Everywhere I read, I see that you can use a crib mattress for a toddler bed. We just got a toddler bed and the crib mattress is long enough but not quite wide enough. We've borrowed the toddler bed, so I'm not even sure what brand the bed is. Are there mattresses that are specifically for toddler beds? Also, we're looking to get a bed rail. We bought one, but it's too wide. Again, I'm having time figuring out if the bed rails actually fit toddler beds and not twin mattresses. Any suggestions?
You can use pool noodles ($1 a piece at places like walmart) underneath the fitted sheet for a rail. They are not nearly as high as a bed rail but they did the job in preventing my son from rolling off the bed. Plus you could cut them to size for the toddler bed.
We've just ordered a rail for our convertible crib from One Step Ahead. (www.onestepahead.com) The catalogue says it's 33'' so I'm hoping it'll fit. You might give it a try. Hope that helps.
I tried using bed rails on a toddler bed, they don't fit, they're made for twin or full size beds. It's odd that the crib mattress doesn't fit the toddler bed. I only had that problem with our crib that we bought second hand and was almost an antique. The crib was longer than the mattress. Very confusing, sorry not to be more help.
Toddler beds usually have built in side rails near the "head board" and the regular crib mattress usually fits a bit snug but not too snug. the rails do not drop down on a toddler bed. I had to lift the mattress to put the sheets on the bed but it went back fairly easily with gentle pushing - didn't just flop into place. If you purchased a side rail it is meant for a regular size matress on a twin or double bed and usually the side will drop down but they go about 1/2 to 3/4 the length of a full size bed.
I am not sure about bed rails, but our crib mattress fits our toddler bed just fine. Ours is a plastic fire engine, and there are already sides around the bed as part of the engine, so we don't need any rails. My guess is that bed rails fit adult-length beds, but perhaps someone else knows more.
If you've borrowed the bed, perhaps you can ask the previous users what mattress they used. Maybe it is not a standard toddler bed somehow.
When our daughter was 2, we just put the crib mattress on the floor, and used the regular bedrails so she wouldnt roll off. So later we would buy her a regular twin bed, rather than investing in a toddler bed.
I did a lot of searching for a bed rail that would work for my two year old. Check out www.gobedbug.com. They sell firm foam wedges designed to go under the fitted sheet. They are a great alternative to the bed rails. We were very worried about our son trying to climb over the rail and falling. With the wedge, he just swings his feet over and lets himself off the bed. At first I was skeptical about this, but when I lied in the bed with the wedge and turned towards the wedge,it really does a good job at creating that barricade you need.
Good Luck!
