Protect Your Child From Nighttime Injury - Use Safety 1st Bed Rail
Written: Mar 12 '01 (Updated Mar 13 '01)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Safe, convenient, folds up for easy travel
Cons: none
The Bottom Line: This bed rail is safe and easy to use. I would recommend it for any child that is transitioning into a bed.
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| shantel575's Full Review: Safety 1st Portable Bed Rail |
Over the last 3 weeks we have been doing the crib to bed transition with my almost 2-year-old son. It has been quite interesting to say the least. He is a very strong willed (stubborn) child, and boy do I have my work cut out for me now. He was getting too big for his crib, so instead of buying a toddler bed and then a regular bed, we just went for the regular bed (twin sized) because I did not want to buy 3 beds total when we could just buy 2. My son loves his new bed and he really thinks he is grown now. Anyway, he obviously is too young to sleep in a big bed without some kind of protection from rolling off the bed in his sleep. We have one side of the bed against the wall, but on the other side we selected the Safety 1st Bed Rail for his sleeping protection.
We shopped around for bed rails a few weeks ago, and we saw several different models and brands at the store. But after looking them all over and realizing what our needs would be, we decided on the Safety 1st Bed Rail. So far we have been very happy with our decision.
NOTE: Before I go any further, I just read a review that does not recommend this bed rail. In the first 2 sentences she says she used it for her 5-month-old babies! Well this product information specifically says, “Do NOT use this bed rail with a child younger than 2 years old”, so I really think that her review cannot be considered accurate or factual. The bed rail was not used properly, and she caused her babies to be at risk by using it against the warnings that come with this product. Just a thought. Now on to my review...
What is a Bed Rail?
A bed rail is a safety device that is placed on the side of a regular sized bed to prevent little children from rolling off onto the floor in their sleep, thus preventing injury. When I was a child, I remember my bed rail being metal and having 3 or 4 bars on it. They don’t even make those anymore, as I’m sure they are a health hazard (getting head stuck in between the bars).
The Safety 1st Bed Rail is totally different than the bed rail I had as a child. The frame of the bed rail is made of sturdy white plastic. The part of the bed rail that is along the side of the bed is in a rectangle shape. Attached to the plastic frame is a mesh covering that will prevent a child from rolling off of the bed onto the floor. The mesh is strong enough to hold a child without sagging, ripping or tearing.
The bed rail is ‘attached’ to the bed by 2 plastic arm like pieces that slide under the mattress (between the mattress and box spring). The arms are about 2 or 3 feet long, so they slide back pretty far under the mattress, and this offers much support. They also have rubber grip like things on the end of them that prevent it from sliding out easily.
How Does It Work?
This bed rail is so easy to work, and when you purchase it, there is no assembly required. When ready to use the bed rail, you simply slide the support arms between the mattress and the box spring. Slide them all the way in until the mesh frame is snugly up against the side of the mattress. Make sure you have the rail positioned in such a way that the mesh frame is stretching from the head of the bed to the middle of the bed. This is the best part of the bed to protect so that your child does not roll off the bed while sleeping. The mesh-covered section is about half the length of a twin-sized mattress, so it is long enough to protect a growing toddler/child. As of now, the rail is just as long, if not longer, than my son’s entire body length. This is good because it will keep all parts of him from going overboard. ;-)
Additional Features That Are Convenient
There were several other features about this rail that aided in our buying decision. The main thing that I love about this particular bed rail is that it collapses and folds up for easy traveling. All the grandparents live out of town, so you know we have to travel a lot for them to see our little boy. Now that he is sleeping in a regular bed, we will have to take this rail with us whenever we travel to other places to spend the night. To fold this bed rail up, you have to find the locking pins that are hidden under the material on both the upper and lower section of the frame. Both are in the center so they are easy to locate. Once you locate both pins, you press them both firmly at the same time and this will allow the frame to contract and slide together. Then the frame part will fold over and lay right on top of the safety arms. It even has a handle on the top of the frame for easy travel and portability. This is great because if this bed rail did not fold up so nicely, we would have real problems taking it to grandma’s house.
To restore the bed rail to its original size for usage, you simply fold the mesh-framed part back into upright position. Then you grab the ends of the frame with each hand and pull. Extend the sides until you hear a distinct “clicking” sound. Once you hear the “clicks” you know that the safety pins are back in locked position. Then you are ready to use the bed rail again.
Another nice feature is that when the bed rail is positioned on the bed during use, you can fold down the mesh frame section so that it is not in the way for your child to get in and out of bed. The frame locks into the hinge that connects the frame and the safety arms. To unlock the frame from the arms, you simply grab the middle of the top of the frame and you gently lift straight up. The frame will slide up and release so that you can just let it lay down against the bottom of the bed. This way it is out of the way, but it is still in place on the bed. To put the frame back in place for use, you simply lift the frame back up and slide it back down into locked position in the connection to the arms. The pieces are connected by hinged grooves so unlocking and locking the frame is very easy.
Cleaning the Frame (in case your little one has one of those fun middle of the night accidents)
To clean the bed rail, just wipe and blot the mesh material with a damp sponge, mild soap and cold water. Rinse and lay the rail flat to dry. Do not remove the cover from the frame for cleaning.
Obviously the plastic frame will just wipe clean.
Safety Issues
As with any child/infant product, correct use is critically important in order to be safe. The same applies to this bed rail. If it is not used properly, as instructed, it can be unsafe for a child. Here are the warnings and safety precautions that come with this bed rail:
-This bed rail is for use with children between ages 2 and 5
-Weight range for a child using this bed rail should be 22 to 50 pounds
-Do not use with bunk beds, youth/toddler beds, water beds, beds without a box spring, cribs or slatted bed bases
-Do not allow children to play with the bed rail; it is not a toy
-Always be sure the bed rail is locked into place prior to use
-Don’t let your child use the bed rail as a ladder or step stool
Personal Experience and Final Thoughts
I have been very pleased with the Safety 1st Bed Rail and would purchase this one again if need be. It is easy to use and it is convenient for travel, which is important to us. It is sturdy and it has prevented my son from falling off the bed. I have gone in to check on him at night and found him rolled right up against the rail, and the rail does not slide out of position or allow my son to fall off or get stuck in between the bed and the rail. This gives me peace of mind where my son’s safety is concerned. I would definitely recommend this bed rail for any child that is transitioning from a crib to a regular bed. It has proven to be safe and effective in our house.
These bed rails can be purchased at any Wal-Mart or Target type store. I got this one at Wal-Mart for $14.99. Thanks for reading ;-)
Recommended:
Yes
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shantel575
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