Making a DIY Bed Stopper for a Child's Bed

Small children tend to have restless sleep, they often toss and turn and throw off the blanket, and falling is not uncommon. To avoid this, bumpers are always installed on children's beds. But if the bed is bought for growth, its design usually follows the adult one and there are no such barriers. The best solution would be to install a temporary limiter that will allow the child to sleep without the risk of falling, and can be easily removed when he grows up.

Bed rails can be purchased at furniture stores, where a wide range of different materials and colors is available. Making a custom removable bed rail will ensure a better match with your existing furniture, both in size and design, but it will not be cheap.

Therefore, the best solution would be to make a fall arrester for a child with your own hands.

Main varieties

For very small children, a barrier that completely covers the side of the bed is recommended. In addition, it should be high enough so that the child cannot roll over or climb over it. For older children, a small limiter is sufficient, the purpose of which is to prevent an accidental fall in their sleep. Such barriers usually cover only part of the length of the bed, and are often made to be lowered for convenience.

A common option is a removable child restraint, which can be easily removed when it is no longer needed. Such a removable barrier will also be indispensable if you are going on a trip with small children - it can easily be taken with you and installed on any child's or adult bed.

Depending on the material they are made from, there are several types of protective sides.

1. Soft – the simplest design will be a barrier made of foam rubber or synthetic padding rolled into tubes. The resulting rollers are fastened together, gaining the required height of the side. For more convenient care and an aesthetic appearance, removable covers are sewn onto such a limiter, which can be washed in a machine. Such structures are usually attached to the mattress of the bed with Velcro or ties.

   

2. The net is a fairly effective way to protect the baby from falling in his sleep. It is necessary to make sure that the material is strong, the child should not tear or press the net with his weight. For fastening, you can make a frame from wood or metal slats.

   

3. Plastic – such a barrier can not only be purchased, but also made independently. For this, you will need ordinary plastic pipes for plumbing – they are easy to cut and fasten together with corners. The result is an easy-to-use and neat-looking limiter that fits well into any children's room. The advantage of the design is the ability to disassemble it at any time, as well as good tolerance to wet cleaning.

   

4. Wooden – the traditional option, the most labor-intensive, but best suited to a classic interior. This barrier is also the most durable and long-lasting. A wide variety of designs and constructions are possible. A wooden barrier is usually painted to match the color of the furniture; decorative design options are often used.

   

It is quite easy to make a barrier of any kind yourself, it will not require large economic costs, and will serve no less reliably than a purchased one.

Making a wooden stopper with your own hands

Even if you don't have much experience in carpentry, it won't be difficult to make a barrier of the simplest design. Before starting work, you should choose the type of fastening - the simplest involves screwing the holder to the side of the bed. This will save materials and time, but it doesn't look very aesthetically pleasing, and the side of the bed will be damaged.

The second way is to make holders that will be attached to the bottom of the bed and covered with a mattress on top. This option is more convenient, but the possibility of its implementation depends on the design of the bed.

For work you will need the following materials and tools:

• strong wooden slats;
• hacksaw;
• bolts or screws;
• screwdriver;
• tape measure or ruler;
• paper and pencil for drawing.

To make a simple U-shaped side (fastened with bolts), you will need fairly short slats - the length of the barrier is 55 cm. The height of the limiter is optional, for a removable model, a height of 15-30 cm is sufficient.

The stages of work are performed in a specific order.

1. A drawing is made on paper taking into account all calculations.

   

2. The slats are cut according to the drawing.
3. The slats are carefully fastened together to form a U-shaped structure.

   

4. Holes for bolts are drilled in the slats and the side of the bed.
5. The side is screwed to the bed.

   

6. When doing the work, you can take a board of a given width instead of a long strip - this will avoid the formation of a gap where a child's hand can get stuck.

Decorating

A wooden limiter looks aesthetically pleasing, it is enough to polish or varnish it so that there is no risk of getting a splinter. If plywood or chipboard was used, the side needs to be decorated. Soft lining or a case would be best. If you put synthetic padding on the inside, the child will be protected from accidental blows while sleeping.

The limiter can also be coated with special paint for wooden surfaces.

Video: Making a bumper (limiter) for a baby crib