The CPSC goes on to advise that bed rails should never be used with children under 2 years old, due to the increased risk that younger children might get trapped between the rail and their bed.Ĭonsumer Reports agrees, but they further caution that parents use portable bed rails only on an adult sized mattress and with a box spring. These standards require that portable bed rails not create a gap with the mattress where a child might get trapped, and that hardware be permanently attached to the bed to prevent the rails from pulling away from the mattress. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) adopted new child portable bed rail safety standards, in response to reports they caused injury and death. It's also important that parents choose a bed rail specifically designed for use with children. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), portable bed rails should only be used with children ages 2-5, who can get in and out of an adult-sized bed without your help. The first important thing to note is that there is a difference between the rails that come attached by the manufacturer to toddler beds (which are safe), and portable bed rails, which you can purchase separately and might be designed for use with either children or adults.
But are bed rails safe to use? Thankfully, the answer is usually "yes," as long as parents keep a few things in mind. She could be a wild sleeper, though, so we worried about her rolling out of bed and starting considering rails. When my daughter climbed out of her crib and fell one night, my partner and I moved her to a toddler bed the next day.
You're excited for this new milestone, but it's difficult to see them grow up and keep them safe, especially once they learn to climb out of their cribs. Transitioning your baby to a "big kid" bed is bittersweet.