Our 7 year old autistic child has the occasional night time accident. The problem is that he loves playing with plastic. If we put down a traditional mattress liner, he will rip up the sheets, find the plastic and shred it within a couple of nights. He likes playing with strips of plastic. We tried a heavy grade plastic from a hardware store, but he found that and tore it up as well. Any ideas on something that will product the bed; be comfortable enough to sleep on, yet he can't tear up?
2007-01-20 02:14:21 · 13 answers · asked by happydadto5 2 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Parenting
You may get stuck washing it alot depending on how often he has accidents, but you can find slightly thick mattress pads that are fabric...get a soft flexible one about 1-2 inches thick and then you can run it right through your washing machine...It has worked for my family!
2007-01-20 02:48:32 · answer #1 · answered by Proud Mommy of 6 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It will take a bit of work but if you sew a store-bought mattress protector between two fitted sheets (make 3-4) then he couldn't get to it. He would probably pull the sheets off his bed the first couple nights but when he can't find any plastic, he will probably move on to other pursuits. We used to do that at the children's hospital I worked at. It was the only way to keep the kids from messing with the mattress protectors.
2007-01-20 02:26:43 · answer #2 · answered by Huggles-the-wise 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Have you tried a lined table cloth? I know it may sound silly, but if you turn it upside down, where the fabric part is up, and put the sheets on top of it, he more than likely won't hear or feel the plastic crinkle nearly as much, and it would still waterproof the mattress. You can get all different sizes (although none may match his bed perfectly, you can cover the main spots) and they're relatively cheap. Also, are you all placing these on the bed in front of the child? Is he aware of it other than when he lays down?
2007-01-20 02:22:19 · answer #3 · answered by Ashley B 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There are fabric mattress covers that are made to be water resistant. They don't feel like plastic. I got one at Walmart. Under the cover (since it doesn't completely protect the mattress because it's fabric) I put a disposable doggie mat (the ones for dogs to go to the bathroom on in the house). They also make these pads for hospitals, but the doggie ones are easier to find. Good luck.
2007-01-20 02:21:03 · answer #4 · answered by momof3 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I would look for a sensory type gift: mini trampoline, moon sand, legos, playdoh, silly putty, books, scooter, blocks, puzzles, magna doodle, alphabet town (vtech electronic toy, about 20 dollars great toy!) Alphabet town has large buttons to push that are the alphabet. They light up, and talk. There is a slide button on the left to pick from music, spelling, find the letter, counting all the lighted letters. It is visually stimulating and there are no pieces. My 3 year old autistic spectrum son got this when he turned 1 year old. My nearly 8 year old autistic spectrum son still plays with this and he is at a first grade level. I know this toy is at target. It has been thrown around alot over the past 2 years and still works perfectly.
2016-05-24 00:34:11 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
You can by mattress protectors that fit snugly and in some cases even zip around the mattress so the feel natural, they also have a thick layer of fiber over the "plastic" so it is comfortable to sleep on. Here is a link to an example of what I mean. It is probably similar to the product mentioned before as it too is from Wal-Mart.
http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=2611753
2007-01-20 05:44:10 · answer #6 · answered by nagurski3 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Have you tried putting the plastic on when he isn't around? Maybe part of it is because he sees you doing it. Otherwise, he may not even know it's there.
What about a disposable bed pad like they use in the hosptitals? Those aren't plastic...
Is it possible to find water proof and urine proof sheets? I know I purchased a matress for my son that was made my Sealy and it's water and urine proof. All I have to do is wash the matress with a spray after an accident.
2007-01-20 02:24:22 · answer #7 · answered by Baby #3 due 10/13/09 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I used a felted crib liner, its waterproof, but not plastic. Check out children's furniture stores, both sides of it are a material made of cotton poly, not quilted, and its rubber in the middle.
Its only about a quarter inch thick and can't be separated.
Hope that works for you, if I see one on the web, I'll come back and give you a link if you like.
2007-01-20 02:24:38 · answer #8 · answered by justa 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You can go to a specialty store that sells medical equipment. They have Hospital pads you can buy. I have a couple I used w/ my son for quite awhile for night time incidents as well. They are made of a material-NOT plastic, it can not be ripped. It is just a big square pad, & it is washable, (I have had it for years.) If he wets, you just toss it in wash w/ bed linens. Grab the yellow pages, make some calls to medical stores. They will have them.
2007-01-20 03:01:53 · answer #9 · answered by The McK's 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I agree here, I'd line the bed with liners and over that put the mattress cover, they can be washed at anytime and they aren't much money.
2007-01-20 02:23:36 · answer #10 · answered by Amber P 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