Mesh Bed Rails

When your child is transitioning from a cot to a ‘big bed’ it is important to make sure they can’t fall out while they are asleep as they won’t be used to the exposed sides of the bed. Mesh bed rails are an ideal way to ensure your child stays safe during the night both you and your little one get a great night’s sleep.

Using mesh bed rails for toddlers is a great solution if your little one is particularly active at night or likes to wriggle when asleep. If they stray too close to the edge then the mesh will gently push them back to the centre of the bed without disturbing the child.

Mesh bed guards are also perfect for those parents wishing to co-sleep with their child. Mesh bed rails for co-sleeping allow the child to sleep in the same bed as the parent on the outer edge as opposed to the middle without the risk of falling out.

Safetots has a wide range of mesh bed rails for kids in a variety of colours from well-known manufacturers such as Lindam and BabyDan as well as our own range of Safetots bed guard rails. For more information or further assistant, please contact our customer services team.

What are the best mesh bed rails?

Extra tall and extra wide bed rails are the best bed rails for larger beds, covering a greater height and width than most other bed rail alternatives. Standard bed rails such as the Safetots standard bed rail, measure a height of 40cm, the extra tall and extra wide bed rail measures an additional 10cm a total of 50cm in height making it the ideal solution for larger beds with a deeper mattress. It is important with any mesh bed rail that the top of the rail is 16cm above the top of the mattress to avoid children from potentially rolling or climbing over the rail. In addition, an extra tall and extra wide mesh bed rail is compatible with beds with a sunken mattress. Unlike wooden bed rails, all mesh bed rails rotate to a 90 degrees angle, they are versatile, light weight and an ideal bed guard for taking on your travels. Some mesh bed rails such as the Babydan Sleep n Safe Bed Guard benefit from additional features such as adjustable straps that slide under the mattress, allowing you to further secure the bed guard. Safetots bed rails are compatible and best suited to beds with a sunken mattress and solid and slatted bed, the Lindam Easy Fit Rail is only compatible to beds where the mattress sits directly on the base. It is recommended when looking to purchase a mesh bed rail to establish the compatibility with the bed and bed base intended for use. All Safetots mesh bed rails are suitable and safe for children age 18 months to 5 years.

What age do I take off mesh bed rails?

Mesh bed guards are recommended between the age of 18 months and 5 years. Prior to the age of 18 months old, it is advised that a young baby sleeps in a fully enclosed cot. Beyond the age of 5 years old a child is more independent and can generally, safely climb in and out of bed unsupervised. Bed rails are recommended for babies making their first transition from a cot to a bed, they provide the security of a cot whilst safely introducing them to sleeping in their first bed. Although age appropriate guide lines are in place for the use of bed rails including wooden bed rails and mesh bed rails, it is completely a parent’s discretion as to when a bed rail installed to a bed is a suitable sleep safe solution for their child and when a bed rail should be removed.

What are mesh bed rails used for?

Mesh bed rails and mesh bed guards can be installed to one or both sides of an exposed bed to prevent children from falling out of their bed whilst they sleep. Mesh bed rails can be installed along one, single exposed side of the bed or used in pairs along both sides of the bed, bed rails should never be installed on the head and foot of the bed. Some mesh bed rails such as the Safetots extra tall and extra wide bed rail are recommended for double beds or king size beds. The extra width of this extra wide bed rail provides greater safety for children sleeping in larger beds. The additional height ensures this extra tall mesh bed rail achieves a greater height above the mattress (particularly for beds with a deeper mattress) which other mesh bed rails do not provide. Most mesh bed rails come complete with their own carry bag, making them the ideal bed rail for travel;ing. The Safetots bed rail and the Safetots extra wide bed rail come complete with a matching carry bag to make travelling with a bed rail easier.

A mesh bed rail is a light weight, non-permanent bed safety guard compatible with many beds, from cot beds and single beds through to king and queen beds. It is recommended to check the size of your mattress and note your type of bed before ordering a mesh bed rail to ensure you order a suitable and compatible bed rail.

What are mesh bed rails made of?

Mesh bed rails are compatible with many beds, from cot beds through to king size beds. For the safety of your child, a mesh bed rail should never be installed to upper bunk beds or fitted beneath inflatable beds. Mesh bed rails are made from a strong, durable, breathable mesh wrapped around a metal frame. All Safetots mesh bed rails meet today’s required safety standards, suitable for children aged 18 months to 5 years of age.

How to lower mesh bed rails?

Mesh bed rails have extra strong locking and folding mechanisms. Safetots mesh bed rails fold down to a 90 degrees angle enabling easier access to your child’s bed. To prevent a mesh bed rail from collapsing fully whilst a child sleeps, they are restricted to a fold down position of no more than 90 degrees. Mesh bed rails have adjustable hinges that enable rotation of the bed guard to a 90 degrees angle or into an upright position. The hinges tighten and loosen as required. It is recommended that whilst your child sleeps, a mesh bed rail remains in a fully tightened, upright position. Mesh bed rails are simple to remove should you need easier and greater access to your child’s bed.

