Do I need to buy another waterproof mattress cover

[Deleted User]

DS recently turned 6yrs old and has a fully fitted plastic sheet on his bed from his toddler years.

This evening I heard a bump, went upstairs and found him on the floor. He said he had fallen out. He prefers to lie on the edge of the bed where its less noisy and the sheet doesn't move. Now this explains a few things like his pillow positioning and him complaining of being too hot and sweaty. Its the waterproof sheet!

Now I recently bought him a new mattress so need to look after it. I cant decide whether to remove the plastic sheet and brave it or buy a new waterproof fabric type one. Probably go for this, as the reviews are excellent.

http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/1274608.htm#pdpProductReviews

He wanted me to take off the sheet, but I said no, let me think about it, its a new mattress and we need to protect it.

Is 6 years old big enough to go without now do you think, I can't remember his last night time accident, probably before school. The only thing is a sick bug I guess, but fortunately he has never had one of those since he was 2years old and never in bed. I know that isn't to say he wont though.

I just don't want un-necessary spending but equally dont want to ruin a brand new mattress.

Your thoughts are appreciated.:D

meritaten

I wouldnt want to sleep on a plastic mattress cover! you can get waterproofed fabric ones - and I would rather buy one of them than risk injury by son falling out of bed! also, I would want my child to be comfortable in bed - rather than worry about the mattress, I would worry my son wasnt sleeping comfortably!

Mado

Personally, I hate plastic mattress protectors, so I can understand your son.
If he hasn't wet the bed for a very long time, I would move him to a non plasticky mattress protector.
My youngest is still prone to regular accidents, the other 2 hardly ever had an accident after they became dry.

[Deleted User]

meritaten wrote: »

I wouldnt want to sleep on a plastic mattress cover! you can get waterproofed fabric ones - and I would rather buy one of them than risk injury by son falling out of bed! also, I would want my child to be comfortable in bed - rather than worry about the mattress, I would worry my son wasnt sleeping comfortably!

Thank you for your judgement. I only made the connection about 45 mins ago between the plastic sheets and his sleeping habits. The plastic sheet was given to us originally as a hand me down and it did the job fine, up until now of course.

I know you can get waterproof fabric ones, hence my link. I was asking if its worth buying one now he is 6, or should I now take the step to remove plastic one and see?

For those of you with older primary school children do you still use waterproof protectors or at what age did you stop?

daska

It's not just wee, what about vomit? I use two layers under the sheet with DS2, a plastic mattress cover to protect the mattress but also quilted cotton mattress protector which makes the waterproof layer less uncomfortable and helps absorb stray liquids. All go in the washing machine.

With all my kids I used to make the beds twice (i.e. waterproof, quilted, topsheet, waterproof, quilted, top sheet) until they became reliable so that when there was an accident we could just peel of the top 3 layers and they could get straight back in. 6 layers was a pain to put on but the amount of aggro it saved in the early hours was worth it LOL

tyllwyd

I've got quilted waterproof mattress protectors from M&S
http://www.marksandspencer.com/Marks-and-Spencer-Waterproof-Protector/dp/B00113V70C?ie=UTF8&ref=sr_1_3&nodeId=192601031&sr=1-3&qid=1354136347&pf_rd_r=1W9QBNKY79R95Q2QQ3GM&pf_rd_m=A2BO0OYVBKIQJM&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_i=192601031&pf_rd_p=321381387&pf_rd_s=related-items-3
You can't tell that they are waterproof, they just feel like a normal mattress protector. If you are still worried you could put another mattress topper above it. I've got them on all the beds and they are great - much easier to wash if the kids are ill or even just to freshen the beds up. (I don't put them in the tumble dryer but they do dry easily on the line.)

peachyprice

If he's hasn't wet the bed for years take the damn thing off, poor mite must be so uncomfortable in a sweaty, rustling bed. There's no more reason to keep a plastic cover on his bed than there is to keep one on yours. All mine had them removed once they were dry at night.

The quilted fabric covers are more than adequate to absorb any minor mishaps, if you feel happier you can put an extra layer of towel or folded sheet, anything non-plastic, between the matress cover and the mattress. My DD has her baby quilt as an extra layer, purely becaus she likes the comfort of it.

[Deleted User]

Daska, thanks, I have considered the sick aspect in my post and I used to do the doubling up of sheets when he was younger, but its not necessary now.

Tyllwyd, I like that link, looks lovely and comfy unfortunately its out of my budget range, so will have to stick to the argos one if i buy. Thanks for posting though.

[Deleted User]

Peachyprice, thanks that is a good idea, there might be something in the airing cupboard I could use.

I was tempted to take it off this evening I have to say, but my MSE voice kicked in saying, it would be sod's law something would happen on a 2 week old mattress.

Lol, I remembered i have a double size candlewick blanket upstairs my mum passed onto me when I left first left home. Never used it, its just travelled from house to house. Thought it would do, but maybe not, the poor boy might wake up to lines all over him.

meritaten

Deleted_User wrote: »

Thank you for your judgement. I only made the connection about 45 mins ago between the plastic sheets and his sleeping habits. The plastic sheet was given to us originally as a hand me down and it did the job fine, up until now of course.

I know you can get waterproof fabric ones, hence my link. I was asking if its worth buying one now he is 6, or should I now take the step to remove plastic one and see?

For those of you with older primary school children do you still use waterproof protectors or at what age did you stop?

I didnt mean it as a judgement - sorry! I am not feeling very well and perhaps posted without thinking! I do apologise.

When certain grandkids sleep over then I put a 'damp proof course' over the memory foam mattress, because of course I do not want it Peed on! The twins are 8 but they still have 'accidents' (one is ADHD and if she pees the bed her twin does too!).
at six some kids are really reliable - but, you cannot really rule out illness, my ten yr old grandson was mortified when he had a tummy bug and soiled the bed. luckily I had the DPC on!
I think if a child has been really reliable for a year or more then perhaps a mattress protector? The rubber and plastic ones are really horrible to sleep on - They were still using them last time I was in hospital and having a 'night sweat' was not a pleasant experience.

balletshoes

Deleted_User wrote: »

DS recently turned 6yrs old and has a fully fitted plastic sheet on his bed from his toddler years.

This evening I heard a bump, went upstairs and found him on the floor. He said he had fallen out. He prefers to lie on the edge of the bed where its less noisy and the sheet doesn't move. Now this explains a few things like his pillow positioning and him complaining of being too hot and sweaty. Its the waterproof sheet!

Now I recently bought him a new mattress so need to look after it. I cant decide whether to remove the plastic sheet and brave it or buy a new waterproof fabric type one. Probably go for this, as the reviews are excellent.

http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/1274608.htm#pdpProductReviews

He wanted me to take off the sheet, but I said no, let me think about it, its a new mattress and we need to protect it.

Is 6 years old big enough to go without now do you think, I can't remember his last night time accident, probably before school. The only thing is a sick bug I guess, but fortunately he has never had one of those since he was 2years old and never in bed. I know that isn't to say he wont though.

I just don't want un-necessary spending but equally dont want to ruin a brand new mattress.

Your thoughts are appreciated.:D

unless he's a bedwetter (and it seems he isn't) I see no need at all for a waterproof protector on his bed. Get a fabric one instead.