DD is not in a big girl bed yet, but when she is, I will put some sort of waterproof cover under the mattress pad. In fact, I have waterproof covers under all the mattress pads on the beds in the house. You just never know when something is going to be spilled on the bed. You definitely don't want the matresses to get wet. kwim?
I have 2. I got them at JCPenny. Unfortunately, I learned I needed one AFTER his first stomach virus. Cleaning a mattress in the middle of the night is not fun.
I have a vinyl cover that goes over the whole mattress, then I put a mattress pad over that, then a big rectangle absorbent waterproof pad over where DS sleeps and a sheet over that. The only thing worse than having to change sheets in the middle of the night is having to change the mattress pad too, IMO. So, I like the piddle pad under the sheet just in case and then the vinyl cover over the whole mattress so that it won't get ruined. It's also better for allergies.
I have a vinyl cover that goes over the whole mattress, then I put a mattress pad over that, then a big rectangle absorbent waterproof pad over where DS sleeps and a sheet over that. The only thing worse than having to change sheets in the middle of the night is having to change the mattress pad too, IMO. So, I like the piddle pad under the sheet just in case and then the vinyl cover over the whole mattress so that it won't get ruined. It's also better for allergies.
I do this, but I put a few layers on. I used to do it in his crib to, so all I have to do is take off the sheet and piddle pad and the next sheet is ready to do.
I just bought a mattress protector and then put a regular mattress pad on top of that. Got them both at Target. The protector was only like $9 and it came in a bunch of sizes.
I have a vinyl cover that goes over the whole mattress, then I put a mattress pad over that, then a big rectangle absorbent waterproof pad over where DS sleeps and a sheet over that. The only thing worse than having to change sheets in the middle of the night is having to change the mattress pad too, IMO. So, I like the piddle pad under the sheet just in case and then the vinyl cover over the whole mattress so that it won't get ruined. It's also better for allergies.
I have a vinyl cover that goes over the whole mattress, then I put a mattress pad over that, then a big rectangle absorbent waterproof pad over where DS sleeps and a sheet over that. The only thing worse than having to change sheets in the middle of the night is having to change the mattress pad too, IMO. So, I like the piddle pad under the sheet just in case and then the vinyl cover over the whole mattress so that it won't get ruined. It's also better for allergies.
This is what we do! DD's mattress pad is also waterproof, so technically there are always 3 layers of protection... when she's wet, it (so far) has only gotten on the top pad (right under the sheet), so nothing else has needed to be changed... SO much easier.
I got full-size waterproof mattress mattress covers at Kohl's. They weren't too expensive. But you definitely need them--we found that out last night. DD had her first late-night vomiting episode ever, in her big-girl bed that she's been in only 5 days!
We do have a mattress protecter on my son's bed...we got it for pretty cheap at Fred Meyer. While my son hasn't had any accidents in the night, it was nice when he had the flu last week and threw up in his bed, to not have to toally scrub a mattress down
Re: Do you have a pee protector on DC's big kid mattress?
I do this, but I put a few layers on. I used to do it in his crib to, so all I have to do is take off the sheet and piddle pad and the next sheet is ready to do.
ditto this!
This is what we do! DD's mattress pad is also waterproof, so technically there are always 3 layers of protection... when she's wet, it (so far) has only gotten on the top pad (right under the sheet), so nothing else has needed to be changed... SO much easier.
We just have a waterproof mattress pad on Nora's bed. It was only $7 at Wal-Mart.
ETA: Nora's bed is a full (or double).