Mattress Protectors

You might consider the types of pads care facilities use for incontinent folks. I work in a care facility, and this is similar to what we use:

http://www.northshorecare.com/underpadswash1.html

By the way, I'm not endorsing this particular brand, but this type of pad is nice because they are a little bit thick and absorbent. They can be used over or under the sheet, and you can double up for extra protection. Most of the folks I work with don't move around as much as a 12 year old, but it might still work:)

Good luck:)

Edit: One thing about these is that I imagine they can be washed and dried on hot settings. Just guessing based on how heavily regulated care facilities are:)

We bought lengths of rubber sheeting from JoAnn Fabrics. Neither of my kids - 3 & 6 - are potty trained overnight. The sheeting comes on a roll, so you can get as much as you need. We layer ours: mattress, mattress pad, rubber sheet, fitted sheet, rubber sheet, fitted sheet. That way, if an overflow happens in the night, I pull the top layer off and back to sleep. The sheeting washes well in regular laundry and line dry.

My son has a full-sized bed (also very heavy mattress snugged up against the wall). He will be 4 in September and is poopy trained but not potty (go figure!). I use the Luna Premium Hypoallergenic Waterproof Mattress pad, which I purchased on Amazon.com about 8 months ago. It has a surface very similar to terrycloth (not as soft though), and so far so good. He has wet his bed multiple times (through his diaper), and urine has never made it to the mattress. I do also have a regular mattress pad between the mattress and the waterproof cover.

The Luna has to be dried on a very low setting with other items (like sheets) so it doesn't melt the waterproofing. They also make waterproof pillow protectors with the same material, and they are great too.

I also have a Malouf Sleep-Tite mattress protector (purchased on Amazon.com at the same time). I like the Luna one better. Malouf has a so-called "guarantee," but don't be fooled - this is only if the protector is purchased "with" the mattress. This protector also needs to be dried on low to avoid melting the waterproofing - I just throw the protectors in the wash with the sheets and dry everything on low and have never had any issues. Good luck!!

We used the smaller pads with vinyl backing that were placed under the sheet. It works well as long as he doesn't move around much, because they are about 4x4 square - you just place in the middle of the mattress. Super easy, because then you can just throw it in the washer with the sheets. They last for a very long time. My MIL gave me one, since she worked with developmentally challenged adults, so I can't say where it came from, however, would imagine that you could easily find it online. Good luck!

Instead of buying the pads, go to your local fabric store. They sell the plastic coated cloth by the yard. You can then purchase yards of it and cut it to fit the width of the mattress and put an absorbant pad under that to catch anything that misses the other. It also makes it easier to change the bedding since it doesn't tear easily and doesn't require moving the mattress. My sister likes to do this since her 11 year old wets the bed yet (asperger's syndrome).

Do you put a mattress pad on top of the mattress protector? That might help save it a little longer.

Also, I used to have a "rubber sheet" that was a pad you could put under the mattress pad as well.

Finally....... consider buying your son a single water bed. You will have to wash the mattress protector daily, but no mattress to worry about.

We bought the mattress protectors that they sell at Mattress Firm when we bought the kids' mattresses. They were pretty pricey but so worth it. They are vinyl with a terry cloth layer on top. They fit very snug on the mattress and are almost indestructible. I wash it in hot water but dry it on low or medium. They aren't noisy like the plastic covers and have a 10 year warranty.

I got mine at Hom furniture. They are spendy but they are guaranteed for 20+ years, I believe, from staining and/or ripping. So if he does rip it, you can just bring it in and they will give you a new one. :)

Have you tried the fabric ones that have a waterproof top to them?

Usually found with the allergy pillow/mattress protectors.

A friend of mine put one of those vinyl table cloths on the bed and then the sheet over all of that. She used the clip-on elastic sheet holders to keep it in place. She also used shower curtain liners. It was cheaper than buying the vinyl zip covers for the mattress, and easier to clean too. She just threw it in the washer with the sheets.