If you’ve been through multiple bed pads and still wake up to a soaked mattress protector — or no mattress protector at all — the Abena Abri-Soft Superdry is one of the most recommended disposable bed pads on the market for a reason. This review covers what it actually does, who it suits, what its limitations are, and how it compares to lighter alternatives, so you can decide whether it belongs in your night management routine.
What Is the Abena Abri-Soft Superdry?
The Abri-Soft Superdry is a disposable, single-use bed pad (also called a disposable underpad or incontinence pad for beds) made by the Danish company Abena. It sits on top of the sheet — or under — and absorbs urine before it reaches the bedding beneath. Abena positions it specifically for heavy and high-frequency wetting, and the “Superdry” name refers to a superabsorbent polymer (SAP) layer that draws moisture away from the surface rapidly.
It is available in two main sizes: 60×60 cm and 60×90 cm. For most children and teenagers, the 60×90 cm is the more practical choice, giving enough coverage for active sleepers who move during the night.
Construction and Absorbency
What’s inside
The Abri-Soft Superdry uses a multi-layer construction:
- Top layer: a soft, non-woven surface that wicks moisture downward quickly
- Absorbent core: a combination of fluff pulp and superabsorbent polymer, which locks fluid and prevents rewet
- Backing layer: a waterproof polyethylene base that stops fluid passing through to the mattress or sheet beneath
The stated absorbency for the Superdry range is significantly higher than standard disposable underpads. Independent testing figures vary by source, but Abena rates the product for heavy wetting loads — making it more comparable to a taped brief in terms of raw capacity than a standard bed mat.
Superdry vs standard Abri-Soft
Abena also makes a standard Abri-Soft (Basic and Plus variants). The Superdry sits above both in absorbency. If your child is a heavy wetter or wets multiple times before morning, the Superdry is the relevant product in this range. The Basic is adequate for lighter wetting or as a backup layer.
Who This Product Is Actually For
The Abri-Soft Superdry is genuinely useful in a specific set of circumstances. It is not the right choice for everyone.
Good fit for:
- Children who refuse to wear any product but whose parents need bed protection
- Children who wear a pull-up or brief but whose product leaks, leaving wetness on the sheet
- Older children and teenagers who find wearable products difficult to accept
- Autistic or sensory-sensitive children who cannot tolerate anything worn at night — the pad is passive and requires no co-operation from the child once placed
- Families who want a backup layer under a reusable mattress protector to extend the life of the protector
- Carers managing a child with physical disabilities or complex needs who must change bedding regularly and want to reduce the laundry impact
Less useful for:
- Very light or infrequent wetters — the cost per pad is not justified if wetting is rare
- Children who move a great deal in their sleep — the pad can shift, and a drifted pad offers no protection at all
- Situations where the child needs full coverage: the pad protects only the area it covers
If your child moves constantly during sleep, the pad format alone is rarely sufficient. In that case, combining it with a wearable product is the more practical solution — the pad catches overflow while the pull-up or brief handles the primary wetting event. For a detailed look at why leaks happen regardless of what you use, this article on why overnight pull-ups leak explains the underlying design issues.
Practical Use: Day-to-Day Reality
Positioning
The Abri-Soft Superdry can be placed directly on top of the fitted sheet, waterproof side down. Some carers tuck the edges under the mattress to reduce movement, though the pad itself has no adhesive strips on this model. For children who move significantly, placing it inside a fitted waterproof sheet system — rather than loose on top — keeps it in position better.
Disposal
Used pads go into household waste. They are not flushable and should not be composted. Odour-seal disposal bags are worth keeping beside the bed for quick, discreet changes in the night.
Cost
The Abri-Soft Superdry is sold in bulk packs, typically 25 or 30 per pack, and is available from medical supply retailers, Amazon, and direct from some pharmacy wholesalers. Cost per pad works out lower when bought in larger quantities. For families managing nightly wetting, the monthly cost adds up, and it is worth comparing against the equivalent laundry cost of washing sheets and mattress protectors daily — for many families, the disposable pad is cost-neutral or cheaper once labour and utility costs are factored in.
Some children with complex needs may be entitled to continence products through the NHS. This varies by local authority and clinical need — a continence nurse or paediatrician can advise whether bed pads fall within what is available in your area.
How It Compares to Reusable Alternatives
Reusable washable bed pads — such as those from Kylie, Brolly Sheets, or similar brands — offer long-term cost savings and less waste. The trade-off is laundry frequency: a soaked reusable pad needs washing and drying before the next night, which can be difficult if you only own one or two.
The Abri-Soft Superdry’s advantage is that it is ready immediately every night, requires no overnight storage of wet laundry, and the absorbency level is high enough that the surface can feel acceptably dry even after a significant wetting event. For families in a high-frequency phase — wetting every night, sometimes twice — the disposable pad reduces the overnight burden considerably.
Neither option is objectively better. Some families use a reusable waterproof mattress protector as the base layer and disposable Abri-Soft Superdry pads on top, combining the protection of both. This is a practical and entirely reasonable approach. If managing the overnight routine is wearing you down, this guide on managing night changes without burning out has strategies other parents use.
Using Bed Pads Alongside Wearable Products
A bed pad is not a replacement for a wearable product in most cases of heavy wetting — it is a backup. If your child’s pull-up is consistently leaking before morning, the leak may be a design or fit issue rather than a simple capacity problem. Leg leaks at night are the most reported complaint and relate specifically to how a child lies down and how the product’s leg cuffs perform under compression — a problem the bed pad catches, but does not solve at source.
For some children, particularly those with higher-volume wetting, switching to a higher-capacity product and using the Abri-Soft Superdry as an overflow layer is the combination that finally stops wet sheets. Understanding where the leak is coming from helps identify whether the problem is capacity, fit, or sleep position — all of which affect what adjustments will actually help.
Sensory Considerations
For autistic children or those with sensory processing differences, the Abri-Soft Superdry has some advantages over wearable products. It requires no dressing routine, creates no noise, has no elastic, and does not contribute to temperature discomfort. The top surface is soft rather than crinkly. For children who find wearable products distressing, a bed pad may be the only practical overnight protection available — and there is nothing wrong with that being the solution.
Summary: Is the Abri-Soft Superdry Worth It?
The Abena Abri-Soft Superdry is one of the more capable disposable bed pads available without a prescription. It has genuine high-absorbency credentials, a surface that stays drier than cheaper alternatives, and a straightforward format that works for children who resist wearable products. Its main limitation is that it only protects what it covers — a moving sleeper or a full-coverage leak will defeat it unless paired with a wearable product or a full waterproof sheet system.
For families managing regular nightly wetting, it is a practical tool. Buy the 60×90 cm size, consider bulk packs to reduce cost, and use it as part of a layered approach rather than as a standalone solution if your child wets heavily. If you are still working out what combination of products and strategies fits your situation, this overview of what really helps families managing bedwetting covers the broader picture without pushing any single approach.