally.

• Reducing fluid consumption a couple of hours before bedtime can help reduce the risk of bedwetting.
• Most incontinence pads aren’t designed to cover the entire bed. You’ll need to position it in the area where an accident is likely to happen.
• Incontinence pads can slide around during the night, especially if you toss and turn quite a bit. Some are built with nonslip backing, while others anchor to the mattress. Either way, you’ll want a version that stays in place.
• Pay close attention to the measurements of any incontinence pad you’re considering buying. Some are designed for infants and children, so you’ll probably find that you need to filter those out and look specifically for larger ones.
• As with other incontinence products, pads can only hold a certain amount of liquid before they leak. Check to see if capacity is listed on the product packaging.
• Some incontinence pads come in sets of two, three or more. This can come in handy if you have a frequent bedwetter in your household. You can wash and dry one while still having a clean, dry pad ready to go.
• If you’re allergic or sensitive to certain chemicals, look for a pad that is free of chemicals.