How to remove mesh bed rails?

A mesh bed rail is simple to install and simple to remove. The base of a mesh bed rail comprises a metal frame that opens out to 90 degrees and slides beneath a mattress. The weight of the mattress ensures the bed rail is retained in place. To remove a mesh bed rail, simply lift the mattress and carefully slide the frame out. It is advised with any mesh bed rails to take note of the placement of the hinges to ensure the bed rail is compatible with your bed base and mattress. With bed guards such as The BabyDan Sleep n Safe Bed Guard, for example, the hinges are at the base of the mesh bed rail, compatible with a mattress that sits directly onto the bed base but unsuitable for a bed with a sunken mattress. For beds with a sunken mattress, it’s important to ensure the hinges are better positioned, and not at the base of the frame.

How to attach mesh bed rails?

A mesh bed rail provides a non-permanent solution to keeping children safe from falling out of bed whilst they sleep. There is no drilling or screwing required to install a mesh bed rail and therefore no lasting damage to your bed. A bed rail will come flat packed. To install a mesh bed rail, simply open the frame out to a 90 degrees angle, tighten the hinges and slide the base of the bed rail beneath the mattress.

Are mesh bed rails safe for babies?

Bed rails are not recommended for younger babies under the age of 18 months old. Prior to the age of 18 months old, it is advised a baby sleeps in an age appropriate fully enclosed cot. Beyond the age of 18 months old a mesh bed rail installed within a cot bed, toddler bed, single or double bed is suitable and safe. Bed rails help older babies and toddlers make the transition from a cot to their first bed safer. A mesh bed rail keeps young children safe during sleep whilst providing them with their first steps to independent sleeping. As a mesh bed rail does not provide a fully enclosed sleep zone, a child is for the first time free to learn the independence of climbing in and out of bed unaided.

Are mesh bed rails safe for toddlers?

All Safetots bed rails and mesh bed rails have been tested inline with today's current safety standards and are approved safe for toddlers. It is advised when installing any bed guard to ensure the guard is fitted in-line with the instructions provided. It is important to test and check the stability of the bed guard before allowing your child to sleep alongside it. A bed rail potentially will have slight movement but the movement should be minimal and not move with ease upon contact. The top of the rail should be a minimum of 16cm above the top of the mattress and a 25cm gap is required at each end of the bed rail. It is also crucial to ensure the bed guard is compatible with the bed and bed base intended for use. Trusting installation guidelines are followed appropriately all Safetots mesh bed rails are suitable and safe for older babies and toddlers.

What are mesh bed rails?

Bed guards prevent older babies and toddlers from falling out of bed whilst they sleep. They make the transition from sleeping in a fully enclosed cot safer and easier. Bed rails provide safety and security for younger children sleeping in their first bed who have become accustomed to sleeping with a cot rail alongside them. A mesh bed rail is just one option in the wide range of bed rails available from Safetots. A mesh bed rail is a lightweight, versatile and ideal for taking with you on holiday or for visits to the grandparents. Most mesh bed rails come complete with a carry bag, making travelling with a bed rail easier. Mesh bed rails are a temporary solution in preventing children from falling out of bed in their younger years. Unlike wooden bed rails, a mesh bed rail does have a 90 degrees rotation, making access to the bed easier. For the ultimate in safety of children, a mesh bed rail is unable to rotate beyond 90degrees. A mesh bed rail can be installed along with any open bedside, often used in pairs when a child’s bed is positioned centrally in a room. Mesh bed rails are available in a standard size and extra tall and extra wide mesh bed rails are also available to suit larger beds with a deeper mattress. The Safetots extra wide and extra tall bed rail are recommended for double beds and a deeper mattress.

The transition from cot bed to a bed without enclosed sides is one of the many developmental milestones your child will achieve. At this stage which occurs somewhere towards the age of 18 months, your toddler is likely to be attempting to climb over the cot sides, making this type of bed no longer a safe option.

 

Whilst a standard bed is the next step, there remains a risk of falling from a height, particularly during sleep should your child roll and wriggle towards the edge. A bedguard is a popular solution to prevent your sleeping tot going bump in the night, whilst giving them the freedom to get out of bed unassisted. The design provides a barrier along the exposed edge of the mattress with gaps at either end so that the child can safely get in and out of bed independently. Should the bed be positioned away from walls and have two exposed sides, a second bed guard may be safely secured to the other side. In addition, a bed rail retains the safe familiarity of cot sides which will help many children adapt to the change and supports restful sleep.

 

Providing your curious toddler with the freedom to leave their bed when adults may be sleeping requires some safety planning. Many families decide that a safety gate across the bedroom door will provide an early warning system that their child is awake and ready to start their day, giving tired parents and carers an extra couple of minutes to wake up themselves! More importantly, the stair gate will restrict exploration to their bedroom, keeping inquisitive tots away from toiletries in bathrooms or hazards in other rooms such as older siblings’ toys or small items which could be a choking hazard or similar.

