Where Did My Son Go?
Written: Apr 14 '00
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Mesh sides, portability, easy assembly
Cons: Could be longer
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| bootsers's Full Review: Safety 1st Portable Bed Rail |
Unlike most of my other "baby" purchases, I had no clue what I wanted or was looking for in a bed rail. I wasn't even looking for a bed rail at the time. Browsing at a yard sale one day, my mother popped up with this great buy. Three dollars later and I had a bed rail.
Since I bought this bed rail at a yard sale, I had no directions. Like the product page states, the rail is one piece and fully assembled. Assembly doesn't get any easier than not having to do it.
When I got home, the rail was in the portable stage. It was not extended and the legs were locked into a storage position. To extend the rail and make it longer, you have metal buttons to push as you pull on the sides. The way this works is that the frame is made of metal poles. A smaller pole fits inside of a larger pole. When you pull on the sides, the smaller poles slide out, extending the frame. This is great, for in the portable position the rail reaches to just a little over two feet.
Once you have the rail extended and locked into place, you need to deal with the feet. These feet are actually plastic slats that you need to unlock from the portable position, flip up and lock into place for use. I found it easier to lock them into place after I have positioned the rail under the mattress. To lock them down, once you have these feet in place, just press down on the top of the railing over the feet. When you hear a click, you know the foot is locked. Now we are ready for bedtime.
One of the best things about this rail is the nylon and mesh sides. No harsh restricting surface for elbows or heads to bump into and awake a sleeping child. These sides actually give instead of providing a rigid border. They have proven to be very tough and durable. My son can roll, move and squirm with the best of them, hence the reason for a bed rail. One morning I went into check on him and all I found was and empty bed and covers. Upon closer inspection, he had rolled into the mesh side of the rail and was laying there like he was in a hammock. His entire body weight was being held by the side yet, the rail had not moved or fallen or gave way.
Because of this occurrence I would not recommend this for babies. I would think it would be a hazard. If the baby had a blanket and rolled, the mesh sides could cradle the baby in way where if he were face down in his blanket, he could suffocate. I think a plastic or metal side would be safer in that situation.
Storage after my son had outgrown the rail was simple. Press the metal buttons and shrink the rail. Reposition and lock the legs. Find a nook or cranny that is about two feet long by three inches thick. You won't even notice the rail until you are hunting it down for your next child.
In regard to traveling, this product has excellent qualifications. It shrinks so it could be packed in a large suitcase or stored in an overhead compartment on a plane. We took ours in our motorhome for camping. It fit great behind the front seat or in between the couch and wall. Also there is a handle made out of nylon on the underside of the rail. This makes carrying it easy.
The one thing that bothers me about the rail is the length. Even when fully extended, the rail does not cover enough of the side of a twin bed. This worried me as my son travels all over the bed at night. He never fell out of bed, so my worries were probably unwarranted, but an extra couple feet would make this paranoid Mom feel better.
For us, this product fit our needs. We visit relatives and camp frequently so the portability of this rail was a big plus. I just wish all my yard sale finds were such treasures.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
bootsers
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 - Top 1000 |
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Member: Vicki
Location: So. California
Reviews written: 129
Trusted by: 232 members
About Me:
WooHoo. I'm going to the World Series. Go Angels!
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