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Infants move around a lot more than adults when they are asleep, but this can be dangerous for them. Falls on the head in particular can have very serious consequences for the baby.
Of course, this should be avoided as much as possible, but parents also need a good night's sleep without having to worry about their child all the time. To ensure this, there are bed guards for children.
They are designed to protect the well-earned night's rest of the little ones, but also that of the grown-ups. In this product comparison, we look at different models of bed rails and illustrate the most important features.
Contents
Summary
- Bed rails protect your baby from falling out of bed at night.
- They are quickly fixed by clamping them between the mattress and slatted frame or fixing them with straps and screws.
- The folding function and the size adjustment make it easy to use in everyday life and with other beds.
The best bed safety guard: Our Picks
We now present you with a direct comparison of the winning bed rails from our test. This should make your decision easier and give you a brief overview.
Buying and evaluation criteria for bed safety gates
We have listed the most important buying criteria. So you know what to look for to find the perfect bed safety gate for you:
We then briefly explain the criteria mentioned so that you are really informed about what is important when buying.
Material
When it comes to material, individual taste is important. Bed rails made of wood are very solid and are very stable even under heavy use. Bed rails made of metal are similarly durable, even if they do not come close to the durability of those made of wood.
Many safety gates are also covered with foam, other materials or nets. Such a fall-out protection is usually lighter than one made of wood or pure metal. They are particularly suitable if the bed barrier is to be transported frequently.
Size
Regardless of whether it is a parent's bed or a junior bed, the bed guard must be the right size to really provide sufficient protection. What is often forgotten is the height of the gate, which is especially important for older children.
Here we recommend a height of about 30 to 45 cm, so that even somewhat older children are safe. But the length should also be adapted to the appropriate bed. You can choose from models ranging from about 80 cm to one and a half metres.
Assembly
The desire for easy assembly of the bed safety guard is very central. Many models are particularly easy to install because they are simply slid between the slatted frame and the mattress.
The heavy weight of the mattress presses on the angle of the bed guard, no further fastening is needed. If the child is a very restless sleeper, some bed rails come with additional securing options such as straps or screws that are easily fixed to the slatted frame.
Adjustability
In order to guarantee sufficient protection for the growing child, many manufacturers offer a size adjustment of the bed guard. This means that the fall-out protection can also be adjusted to fit the large family bed.
There is often an additional request for a bed guard that can be folded down during the day. This makes it easier to go to bed in the evening, but also to get up in the morning.
Compatibility with beds
If the child wants to sleep in the parents' bed from time to time, the bed barrier should be compatible with several beds. In principle, bed barrier models are suitable for most beds, but there are still a few things to keep in mind.
Due to the height of box-spring beds, care should be taken to ensure that the bed safety guard fits the size of the bed and also includes straps for secure fastening. For such beds, a bed guard that is extra high is preferable. Particularly with loft beds, however, care should be taken to ensure that the bed guard is suitable, as a fall can be very dangerous here.
Therefore, a well-fixed fall-out protection with locking bars is recommended for loft beds, but a bed guard with a net can also be recommended in such a case.
Guide: Frequently asked questions about bed safety gates
For whom is a bed safety gate suitable?
This is necessary because the cognitive abilities of a toddler are not yet as well developed as those of an adult. As a result, sleep also becomes very restless and the baby begins to move around during sleep. This leads to falls if the bed is unprotected.
So as soon as children are old enough to sleep in their parents' big double bed, but also when they already sleep in their own bed, bed guards make a lot of sense.
In principle, manufacturers recommend using a fall-out guard up to about the age of six. Of course, this also has to be adapted to the child. If the child sleeps very peacefully at an earlier age, a bed guard is no longer necessary.
What types of bed safety rails are there?
If the child only turns from left to right during the night, then a gate at the bottom of the bed is not necessary. In this case, a fall-out guard that does not run the entire length of the bed is also sufficient. However, if the toddler is very active during sleep, this must also be taken into account when choosing the right bed guard.
How can I travel with the bed safety gate?
If a family trip is planned, the bed safety gate should not be forgotten at home. Only in the rarest of cases do the accommodations provide such bed guards. In addition, there is a high risk of the child falling out of a strange bed during sleep.
For this reason, we recommend choosing particularly lightweight models even if the fall-out protection is to be taken on holiday. They can often be folded up very quickly and therefore fit well in any car or motorhome.
Conclusion
The right bed safety gate depends very much on the sleeping behaviour of the toddler. Therefore, there are many factors to consider before finally deciding on the right product. Does the child move a lot during sleep or only sideways?
How long should the crib be? Does it have to be adjustable to fit other beds? Should it be easy to transport? These are all criteria that have to be decided on the basis of the individual situation. Finally, of course, taste also plays a big role in the purchase decision.
If you want a bed safety gate that matches your bed, you might choose a wooden bed safety gate. However, if you want it to be colourful, then you will choose one made of plastic. Cover photo: Ekaterina Pokrovsky / 123rf
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