Kylie or Conni bed pads?
Written by Nadim Assaf, registered pharmacist, Connect Mobility in Picton
Either pad will keep the mattress dry. They differ in how they feel and how you take care of them.
If the skin is thin or already red, and the leaks are wee only, get the Conni Bed Pad with Tuck-Ins ($98.95). The top is brushed and soft, and the backing is made to breathe.
If there are bowel accidents too, get the Kylie Supreme Mac ($74.99). Kylie say it can go through a 65°C wash. Conni ask for warm or cool.
If money's tight and the leaks are light, the Kylie Classic ($52.99) does the basic job on a single bed.
Which one fits
Find the line that sounds most like your house.
What's inside each pad
Conni build their pad in four layers. The top is brushed polyester that pulls the wet down, away from the skin. Two polyester layers under it hold the wee. The back is polyurethane, which is waterproof but lets some air through.
Kylie pads have five layers. Ontex, the company that makes Kylie, describe a stay-dry top, two wicking layers, an absorbent core and a waterproof back. The Supreme Mac also has a non-slip backing and an anti-mould treatment.
They feel different on the bed. The Conni is thin and soft, more like a heavy sheet. One reviewer said it had "no signs of any 'plastic' feel". The Kylie has a smooth top that Ontex say won't pill.
One carer said their Kylie was often damp in the morning, even though the boxer shorts were dry. They wondered if it was sweat. That's one person, not a test. If you run hot at night, keep an eye on it.
How much they hold
Kylie print a number on every pad. The Supreme Mac holds 2,500 mL. The Classic holds 2,000 mL. Ontex say the Supreme Mac gives about eight hours of protection or more.
Conni don't publish a figure in mL. They say their pad holds at least two full bladders over eight hours.
So there's no straight millilitre comparison, and we won't pretend there is. Either pad is the backup. If the leaks are heavy, the main protection should be a good overnight continence pad, with the bed pad catching whatever gets past.
Washing is the big one
Kylie can take a hot wash. Ontex say to rinse it in cold water first, then wash at 65°C for at least 10 minutes. It can go in the dryer below 80°C.
Conni ask for a warm or cool wash and a low dryer setting, because high heat damages the waterproof layer. Looked after that way, Conni say a pad lasts about 300 washes.
That's why we steer people towards the Kylie when there are bowel accidents. With a soiled pad, we'd rather you had the option of washing it hot.
On fabric softener, both brands agree. Don't use it. Ontex explain that the silicone in softener coats the fibres, and the pad stops soaking up. Conni say no chlorine bleach at all. Ontex allow a properly diluted bleach for a heavily soiled Kylie, but never poured on neat.
Wash a new Kylie before you use it. Ontex say most of the shrinking happens in the first few washes.
The Supreme Mac has drainage pockets sewn into the ends, so water runs out while it hangs on the line.
No dryer? Some carers hang pads on skirt hangers over a curtain rail and say they're often dry by morning.
Watch the Kylie names
Two Kylie pads have almost the same name. The Kylie Supreme isn't waterproof on its own. It's meant to go on top of a separate waterproof draw sheet. The Kylie Supreme Mac has the waterproof backing built in.
We stock the Supreme Mac for that reason. If you're buying a Kylie anywhere, check for "Mac" in the name.
What it costs a night
Buy three of whichever pad you choose. Ontex's rule is one on the bed, one in the wash and one spare. If you're changing a wet bed at 2am most nights, you already know why two isn't enough.
Here's what a set of three works out to per night. Conni say a pad lasts about 300 washes. Ontex don't publish a figure in Australia, but Kylie's UK leaflet says up to 300, so we've used 300 for all of them. Three pads taking turns gives you about 900 nights.
Our prices, September 2026. Real life varies. A pad washed hot every night, or dried on high, won't last as long.
The Conni costs about 8 cents a night more than the Supreme Mac. Over those 900 nights, that's about $72. For skin that's already breaking down, we think that's money well spent.
Getting it on the bed
Lay the pad across the bed so it covers shoulders to knees, soft side up. Tuck the flaps under the mattress on both sides so it can't wrinkle under them.
Tucking flaps under a heavy mattress every night is hard on your back. Carers say so too. If that's you, look at the Conni Fitted Bed Pad Sheet ($143.95, single). The pad is sewn into a fitted sheet, so there's nothing to tuck.
Keep a waterproof mattress protector under the bottom sheet as well. The bed pad protects the person. The protector looks after the mattress.
Side by side
| Conni with Tuck-Ins | Kylie Supreme Mac | Kylie Classic | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Our price | $98.95 | $74.99 | $52.99 |
| Size | 100 x 100 cm with tuck-ins | 100 x 100 cm with tuck-ins | 71 x 91 cm |
| Holds | 2 full bladders over 8 hours | 2,500 mL | 2,000 mL |
| Layers | 4 | 5 | 5 |
| Top | Brushed polyester | Smooth, non-pilling | Smooth |
| Back | Polyurethane, breathable | Waterproof, non-slip | Waterproof |
| Wash | Warm or cool | Up to 65°C | Up to 65°C |
| Dryer | Low heat | Below 80°C | Below 80°C |
| Tuck-ins | Yes | Yes | No |
| Colours | Teal, mauve, white, charcoal | Light blue | Light blue |
Washable bed pads are usually claimed as continence consumables. If a continence nurse or OT has assessed you, their report will often name them. We're a registered NDIS provider (#4050144759) and we invoice plan managers directly. Our NDIS continence guide has the detail.
Questions we get
Can you wear a pad and use a bed pad?
Yes, and at night that's what we'd suggest. The pad you wear does the main job. The bed pad catches what gets past and saves you a full bed change.
Why does the pad smell after washing?
Some carers say they add a laundry disinfectant to the wash and it fixes it. Conni suggest an oxygen-based soaker like Napisan, or vinegar. For a heavily soiled Kylie, Ontex allow a properly diluted bleach or disinfectant, and a 65°C wash. Neither brand wants softener.
Which one for a child?
The Kylie Kids Mac ($84.95) is the Supreme Mac in a green dinosaur print. The Conni Kids pad ($98.95) comes in Aussie animals. Buy three either way.
Still not sure?
Call Nadim on 1300 216 888. Tell us whose bed it's for and whether it's wee, bowel or both. We'll tell you which pad, and how many, on the phone.
Where our facts come from
- Conni, Reusable Bed Pad with Tuck-ins (layers, materials, 300 washes, washing)
- Conni, Choosing the right bed pad (sizes, absorbency)
- Ontex, Kylie bed protectors (layers, capacities)
- Ontex, Kylie care instructions (bleach, disinfectant, 80°C limit)
- Conni, Help and care (Napisan or vinegar, no chlorine bleach)
- Ontex, Kylie FAQs (Supreme vs Supreme Mac, 65°C wash, softener, buy three)
- Ontex, Kylie Supreme Mac (drainage pockets, anti-mould, non-slip)
- Kylie UK product leaflet (up to 300 washes)
- Alzheimer's Society forum, Mattress protector and Kylie pads (carer experience)
- ProductReview.com.au, Conni reviews
Checked September 2026.