 

Child specific bedrails are recommended up to age 5 as they are designed and tested to support a certain maximum weight. Your child is likely to have learnt the art of sleeping away from the edge by this age, but also may be capable of undoing any bedrail fixing and becoming heavier than the tested weight, thereby creating a potential hazard greater than falling onto the floor.

 

Important Information

 

Children’s bedguards are designed and tested for domestic use only, being suitable for children aged between 18 months and 5 years. They are not designed for use with the elderly or infirm adults.

 

The type of mattress and bedframe the bedrail will be attached to is as important as the bedrail itself from a safety perspective. Any gap between the rail and attaching surface could become an entrapment hazard. For this reason, select a quality mattress for your child which does not easily compress at the edges when a child equivalent weight is applied. Always select a mattress which fits the bedframe i.e. one that leaves no gaps a small child could roll into between the base and material. Consider the thickness of the mattress in relation to the bedrail options - mattress depth will affect the height of the bed rail above the sleeping surface and any potential for your child to roll over the top of it and onto the floor. For this reason, include any mattress topper in the mattress depth measurement. The length of mattress will vary according to bedframe with king/super king mattresses being longer than others. The size of gap at either end of the bed has potential to be large enough for a sleeping child to roll through if an ill-fitting guard is chosen. Reassuringly, there are bedguards to suit the above scenarios in the Safetots’ range. The extra wide extra tall bedguards will complement the longer and deeper mattresses. All Safetots’ bedrails provide the maximum mattress depths and lengths in the product spec information to make it easier for our customers to select one that is compatible with their child’s bed. A minimum mattress length is also supplied to make certain that there is at least a 25cm gap either end of the bed as recommended by the British Standards Institution (a measurement deemed wide enough for the child to safely leave the bed without being tempted to climb over the rail). Inflatable mattresses are to be avoided in conjunction with a bedguard as these can easily be punctured and deflate.

 

Bedguards are not suitable for waterbeds for obvious reasons or camping beds where there is only a canvas sleeping surface attached to a metal frame. Nor is it safe to use them on the upper level of a bunk bed as a fall from this height is life threatening. Safetots also recommend against using bedguards on the lower bunk bed level. Many children find bunk beds the indoor equivalent of a climbing frame and a serious accident may occur should a child use the rail as a foothold or spring board when climbing on and off the top bunk. Play of this nature may also compromise the stability of the fixings or fatigue the components making it unsafe for its purpose. As tempting as it may be to tie teddies and similar to the bedrail to create a sleepy environment, these pose strangulation and entrapment dangers, and nothing should ever be attached to the bedguard that is not part of the fittings.

 

All Safetots’ bedguards have been tested and comply with the British Standard 7972:2001+A1:2009 when fitted in accordance with the instructions.

 

Safety Testing

 

When buying a product to help keep your child out of harm’s way, Safetots believe it is worth investing in one that has been tested to a professionally approved level of safety using rigorous testing methods.

 

For this reason and where applicable, our products are tested to a British Standards Institution (BSI) standard and/or equivalent international standard. Each standard that our products complies with has been drawn up by a group of experts in the field. Not only do they have extensive knowledge about their product and credibility in the child safety product industry, they are also fully aware of the potential hazards posed by poor quality items being used in the home where children are involved.

 

The British Standard for bedguards is BS 7972:2001+A1:2009. You can be reassured that all Safetots’ bedguards designed for use with toddlers (18 months+) and children up to age 5 comply with this standard, and are retested whenever design upgrades are made, components changed or the standard is superseded. The standard also requires that certain important safety information be available to consumers before purchase and you will find this on all product pages. The title of the British Standard, BS 7972:2001+A1:2009, will be marked on your purchased rail next to Safetots’ contact details

 

What types of tests are carried out and why?

 

The tests carried out are designed to mimic the actions of a small child before they fall asleep, natural movements during sleep and once awake, how they may explore their bed and surroundings. For example, bedtime hijinks almost always include bouncing on the mattress and attempting to escape the bed itself by any means available, including climbing over, around or under a bed rail. Your little night owl may also wish to show their objection to bedtime by trying to pull everything off the bed including the rail – an overtired tot is a strong one! During sleep, many children will wriggle around, even turning 360 and sleeping at the foot of the bed. In this manner they will at times unknowingly move to the edge where the mattress and bedguard meet.

 

The standard includes tests to check for parts of the bedrail which could trap, pinch or cut skin and that the size of parts used do not pose a risk of inhalation or ingestion. The resilience of the locking mechanism that fits the guard securely onto the mattress or bed frame is examined for durability. A priority is ensuring there are no entrapment hazards, and this is achieved by measuring the gap between the bedguard and any touchpoint when fitted correctly. A test dummy is used to imitate a child rolling into the rail repeatedly to assist with this test. In short, every effort has been made to ensure that a bedrail complying with BS 7972:2001+A1:2009 will be a hazard free product to purchase when safety proofing your home.