Is a guard rail a must when going from crib to bed?

jolibebe · October 2012

DD got a new twin bed. The way her new room will set up, it would look very akward to put one side of the bed up against a wall. So the headboard is up against a wall but not the sides. We bought DD a PBK bed with no box spring needed. The mattress sits within the bedframe. I had originally wanted to buy those guard rails you can fold down but they will not work without a box spring. So I'm stuck either purchasing two PBK guard rails...one for each side...made specifically for DD's bed (which I don't want to do, they're $99/ea) or try to not use a guard rail at all. I'm not sure what to do. DD sleeps side ways in her crib but I'm assuming with a big girl bed, she'd sleep normally. Did anyone get away without having to purchase guard rails at all and not have their LO fall out of bed?

jolibebe · October 2012

Thanks for the advice. I like your idea of slipping under the sheet on one side. That would help keep cost down and also maybe not make the bed too tight of a fit with drilled in guard rails on each side. Thank you!

mamainseptember · October 2012

Yeah definitely do guard rails or something along those lines. DS just transitioned and he would fall out of bed every night if he didn't have guard rails!

jolibebe · October 2012

Okay, thank you!

Angela814 · October 2012

I would definitely do guard rails. I've seen some that would be fine just under a mattress, although I guess it would depend on how tight the mattress was within the bed frame. You could probably make 2 guard rails for a lot less than $100/each.

carlab44 · October 2012

I'd just get one of these for either side of the bed. We use them for DS (3.5) and still with DD who is 6, but her bed is about 3' off the floor so it would be a long fall. They're inexpensive and work great.

https://www.gobedbug.com/

Edited to add: In my experience one 42" section for each side should be enough.

jannv11 · October 2012

DS's bed is pushed again a wall and the other side has a bed rail. Doesn't look great in the room setup but for now it works. He moves a lot in his sleep and is usually upside down by morning. For him they are a must but probably depends on the LO.

PajamaTime · October 2012

One of the sides of my son's bed is pushed up against the wall and on the other side we put a pool noodle under the fitted sheet.

It has prevented him from falling out but he can still get out of the bed on his own when he wakes up. It works quite well and it is a cheaper alternative.

groovygrl · October 2012

Both my kids sleep close to the edge & move around a lot & will even curl up next to the rails so I would get something, personally. I love ht epool noodle concept but will say that we did it on vacation in a rental this summer & both kids rolled over them & fell off the bed. One thing that was somewhat helpful with that is to make sure they are not very close to the edge of the bed though.

GL

NCMichelle · October 2012

My DD was nutso in her crib. Feet everywhere, tossing, turning...

Knock on wood, but she's been in her big girl bed since May and hasn't fallen out yet. She actually sleeps with her head on the pillow and under the sheet/comforter. At first we pushed it against the wall and put pillows down - since then we've moved it and it's in the middle of the room.

lite-bright · October 2012

Both our girls went into twin beds with rails at 24 months. DD1 had bed rails until she was close to four, and then we briefly had them in storage before we brought them out for DD2.

I tried taking them off DD2's bed a month or so ago and she just kept falling out of bed. So back on they went, and will probably stay on until she's three-ish. I hate making the bed/changing the sheets with the darn rails, but she needs them.

We didn't buy the PBK rails, just regular rails; I think from BRU. I think they're supposed to fold but we never do. They're a bit of a PTA and have done some minor cosmetic damage to the bed, but I still would rather have a couple of scrapes than pay $200 for rails, I think.

We have PBK beds with no box springs as well.

mrsschwags · October 2012

I've heard good things about putting a pool noodle under the bed sheet. A nice, inexpensive thing to try! That creates enough of a bump that they don't roll over it when they are sleeping. We didn't do the guardrails but DD also sleeps on a cot at daycare twice a week so that has helped her to learn her boundaries on her big girl bed too.

JulesDiane · October 2012

mrsschwags:
I've heard good things about putting a pool noodle under the bed sheet. A nice, inexpensive thing to try! That creates enough of a bump that they don't roll over it when they are sleeping. We didn't do the guardrails but DD also sleeps on a cot at daycare twice a week so that has helped her to learn her boundaries on her big girl bed too.

I was going to suggest the pool noodle.

jolibebe · October 2012

Thank you everyone. I went ahead and got one PBK rail guard...we are going to try just one rail and then either try the pool noodle or the foam wedge that was suggested on the other side under the fitted sheet and see how she does. It never ends does it? At least I'll feel like a pro for my second DD. Smile

stdldb29 · October 2012

I have some foam toddler rails that go under the mattress-they were $10 each.

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Is a guard rail a must when going from crib to bed?

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