Attends disposable bed pads are one of the more practical options for protecting bedding overnight — but if you’ve searched online only to find vague sizing information and inconsistent stock, you’re not alone. This guide covers what’s actually available in the UK, what the sizing means in practice, and how to decide whether these pads are the right fit for your situation.
What Are Attends Disposable Bed Pads?
Attends is a well-established continence brand sold widely in the UK through pharmacies, online retailers, and some NHS supply chains. Their disposable bed pads — sometimes called underpads or chux — are single-use absorbent sheets designed to sit on top of the mattress (or under a fitted sheet) and catch leaks before they reach the bedding beneath.
They are not a containment product in the same way a pull-up or brief is. They protect the surface the child sleeps on rather than the child’s body. That distinction matters when you’re deciding what combination of products to use overnight.
Attends Bed Pad Sizes Available in the UK
Attends produce disposable bed pads in several sizes. UK availability does shift depending on the retailer, but the core range typically includes:
- 60 x 60 cm — compact, suitable for a single sleeping zone or as a top-up pad placed under the hips
- 60 x 90 cm — the most commonly stocked size; covers the torso and hip region for most children and adults
- 60 x 90 cm Super — higher absorbency within the same footprint
- 90 x 60 cm — essentially the same dimensions rotated, though positioning matters depending on how the pad is placed
- 60 x 75 cm — occasionally stocked; sits between the compact and standard sizes
The 60 x 90 cm size is the practical default for most household use. For a child who moves around significantly during sleep, or for a larger bed, going wider or layering two pads is a reasonable approach.
What the Dimensions Mean in Practice
Sizes are quoted in centimetres and refer to the total pad dimensions, not the absorbent zone. The outer edges are typically polythene-backed to prevent strike-through to the mattress. When placed under the hips and lower torso — the area where most wetting occurs — a 60 x 90 cm pad provides reasonable coverage for a child sleeping relatively still.
If your child moves a lot during sleep, the pad’s effectiveness depends on where they end up, not where you placed them. Some families use two pads overlapping, or choose a larger waterproof bed mat underneath as a failsafe. For a detailed look at why the same product can perform very differently depending on sleep position, this article on prone vs supine sleep position and bedwetting is worth reading.
Absorbency Ratings: What Attends Specifies
Attends rate their bed pads by absorbency level. The standard range typically runs from around 1,000 ml to 2,700 ml depending on the specific product, with Super and Plus variants offering higher capacity. The polythene backing on all variants is designed to prevent leakage through to the surface below.
For context, a child’s overnight output during a wetting episode might range from 100 ml to 350 ml or more depending on age and fluid intake. A standard Attends bed pad has more than enough absorbency for most single wetting events — the more relevant question is whether the pad stays in position and whether the child remains on it.
Where to Buy Attends Bed Pads in the UK
Attends disposable bed pads are available from:
- Pharmacy chains — Lloyds Pharmacy online, some Boots branches, independent pharmacies
- Online retailers — Amazon UK, NRS Healthcare, Complete Care Shop, and specialist continence suppliers
- Direct from Attends — via their UK website, usually sold in bulk packs
- NHS prescription / continence services — eligibility varies by locality; your GP or continence nurse can advise
Stock availability can be inconsistent for less common sizes. The 60 x 90 cm standard is reliably stocked; the 60 x 60 cm and larger formats can require ordering in advance. Buying in bulk generally brings the per-pad cost down significantly — packs of 25 to 100 are common. If cost is a deciding factor, it’s worth comparing cost per pad rather than cost per pack.
NHS Availability
Some children and young people with continence needs may be eligible for disposable bed pads on NHS prescription through community continence services. Provision varies considerably by area. If your child has already been assessed by a continence nurse or paediatrician, it’s worth asking specifically about bed pad provision — it’s not always mentioned automatically. Attends is one of the brands commonly supplied through NHS continence pathways.
Are Bed Pads Enough on Their Own?
That depends entirely on what you’re managing. Bed pads work well as a backup layer — they catch what a pull-up or night nappy misses, or they stand alone for lighter overnight wetting where a child is not wearing a containment product.
If your child is having full voiding events overnight and is not wearing any absorbent product, a bed pad will contain the leak from reaching the mattress, but the child wakes in a wet patch. For some families that’s an acceptable trade-off — especially for older children or teenagers who prefer not to wear anything. For others, particularly where sleep disruption is the main concern, a bed pad works best in combination with a well-fitting overnight pull-up or brief.
It’s also worth understanding why products leak where they do before assuming a bed pad is the missing solution. This guide to front, back and leg leak patterns can help you identify the actual gap in your current setup.
For Children With Sensory Sensitivities
Some children find disposable bed pads more acceptable than wearable products — there’s nothing to put on, no texture against skin, and no waistband. For children with ASD or sensory processing differences, this can meaningfully reduce bedtime resistance. A bed pad placed under the sheet (rather than on top) can reduce awareness further still, though absorbency is slightly reduced when the sheet draws moisture upward.
Comparing Attends to Other Bed Pad Brands
Other disposable bed pad brands commonly available in the UK include Tena Bed, ABENA Abri-Soft, iD Expert Protect, and own-brand options from major retailers. Attends sits in the mid-range for price and quality. Their polythene backing is robust, the absorbent core performs reliably for standard use, and the product is widely trusted in clinical settings.
The main differences between brands tend to be softness of the top layer, fragrance (some are lightly scented — worth checking if your child is sensitive), and the stiffness of the pad. Some families find certain brands bunch or shift more than others during the night. If one brand isn’t staying in position, trying an alternative before assuming bed pads don’t work is sensible.
Practical Tips for Using Attends Bed Pads Overnight
- Position under the hips and lower back — this is where the majority of wetting will track to, regardless of starting sleep position
- Place under a fitted sheet if your child moves a lot — the sheet holds the pad in place and prevents direct skin contact with the plastic backing
- Layer two pads for heavier wetters or very mobile sleepers
- Keep a spare pad and fresh sheet together by the bed for quicker night changes — reducing the time a child is awake matters for settling back to sleep
- Dispose carefully — fold the pad inward to contain the moisture; standard household waste
If night changes are taking a significant toll, this article on managing exhaustion from night changes covers practical approaches other parents use to reduce disruption without eliminating the change entirely.
Summary: Attends Disposable Bed Pads in the UK
Attends disposable bed pads are a reliable, readily available option for overnight bed protection in the UK. The 60 x 90 cm size is the practical standard for most households; larger formats are available but may need to be ordered specifically. Absorbency is more than sufficient for typical overnight wetting events — the main variable is positioning and whether the pad stays in place during sleep.
They work well as a standalone solution for lighter wetting or for children who won’t wear absorbent products, and equally well as a backup layer under or alongside a pull-up or brief. If you’re dealing with persistent leaks that bed pads alone aren’t solving, it may be worth looking at the full containment picture — this article on why overnight pull-ups leak explains the wider design issues that often underlie the problem.
If you’re unsure whether NHS provision might cover bed pads for your child, ask your GP or continence nurse directly — it’s one of the questions that doesn’t always get answered unless you raise it.