Before you lay to rest, you need armor to protect your mattress from incontinence stains, spills, and fluids. This is the essential role of bed pads, especially if you have incontinence. However, the bed pads offer more roles than that. They can also boost quality sleep and ensure higher hygiene standards in the bedroom. As a layer of protection, effective use can guarantee more benefits.
To enjoy all these benefits, you must use them appropriately. It all begins by selecting the best one and then learning how to handle them. This should not be a challenge; however, if you are a newbie, you need a few guidelines to use them correctly. Instead of relying on the internet, here are some tips to help you select the best one and use it accordingly.
Buying the best Bed Pads
Whenever you check online or visit any store, you will likely have more bed pads to select from. So, how do you know you are getting the best one to guarantee all the benefits? Here are some selection guidelines:
1. Bed Pad Material
The difference between high-quality and low-quality pads is in the manufacturer’s material. The best pads use quality materials like medical foam, wool, and cotton to ensure the ultimate protection.
Normally, the inner lining has different materials, mainly a space to contain all the fluids. However, the top consists of the finest materials to ensure body protection and a luxurious feeling as you lie on the best bed pads. You can sleep naked on these surfaces and not worry about burns and cold.
The consequences of buying low-quality pads include rashes, itching, burns, and too much heat. While reading the usage guidelines, focus on the material used. Ensure you have either of the following materials or more: cotton, Terrycloth, vinyl, and medical foam.
These are the perfect materials due to their breathability, heat regulation, smooth feeling on the skin, and waterproofing capabilities.
2. Buying from the Best Brands
Some brands pride themselves in producing the best bed pads for all users. Despite being a little expensive, these pads can serve all your needs and meet all your requirements. Occasionally, the pads can exceed expectations by offering more than you anticipated.
So, focus on the best brands like Wellness to get your pads. If you are worried about the costs, consider other affordable and quality products. Still, you can get the best one integrated with features and technologies to ensure comfortable sleep and the best hygiene.
3. Size
After deciding on the brand and inspecting the material quality, buy the perfect size for your bed. Do not buy a smaller one or a larger one than the bed. A smaller one has a limited capacity to store urine and fluids; hence, you need to replace it, especially if you have severe incontinence frequently.
A larger pad than the mattress may lead to overlap, which can cause fluids to begin spilling on the floor. A perfect pad should fit flat on the bed to allow the pad to retain the fluids even when filled. So, buy one that is the same size as the mattress or slightly smaller than your mattress.
4. Usability
You have two options for bed pads: reusable and disposable. Presented with this choice, consider one that best meets your needs. Reusable ones will enable you to constantly and repeatedly use the pads.
However, if you have severe incontinence, sometimes it is best to go for the best quality, most of which are disposable. The benefit is ultimate all-night protection for your body and the mattress. Presented with that choice, you can buy in bulk to save some costs and enjoy discounts.
How To Use Bed Pads
Now that you know how to select the best bed, how do you use it to ensure you enjoy all the guaranteed benefits? There is a risk of wrong usage, mainly spillages and damage to the mattress.
Spreading the Bed Pads
One of the most common questions about spreading the pads is whether they should be below or above the bed sheets. Quality bed pads have a comfortable top surface when you don’t need the best sheets.
Secondly, bed sheets have good absorbent capabilities; hence, when placed above the pads, you affect the pad’s capability to absorb the fluids. So, the pads should be on the top surface. That is above the bed sheets.
Do I Need Any Extra Protection?
The bed pads are perfect for absorbing all the fluids and moisture; however, you can decide if you need any additional protection. For example, you can choose an extra mattress cover as an additional layer.
The pad should be on top of the cover. The only challenge with that decision is the pad sliding off the cover. So, you have to select a top-quality mattress cover. Or, better still, buy the best quality pad with higher fluid retention capabilities.
Removing the pad
In the morning, gently remove the pad to avoid any spillage. Begin by folding the cover from the edges, moving centrally to form a perfect square or rectangular folded sheet. The fluids cannot spill on the floor as they remain in the core or pad center.
Next, despite the pads, you can spill the content carefully in the washroom for a reusable option.
Using Multiple Pad Layers
If you have severe incontinence, you can layer two pads to absorb all the fluids. However, first, consider every incontinence pad your first choice. Secondly, you can use one pad but then set an alarm to change it maybe every three hours at night.
Concluding Thoughts
If you want quality sleep, buy the best bed pads. Secondly, hygiene matters when you handle the bed pads; hence, wash your hands before handling the pads to avoid skin contamination. Also, ensure the reusable ones are dry before returning them.