Bed mats for bedwetting are one of the most-googled and least-understood toilet training tools in Australia. If you're chasing the 3am sheet change with a freezing toddler in the doorway, you're not alone, and there's a much better solution than the cheap chemist-bought bed mat most parents start with.
This guide ranks the 5 options Aussie parents actually use to manage bedwetting, in order from cheapest-and-worst to most-effective.
What is a "bed mat" anyway?
"Bed mat", "bed pad", "underpad", "incontinence pad" and "wetting pad" all refer to the same general thing: a layer of absorbent material that goes on top of the fitted sheet to catch accidents before they hit the mattress.
The problem is most bed mats are designed for adults in aged care, not toddlers in toilet training. They're crinkly, hot, and they slide around. Kids hate sleeping on them. Parents end up with a worse problem than before.
Option 1: Disposable bed pads (the cheap chemist option)
Cost: $1-3 per night | Effectiveness: 5/10
Single-use plastic-backed pads in 60×90cm or 80×120cm. Available from supermarkets and chemists.
Pros: Cheap upfront, easy to throw out, no washing.
Cons: They crinkle (light sleepers wake up). They shift in the night. They cover only part of the bed (kids roll off them). And at ~$2 per night for 4-6 weeks of night training = $60-$85 in disposables, before you factor in the environmental cost.
Option 2: Folded towels under the fitted sheet
Cost: $0 if you already own towels | Effectiveness: 3/10
The desperate-parent solution. Folded beach towel between the mattress protector and the fitted sheet.
Pros: Free. Already in your linen cupboard.
Cons: Towels saturate fast. Once they're soaked, the wee hits the mattress anyway. You also lose a towel for the rest of the week.
Option 3: Standard waterproof mattress protector
Cost: $30-$80 one-off | Effectiveness: 6/10
The thin zippered or fitted protector under your fitted sheet.
Pros: Protects the mattress reasonably well. Reusable.
Cons: Leaks through the corners by morning (it's not actually fully waterproof at the seams). Stripping the bed at 3am means removing the fitted sheet AND the protector, then washing both. The bed-strip drama is the number one reason Aussie parents put the pull-up back on and quit night training.
Option 4: Leakproof Bed Guard (spot protection)
Cost: $69-$89 one-off | Effectiveness: 8/10
A focused leakproof pad that sits AT THE HEAD or FOOT of the bed where most accidents happen. Slides under the fitted sheet so it stays put.
Pros: Doesn't crinkle. Doesn't shift. Catches the spot where 90% of accidents happen. Wipes clean. Folds flat for travel and grandparents' houses.
Cons: Doesn't cover the whole mattress, if your child wets in an unexpected zone, it can miss.
Option 5: Leakproof Fitted Sheet (the proper solution)
Cost: $98-$134 one-off | Effectiveness: 10/10
A fitted sheet that IS the mattress protector. Plush cotton-feel top, fully waterproof PUL backing bonded to the sheet itself. No second layer, no leak path at the corners.
Pros: No bed-strip at 3am, most accidents wipe clean with a damp cloth. Holds 1000-1550mL+ depending on size (a full night's wee). Silent. Reusable through multiple kids. Aussie-tested, OEKO-TEX certified.
Cons: Higher upfront cost. But pays for itself the first time a mattress is saved.
See the Leakproof Fitted Sheet →
Comparison table
| Option | Upfront cost | Reusable | Stops 3am strip | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Disposable bed pads | $60-$85 over 6wk | No | No | 5/10 |
| Folded towels | $0 | Yes (limited) | No | 3/10 |
| Mattress protector | $30-$80 | Yes | No | 6/10 |
| Leakproof Bed Guard | $69-$89 | Yes | Mostly | 8/10 |
| Leakproof Fitted Sheet | $98-$134 | Yes | Yes | 10/10 |
So which one should I actually buy?
If you're committed to night training and want to ditch the pull-up properly: the Leakproof Fitted Sheet is the only option that consistently saves the 3am bed-strip. Pair it with a Leakproof Bed Guard for double protection at the worst-accident zones.
If you want everything in one box at a discount: The Toilet Training Starter Kit bundles the fitted sheet, bed guard, 2 free pairs of training pants, and Bobby's Big Potty Adventure book, saving you $158 vs buying separately.
Why this matters more than parents realise
The single biggest reason Aussie families give up on night training and revert to pull-ups isn't the kid, it's the parent burnout from the 3am bed-strip cycle. After two or three rough nights, most parents quietly decide it's not worth it.
The right bedwetting protection removes the parent-burnout side of the equation. Without it, kids stay in pull-ups for years longer than necessary. With it, most Aussie families we hear from are dry through the night within 4-6 weeks.
If you're just starting toilet training, also read: Night-Time Toilet Training: A 6-Step Method That Works and At What Age Should I Start Potty Training? 7 Signs Your Toddler Is Ready.
Built by Rudie Baby, an Australian-owned family business helping over 75,000 Aussie families through toilet training.
