We've been transitioning my 20 month old out of her crib. She's currently on her crib mattress on the floor. Now we'd like to set up her toddler bed, but I need a bed rail and I'm sure she won't be able to stay on the bed through the night. The toddle bed doesn't have a box spring and it seems like many of the bed rails say to only use w/ mattress and box spring.
Does anyone have a recommendation on a bed rail that has worked with their toddler bed?
Thanks.
I don't think there are any rails that are for use with a toddler bed.
MAYBE the inflatable bumper ones.
Just put pillows beside the toddler bed.
Or better yet--just buy a big bed, then you can use the rails.
My son H-A-T-E-D his toddler bed but did just fine with a twin.
Let me revise this to say it's not SAFE to attach a rail to a toddler bed. There is an entrapment danger. Please don't "modify" O.!
My personal preference, likely because my kids who were climbers, is no bed rail at all. Rather, put something next to the bed that will cushion a possible fall out of bed during the night. You could use an extra mattress, a small folding floor mat, or anything that will just give enough cushion to prevent injury. Make sure it's not going to slip easily if the floor isn't carpeted. My reasoning for no bed rail is that, at least with my kids, it's just something for them to possibly try to climb over and that would give them a higher distance from which to fall and hurt themselves.
We are using one of the flexible bed rails that says to use with a box spring. We just found a way to attach it to his toddler bed. It cause a slight bump visibly with the crib/toddler mattress but nothing that can be felt when laying on it. It has worked great for 3 months for us now. And was only $20 at Walmart!
I do home childcare and have several toddler beds in use..and have used many older ones over the years. Some of mine now have a sort of rail system that they came with. Its really just a rail (that can be removed) that covers the 2 feet or so of space from the headboard to about half way down the bed? Some come off, some don't, but they are made to snap into that specific headboard set up. Most over the years did not have them and I have never had issues with them. Put one side up against a wall...maybe a dresser snug against the other side for that sort of half-rail effect (or a wide toy box or something similar)? In my nap room there is a packNplay turned sideways up against one, so it blocks it a bit in that way for when I start a child out in a toddler bed.
When my own dd (now 16) was the same age as yours, and started in a todd bed, we had a spare crib mattress, so that was on the floor next to her todd bed for about 2 weeks until we were comfortable with the fact that she was not going to tumble out each night (that bed all those years ago had no type of rail)...
Good luck!
I have the perfect bed for you and it would work perfectly. It is lower to the ground than the toddler beds, holds up to 75lbs, has a railing on one side, is made like a day bed and has wooden slats and an eggcrate bedding pad with sheet and is comfortable. In fact I think it holds more than 75lbs as I slept on it many a night with my son.
It was the perfect go-between for my son from his crib to his bed now (which is my old double bed).
Let me know if you are interested and I can email you pictures of it later today.
T.
P.S. My email address is ____@____.com
I think "Leaps and Bounds" website has those inflatable ones and I have also seen a type that is placed under the fitted sheet. When I was going through this someone told me to use a swim noodle to put under the fitted sheet. We ended up just placing pillows on the floor to make a soft landing.
We have been really happy with the Dex bed rail. Mostly because it works with a platform bed or a box spring and it collapses down to be transported.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000F1OGCC/ref=oss_product
