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Grandparenting

bed rails v bed bumpers for overnight stays at gran's

(69 Posts)
Welshwizard Wed 02-Mar-22 15:01:52

just wondering if anyone has experience of adapting a double bed so it's suitable for a nearly 3 year old who has just moved out of cots? We have GS to stay every fortnight or so and it would be most convenient to put him in our spare double bed. I can see that there are bed rails and bed bumpers but no idea how to choose and wondering if there are any other options. All suggestions gratefully received.

GrannyGravy13 Wed 02-Mar-22 15:04:55

We put pillows and spare duvets on the floor so if they fall out they have a soft landing.

tanith Wed 02-Mar-22 15:08:58

I really can’t see how you can expect a 3 yr old to sleep in a double bed without either falling out or climbing out whenever they want. Whatever the child sleeps in at home would be better or simply a mattress on the floor.

wildswan16 Wed 02-Mar-22 15:12:27

Just tuck them in by the side against a wall and put a couple of spare cushions under the mattress at the other side - so it is at a slight upward tilt. A duvet on the floor if you are still worried.

Lucca Wed 02-Mar-22 15:14:54

I don’t see why not. And do as GG13 suggests, or one of you sleep in the double bed with the child.
Or look for a foldaway bed ?

Lucca Wed 02-Mar-22 15:15:32

That was in response to Tanith sorry l

Grannynannywanny Wed 02-Mar-22 15:17:04

Welshwizard if you’re meaning just to prevent an accidental tumble out of bed while asleep then I recommend this one. I used them during transition from cot/cot bed to full size bed when my grandchildren were small. I used on both a single and a bottom bunk bed. But it would serve the same purpose on a double bed.

No fitting required other than slide the brackets under the mattress. The rail is telescopic and when fully extended covers approx 2/3 of the bed length. An added advantage is that it folds flat and fits in a suitcase if travelling.

www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B0187EEUL0/ref=ppx_yo_mob_b_inactive_ship_o0_img?psc=1&tag=gransnetforum-21&ie=UTF8

Welshwizard Wed 02-Mar-22 15:52:30

Tanith, a pity you couldn't have replied in a slightly more positive and polite manner. I was hoping for more support from gransnet to be honest.

emmasnan Wed 02-Mar-22 16:06:48

I would just put a spare duvet or cushions on the floor in case he falls out.
I'm sure he'll enjoy the adventure of being in a big bed.

sodapop Wed 02-Mar-22 16:07:33

Don't know why you say that Welshwizard everyone has responded with good ideas. I would use a camp bed or mattress on the floor until the child was comfortable in an ordinary bed.

tanith Wed 02-Mar-22 16:08:40

Welshwizard apologies if I’ve upset you I never meant to be negative or rude no excuses it was thoughtless.

BlueBalou Wed 02-Mar-22 16:26:13

My DGCs slept in the travel cot until they were in a big bed at home.
You could wedge a row of pillows down the edge of the bed under the bottom sheet, I did that with DGC2 on holiday. It was enough to stop them rolling out ?

Redhead56 Wed 02-Mar-22 16:28:58

On the rare occasion our daughter sleeps in ours in a double bed. The bed is against a wall granddaughter sleeps that side daughter sleeps next to her.

Willow73 Wed 02-Mar-22 16:30:37

My grandsons sleep in the double bed. One side is a cupboard and the other for the youngest child there is a mattress on the floor with me on it, a nice soft landing!

Elizabeth27 Wed 02-Mar-22 16:31:25

I would not use bed rails as a 3-year-old will climb over, much safer to put the bed against a wall with something soft on the floor the other side.

Encourage the child to sleep next to the wall putting soft toys the other side.

LtEve Wed 02-Mar-22 16:33:53

I didn’t use anything when mine moved out of their cots into a single bed, just put a couple of pillows on the floor. It’s not a long way to fall if they do fall out of a normal bed and they’re even less likely to fall out of a double bed.
Rails can be more problematic if you have a climber who tries to scale the rail!?

Farmor15 Wed 02-Mar-22 16:39:36

I’ve put even 2 year old GC in normal bed with cushions/duvets on floor. With agreement from parents of course. Also used mattress on floor. I wouldn’t bother investing in bed rail. If they fall out (mine have a couple of times!) they won’t hurt themselves with cushioned floor - tho may wake themselves and everyone else up!.
wildswan’s suggestion also good.

Nanatoone Wed 02-Mar-22 16:46:30

Those worried are right to be concerned. My then five year old granddaughter fell out of her parent’s bed and broke her collar bone. It was awful for her. Just an unlucky fall I guess but they use a bed rail now to save that a potential risk for the small one.

Grannynannywanny Wed 02-Mar-22 16:48:36

I used a small bed rail for all 4 of my grandchildren at various times when they frequently stayed overnight. If they wanted out of the bed they simply shuffled to the end of the bed. During the 6 years or so the rail was in use I didn’t have a single incidence of one of them coming over the top of the rail.

My grandson did give me a scare when he was about 15 months old. He was in his cot and standing up wide awake. I bent down to the drawer under the cot bed to get something out. Without any warning he launched himself over the top of the cot and landed on my back. He thought it was hilarious but it knocked the stuffing out of me!

Yammy Wed 02-Mar-22 16:58:40

We put a single mattress on the floor beside a wall then made two rows of pillows down the mattress under the flat sheet with a gap to make a tunnel,a duvet doubled on the floor to make a soft landing.
I would add you definitely need the stair gate up as they can get out so easily in the end my daughter used the double bed beside the wall and slept with the little imp.
His mum used to escape from her cot because I had put it too near the curtains and she used them to swing out until I caught her.

DiscoDancer1975 Wed 02-Mar-22 17:03:41

What did he sleep in before? We put our children into normal size single beds around the age of two. Never fell out. Would often get out though!

We had a bed cot, but never used it as a bed, because there was always the next baby coming out of the Moses basket. My last one went straight to a bed, as she had seen her siblings do.

If your grandson had a cot at yours, can you just take the sides off? The danger isn’t falling out...it’s what else is in the room, open doorways etc. At nearly three, he should be fine in any bed I would think.

Visgir1 Wed 02-Mar-22 17:29:25

When my GD was 2 1/2 - 3yrs and staying with us, we put her into a double bed.
She loved it.. Stuffed cushions between the side cupboards and few on the floor, just in case . She was fine, she is 5 now we recently bought a Trundle Bed as she has a little sister. She wasn't impressed!

Callistemon21 Wed 02-Mar-22 18:22:12

GrannyGravy13

We put pillows and spare duvets on the floor so if they fall out they have a soft landing.

My DC moved into beds by the age of 2 and a bit.
They did hop in and out at first but we put a stairgate at the top of the stairs so they didn't all down.
Put a couple of duvets pillows, whatever on the floor in case she falls out but she should be fine.

When DGS stayed here in a single bed DD bought a bed rail that fitted under the mattress and up the side - I really can't recommend them as he managed to pull it out and over him and got tangled in it.

Of course, she might not be as inquisitive as my DGS - he managed to dismantle a playpen too.

Callistemon21 Wed 02-Mar-22 18:23:50

Ps DGS's Mum was climbing out of her cot by the age of 2!
He must take after her ?

SueDonim Wed 02-Mar-22 18:26:53

My GC sleep in a double bed at my house. The bed is against the wall on one side, a pillow to tilt up the mattress is on the other and a spare duvet is on the floor.