When thinking about the safety of your child, you may consider purchasing a bed rail for your child's room. The rail is installed between the floor and ceiling to prevent a child from falling from their bed or from crawling underneath the bed to start sleeping on the floor. You'll need to think carefully about what type of rail you buy, as there are many different styles available. Wood and metal bed rail are the most popular types, but you can also purchase a soft fabric rail if you prefer.
Wood bed rails look elegant and are often painted to match your room's decor. They provide a barrier between the floor and the sleeper, preventing either of these items from tripping and causing injury. When selecting this style of railing for your bed, you should consider both the quality and the cost. Wood is more expensive than metal, but it'll look more classic and be less likely to become marked up or damaged in normal use.
Metal bed rails are the cheapest option, and they're the easiest to install. However, they don't provide a barrier between the floor and the sleeper, so they're not safe at all. They also aren't as secure, since even the simplest fasteners can be bent and break. Again, you'll need to choose carefully about what type of rail you buy. Some are specially designed for cribs and toddler beds, which are much higher than typical bed sizes.
Soft fabric railings are a good choice for a child's room, because they are much lower than a standard bed rail. These are very easy to install and can be moved when necessary. There are many styles and colors to choose from, and you can even have them embossed with patterns and images that appeal to you. These are typically easy to assemble, but the cost will vary depending on the type of soft material you buy.
For extra security, a guard rail might be a better option. These are permanently affixed to the frame and run along the outside edge of the bed. This provides more structure than a solid rail, and it can even prevent small children from climbing out of their beds in the middle of the night. See page for more details about safety bed rails.
Another thing to consider is whether or not you need to buy rails for your entire bed. If you have a futon mattress in your child's room, you may not need the traditional bed rails. This is especially true if your child is old enough to roll over on his or her own. If you do have a futon, however, you can still benefit from having a bed rail installed. View site for more detailed information about bed rails: https://www.ehow.com/how_12138039_camouflage-steel-bed-frame.html.
