All parents have experienced the middle-of-the-night sheet change due to sickness or bedwetting. Even caregivers of adults may confront the same issue. If you follow the steps below you’ll be ready when your child throws up at 3 a.m. or wets the bed twice in a night. It takes just one quick peel-off of the layer that is soiled, and in less than 60 seconds everyone can be getting back to sleep. Here is how to prepare yourself in advance of a crisis to save yourself sleep!
Buy a good quality waterproof mattress pad or cover as your bottom layer (next to the mattress) and a waterproof pillow cover.
Buy the decorative sheets and pillowcase(s) of your choice, but don’t put them on yet! It is important that these sheets be of high enough quality to be generously cut and ‘deep’ enough to fully fit on the mattress.
Get two additional sets of sheets and pillowcases. If you are on a budget, these can be mismatched sheets from a bargain bin, places like Goodwill, or even slightly worn sheets passed down from a cousin or older sibling. Go for utility, not looks.
Buy two inexpensive waterproof mattress covers from a place like Walmart or Target. The really cheap ones are about $5.
Layer the bed. Make the bed in the following order: place the high quality mattress cover closest to the mattress, then the first cheap set of sheets, first cheap mattress cover, second cheap set of sheets, third and final mattress cover, with the decorative sheets on top of everything. Tuck each flat sheet under the mattress as you put it on and lay the accompanying pillow case on top, then put the next mattress cover on.
Fit the top set of sheets like normal, leaving the sides of the flat sheet untucked (except at the foot, if you do hospital corners). Pillow case goes on the pillow, and voila, you’re done!
Tips If you don’t mind too much of a cushiony ‘princess and the pea’ feel, you can also layer-on a thin blanket with each set.
If you don’t have thin-enough extra blankets or it makes the bed too soft to layer them with the sheets, just keep them handy to throw over a newly-exposed set of sheets.
Flat, flannel-covered waterproof pads under the sheets can work in lieu of the cheap mattress covers if your child doesn’t tear-up the covers too much while sleeping. Just be sure you have full coverage on the bottom layer. These flannel pads have multiple uses and can be used on any size bed. You can even use one under one side of the bed during the end of a pregnancy in case your water breaks in the middle of the night. (Even if it doesn’t break, it makes for great piece of mind.)
Cheap, fitted sheets often barely fit around a mattress, so be sure your top sheet is good enough quality to do so.
Extra twin sheets will not go to waste once your child outgrows the bed-wetting stage. Use them for camp or slumber parties, or use the fabric for costumes and other fun stuff.
Sheets can be purchased for very low prices on sale at places like home decor stores and discount department stores. Don’t worry about matching or threadcount as these are your extra back-up sheets.
Three layers are key. Two layers is enough to get you by a simple potty accident, but if your child has the stomach flu, you may need all three layers.
Also, if you do have to remove the first layer, you’ll still have two on there for the next night if you don’t end up with time to do laundry.
Warnings If you are layering a crib, be sure that the top sheet is very tightly fitted around the mattress.
You may only want two layers on a crib in order to ensure a snug fit (two sheets, two mattress pads, or just one mattress pad if your mattress has a vinyl cover). Never use blankets when making up a crib. Sleeping with a blanket or on a soft mattress can increase the risk of SIDS.
Things You’ll Need One nice mattress pad and one vinyl pillow cover Two cheap mattress pads One nice set of sheets and a pillowcase Two cheap sets of sheets and pillow cases