OK first off, if you're Googling "How to Protect A Bed From Toddler Vomiting," I am sorry you're in that situation and I hope they are feeling better very soon! I'm going to approach this post from two angles. The first is what to do if you're in this situation right now. The second is how you can be prepared for this situation in the future.
I Need Help Right Now
Layer Their Bedding
Your best friend here is going to be layers. Do you have a waterproof mattress cover on the mattress? Yes, good. No, you may want to invest in one - look for one that’s machine washable and made of breathable material, so it doesn't make the bed hot and uncomfortable.
Back to the layering. You'll want to use multiple layers of bedding so that if they do yak in the bed, you don't have to strip the whole bed every time. You've got the waterproof mattress cover and then a fitted sheet. What else do you have that might form a watertight barrier? Something watertight on top of the fitted sheet and then another fitted sheet and then something watertight and then fitted sheet... like a sandwich.
Keep Extra Linens Close By
Keep an extra set of blankets, pajamas, and maybe another pillow close by to minimize disruption if you're needing to replace any of the above. Since we're talking beds, its night, and you may have other kids sleeping in the house. Minimize how much scurrying around you need to do by having everything ready to go in the room.
Give Them a Target
Kids are really unpredictable pukers, especially when they're young. They have no idea what is happening, they're uncomfortable, it all just happens. You can TRY to give them a target, show them what you're expecting them to do. Some kids grasp it right away and are good to go. Others can't gather their wits enough to do what you showed them.
Good luck to you, I hope this post helps you!
I'm Looking for Future Help
But what if you are here thinking about the future and wondering about how to protect a bed from a vomiting toddler? Well I've got something for you and it makes all of the above irrelevant and unnecessary. It's a Vommat.
What is a Vommat?
Vommats are ecofriendly disposable sheets that protect surfaces in your home from vomit for a fast and easy cleanup. They are designed specifically to protect a bed from a vomiting toddler. That is my wheelhouse. Let's go.
Here's some info about Vommat:
Super soft to the touch
Super strong (can lift hundreds of pounds!)
Highly absorbent (we’re talking gallons!!)
Absolutely watertight
Large coverage area (16sq ft)
Made of sustainable materials and biodegradable
How Do I Use a Vommat?
Simply unfold the Vommat and lay it out over the surface you want to protect. In this instance, we're talking about a bed. You can lay it over the entire top half of their bed, which I'll call the potential blast zone, over or under the pillow. I'll let you decide if you want to roll the dice on the pillow surviving. Another option is to lay it out partially over the bed and then down the side of the bed and onto the floor. If your child has the urge to throw up off the side of the bed, this will protect your carpet and flooring.
Please note to only use Vommats with children who are accustomed to sleeping with loose bedding. There is a suffocation risk so make sure your kids are old enough to not smother themselves.
Another way to use them is in-the-moment. We're talking actively yakking. They're so big you can sort of cover the child and yourself and form a vessel with the rest of it and they can let it rip. It's all contained so whatever position they're in, use the Vommat to catch whatever comes up.
What next?
You wait, you watch, you listen, you monitor. Best case scenario is you laid out the Vommat, they fall asleep and make it through the night, no vom. You can transfer the Vommat to the couch or wherever they'll be spending time until you're comfortable that they're in the clear. In the end if the Vommat doesn't get used, fold it back up and save it for next time. I actually have some folded ones in my kid's dressers so they're real close if you need one.
If the Vommat does get vommed on - just throw it out! And lay out a fresh one. Isn't that easier than changing out all the bedding and washing nasty sheets and cleaning mattresses and rugs and whatever else they managed to hit?
TL;DR
For the too long; didn't read crowd:
- if you have someone sick right now, just try to layer the bedding with waterproof things in between so you can quickly change the bedding. Give them something like a bowl or trash can to aim for. Hope for the best.
- if you're preparing for someone sick in the future: order some Vommats right now and they're streamline the whole stressful process. Still pretty brutal but much easer to deal with.
Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash