Bedrails and child safety. Leave no gaps between bedrails and the mattress to assure child safety and avoid entrapment or suffocation. Selecting a safe, practical, and affordable bed for your child can be...
Selecting a safe, practical, and affordable bed for your child can be a challenging task. It is often difficult to know what features are important or best for your child's needs, but there are some guidelines you can follow to make your purchase decision. Safety expert Martin Simenc has 15 years of experience in the safety and risk management industry and is also the author of a monthly column entitled "Ask the Safety Guy". He offers advice on how to choose the right bed and bed rails for your child.
With prices of new items rising these days, some parents look for used furniture. Simenc warns, "Be leery of hand-me-down products that might not meet current standards for entrapment and/or child safety. Make sure bedrails fit very snugly without a gap between the rail and the mattress where a child could become lodged and perhaps suffocate. Make sure that rails meet the current safety guidelines and that they are installed properly and securely to ensure that the child is not going to become entrapped as a result of their usage".
The Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association reminds parents to keep safety in mind when choosing bedrails. Their checklist includes the following tips:
* Always follow the manufacturer's instructions for assembly and use.
* Never use a bed rail in place of a crib. Bed rails are not designed for infant use.
* Bed rails are designed for children who are able to get in and out of an adult bed unassisted.
* Always use a bed rail with a standard innerspring mattress and box spring.
* Never use a bed rail on a bunk bed, youth bed, waterbed, crib, or bed without a box spring, unless it is specifically designed for that purpose.
* Be sure to keep the bed rail firmly against the mattress when in use.
Portable bedrails are available from a number of different manufacturers. When installed and used properly than can reduce the occurrence of falls and/or injuries. They are intended for use on standard beds for children between the ages of 2 to 5 years old. They are not for use with younger children or infants. The primary risk that is associated with use of these products is the possibility of child entrapment between the rail and the mattress. This may cause neck compression that could result in accidental strangulation or suffocation. Accidents such as this may occur when the bedrail is not installed snugly against the mattress or if the rail slips outward creating a gap.
When using a portable bedrail always push it firmly against the mattress and at least nine inches from the headboard or footboard. Bedrails should be purchased in sets of two to assure safety and protection on both sides of the bed. Even if the bed is positioned against a wall, a bed rail is recommended on each side. If you notice, there is often a large gap between the bed and the wall in which a child may become trapped. It is also important to monitor your child(ren) while they sleep to see if there is any pattern in their movements that may pose a risk to them. You may need to position a child toward the center of the bed if he or she tends to roll closely to one side or the other. It may even be a good idea to switch to a larger bed if your child is particularly restless during sleep so as to give them more room to be comfortable.
