Transitioning from sleeping in a crib to sleeping in a bed can be a challenging experience for both children and parents. Children used to moving freely about their crib while dozing can easily fall out of bed and onto the floor, a scary experience for children and parents. A bed rail can help keep kids from falling out of bed while they sleep.
These long, thin barriers run most of the length of a child’s body and are placed at the edge of the bed to keep the child from rolling off. The rail provides a physical barrier to keep the child on the bed, but body contact with the rail often rouses a child enough to reposition herself.
Bed rails attach to your bed and keep bodies in them via different methods. Which will work best for your child’s bed? We have the information you need to learn more about the options. When you’re ready to buy, check our recommendations for the best bed rails on the market.
Key considerations
The type of bed your child uses is a big factor in determining which bed rails will work best: one with a box spring or one without.
Mattress and box spring
Bed rails are flat panels framed with steel, PVC, or other strong plastics to make a sturdy barrier that keeps your child from rolling out of bed. These tough frames are covered with soft fabrics and mesh to make them more comfortable to the touch. The panels are stabilized by strong, flat arms to which they connect at a 90° angle. The arms slide between the bed’s mattress and box spring, which sandwich them in place. Many rail arms are additionally secured with a strap that spans the width of the bed and may attach to the other side.
The arms need pressure from above and below to hold them in place, so they don’t work well with beds that use slats to support the mattress. In a pinch, they can be used with a platform bed or bunkie board (the flat board that supports a top bunk or loft mattress), but they won’t be as stable and may not sit at a 90° angle.
Single or double rail: Many parents place their child’s bed against the wall for safety. This works well in some homes, but not in others. If your child’s bed fits securely against the wall, you only need a single rail. If not, you’ll need a pricier double rail, one to protect each side. Double rails are usually connected by a strap underneath the bed. Consider getting a double rail if you have even a small gap between the bed and the wall. Waking up wedged in the gap could be even more frightening for a child than simply falling on the floor.
Expert Tip
According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, children should only use bedrails between the ages of two and five.
Mattress with no box spring
Bed bumpers are a recent safety solution for beds that don’t use a box spring. These long, slender tubes serve as speed bumps for rolling sleepers. Most sets include two bumpers connected by a length of fabric roughly the width of a twin bed. Some bed bumpers are filled with dense foam, which should be sturdy enough to not collapse if the child puts weight on it. Other bumpers are inflatable. Inflatable bumpers are a great travel solution for hotels or sleepovers.
Unlike bed rails, bed bumpers are not complicated to install. You simply slide them under the sheet and they go to work. But they’re not for everyone. Bumpers are intended to subconsciously cue a child to move back toward the center of the bed. The bumpers should be tall and thick enough to get a child’s attention when they bump into or roll over it. For children who are heavy sleepers, large for their age, or move wildly while asleep, bumpers may not be enough to fully stop them from rolling off the bed.
Length
Consider the length of the bed and your child when you choose your bed rail. Most bed rails measure between three and four feet long, so checking a child’s height is mainly necessary if your child is exceptionally tall. A toddler bed needs only a short rail to keep a child in place since it’s designed for use with a crib mattress. A twin or full bed will require something longer. If your child co-sleeps in a queen or king bed, you might find bed rails in that size. Just remember that you may not need full-length coverage for a child who’s shorter than three feet tall.
Caution
Check inflatable bumpers for leaks every night before bed, or you might end up with deflated bumpers and a toddler on the floor.