Introduction
Bed guards for toddlers are something you won’t give much thought to, until you need them! Whether you’re ready to transition your child away from a cot, or you’re jumping straight from a moses basket to a bed, you’ll want to be sure that your child isn’t going to hurt themselves by falling out of bed.
For us, our daughter slept initially in a cardboard box (it’s not as daft as it sounds!), then a moses basket because it was easier to pick up and move a sleeping baby in that than the box. The transition to a bed happened at a little over 6 months, when the basket was getting small. We opted to go straight to a bed because we already had one (the guest bed!) and space was too tight to fit a cot alongside.
As this was not the norm (all our friends went for cots!) I wanted to be sure we weren’t risking injury and my instinct was to go for the biggest, strongest and highest guards around – to simulate some of the perceived safety of a cot. Before going down that route however, we opted to try out some foam bumpers instead, while also lowering the bed and putting some cushions on the floor so that if she did make it over the bumper, she wouldn’t have far too fall.
Our daughter’s now three and a half, and she’s still sleeping with a foam bumper. In fact, so is our neighbours daughter as we gifted them our spare one. She took to the bed amazingly well and we’ve never had a problem. It’s also light and flexible enough to pack easily in the car, so we take it with us when travelling and it fits all beds.
Throughout the process of picking a toddler bed guard, I was reassured by a family friend who has raised four children. She said hers would often get off the bed and sleep on the floor! I guess it’s good for them to have options.
#1 My Toddler Bed Guard Top Pick:
- Perfect for transitioning from cot bed to Junior bed; works with any size bed from toddler to king.
- Features a non-slip bottom so you can rest assured that your child is safe and sound.
- Our super soft bamboo cover is natural and washable, yet still waterproof so the bumper can last you years to come.
- So easy to install and ultra-light for travel. Dimensions: 132cm long x 17.5cm wide x 11.5cm depth (52” x 7” x 4.5”)
- Our bed bumper conforms with all federal safety regulations including International ASTM F2085-12 Safety Specification for Portable Bed Rails - Child may roll over the bumper, or push aside, and it is not intended to prevent falling out of the bed.
Last update on 2023-12-08 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
These are little more than a piece of foam that your sofa cushion might be made from, in a handy strip shape that slips under the bed sheet, but they work! It’s held in place by the sheet and provides a soft barrier that enough to discourage falling off, while being low enough that they can still climb in and out when they’re old enough.
Other Options:
If you’re after something a little larger / more substantial, you might want to try these. I’ve not tried them personally, but I’ve heard they rank amongst the best bed guards for toddlers:
#2 Safety 1st Portable Bed Rail
- BED RAIL FOR CHILDREN: that supports the switch from cot to bed, preventing the child from falling out of the bed whilst sleeping, suitable for children from 18 months up to 5 years
- IDEAL FOR TRAVEL: this foldable and portable bed guard closes and unfolds for easy transport (76 cm length folded - dimensions when open: 109 x 37 x 42 cm (WxDxH))
Last update on 2023-12-08 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
#2 – Safetots Bed Guard Wooden
Last update on 2023-12-08 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
#5 – Safetots Extra Wide Bed Rail
- Suitable for all cot beds, single beds and double beds with a minimum mattress length of 90cm and maximum mattress thickness of 20cm
- Bed rail folds down for easy access to the bed
Last update on 2023-12-08 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
#6 – BabyElf Bed Guard
- 🌼[SAFETY BED GUARD FOR SINGLE BED]: To protect your kids from rolling over the bed, we develop this special baby bed guard for you. Exquisitely designed structure coming with fold down function makes it useful, practical and essential. Parents will love and use this baby bed rail during kid's bedtime
- 🌼[UNIQUE LOCK DESIGN]: To install the bed rail, all you must do is to follow the precise instructions, cover with the mesh and fix it by the locks. The rail is easy to fold by pressing the buttons on both sides, so that parents can sit comfortably on the bed
Last update on 2023-12-08 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
#9 – Luchild Toddler Bed Rail Guard
- Exclusive Seamless Design - The height of the base can be adjusted from 0 to 9 inches to increase the adaptability and installing on different types of beds to avoid a gap between the guardrail and the mattress, which can cause your child to fall or get stuck in the gap. It is recommended for children between 1 to 5 years old.
- Each Side Can be Lifted Independently - Each side of our bedside guardrail with a live buckle. You only need to lower either side to easily enter and exit the bed or hold the baby on the bed. When you need to sit by the bed for a long time, our guardrail can be completely put down to the bedside to avoid discomfort.
Last update on 2023-12-08 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Conclusion
If you’re thinking of bed guards for toddlers, then I think you should consider foam bumpers, they’ve certainly worked well for us and our daughter. Whether you go the foam route, or a full wooden cage around the bed, or just give up and let them sleep on a mattress on the floor (I would have if we had somewhere to store the bed!), I hope you find the thing that works for you.
