Best Toddler Bed Rails

If you’re in a hurry and just want to find the best toddler bed rails, I’d recommend the Summer Infant Double Safety Bed Rail.

If your little one is starting to attempt to climb out of the crib, it’s time to start looking at making the move to a bed. Of course, most toddlers aren’t used to sleeping in a bed, and may move around quite a bit. In order to help prevent your toddler from rolling out and taking a tumble, you’ll want to look at getting toddler bed rails.

In this article, I am breaking down the best toddler bed rails, and in the end, I’ll choose the winner.

Here are the toddler bed rails I will be reviewing:

• Regalo Swing Down Bed Rail
• Hiccapop Toddler Bed Rail Bumper
• Summer Infant Double Safety Bed Rail
• Hiccapop Convertible Crib Bed Rail
• Munchkin Sleep Bed Rail

Why Do You Need Toddler Bed Rails?

Making the move from a crib to a big-kid bed can be fraught with frustration. Your child might not feel safe without being constrained by four walls. You might worry that your kiddo will fall out of bed.

But keeping an older child in a crib isn’t safe, either. Your little one’s weight may exceed the crib’s limit at some point, especially if you’re using a mini crib.

Experts recommend that you transition toddlers to a bed before they begin plotting their crib escape. If your tot is already hoisting herself over the side of the crib, you should definitely make the move.

The biggest challenge after achieving the bed-switch milestone is making sure that your child stays in bed. Because your toddler will have more freedom, you should babyproof the room. You should also consider using toddler bed rails to stop nighttime falls and give your little one the secure feeling that he is used to.

Falls can result in injury. They can also disturb the entire family’s sleep. Preventing them can help everyone get decent rest.

What Are The Different Types Of Toddler Bed Rails?

There are a few types of toddler bed rails.

Swing Down Toddler Bed Rail

Some bed rails are designed with hinges so that they can lock into an upright position at night and fold down during the day or when your child needs to climb into bed. This kind of toddler bed rail also makes life easier for you. 

You can easily change the sheets and make the bed without having to squeeze your hand between the mattress and the rail. Some swing down toddler bed rails slide beneath the mattress when they’re not in use.

Fixed Toddler Bed Rail

A fixed toddler bed rail does not have hinges. Once you install it, it stays upright. It doesn’t extend the entire length of the mattress. Therefore, your child can get in and out of bed at the head or foot. The gap is usually not large enough to allow your kiddo to fall out while sleeping. 

However, measure your bed and the rail that you plan to buy to ensure that it will work.

Soft Bumper Bed Rail

Bumper bed rails are different than the conventional kind. These are long, narrow, firm pillows that you place on top of the mattress near the edge. Installing them is as easy as making the bed. You simply secure them by pulling the fitted sheet over them.

Because they’re pliable, bumper toddler bed rails are portable. Some are made of foam and can be stuffed into a suitcase. Others are inflatable and fold down flat.

An energetic child might be able to roll over this type of bed rail with a little momentum. On the plus side, they don’t hinder the child from crawling into bed or a parent from lying in bed with their toddler.

What To Think About Before Buying Toddler Bed Rails

Every rail is not ideal for all types of beds. Moreover, different children may have distinct sleeping styles, requiring a specific rail. 

Measure Your Mattress

Toddler rails don’t have standard measurements. You should measure your bed and take into account the size of the rail before you buy it so that you don’t regret your purchase.

Ideally, a bed rail should run down the length of the mattress with a 1 or 2-foot gap at the top and bottom. If you’re using a swinging or fixed bed rail, you’ll need to measure the height of your mattress (independently of the box spring) as well. Some thick mattresses with pillow tops and pads are as tall as the bed rails themselves!

Check The Bed’s Base

Conventional rails usually slide between the mattress and box spring. Check with the manufacturer to determine whether the toddler bed rail works with your setup. If you have slats or a platform, for example, you might have to get creative or use a bumper-style rail. 

Some beds have sunken frames. That is, the side panel is designed to meet the top of the mattress. You might have trouble installing a traditional toddler bed rail on a bed like this.

Will The Rails Fit Multiple Beds?

If you’re using a toddler bed but plan to transition your child to a twin or larger bed in the future, you might not want to purchase separate rails each time the sleeping arrangement changes. Frequent travelers may also want a rail that works on beds of different sizes. 

How Do You Know That Your Toddler Bed Rails Are Safe?

One of the main issues to watch out for is that there is no gap between the side of the mattress and the bed rail. Sleeping children can slip into this area, and it poses a suffocation hazard. 

If the rail has the ability to swing down, it needs to have a secure locking mechanism when it’s in the upright position. The best toddler bed rails don’t have hard or sharp edges.

My Top Toddler Bed Rail Reviews

There are many styles and brands of toddler bed rails. Understanding what works for specific situations and which versions are the most durable can help you make your purchasing decision.

Regalo Swing Down Bed Rail

This metal bed rail with a cover is sturdy, versatile and ideal for twin to queen beds. The steel frame is strong and holds up to heavy children pushing against it. It’s enclosed by a mesh nylon fabric that is soft to the touch. Stains can be wiped off with a damp cloth.

The safety features of this toddler bed rail are stellar. The Regalo features a Gap Guard. It holds tightly against the opposite side of the mattress so that the rail doesn’t shift with your child’s movement or push away from the bed if your toddler rolls into it.

This rail is designed to be used with a bed that has a mattress, box spring and no side panel that obscures the mattress. That’s because the rail is hinged to two horizontal bars that slip between the mattress and box spring.

Those bars have a T shape at the end that extends upward to grip the mattress and downward to grip the box spring. It won’t hold if the mattress is placed on the floor. You might be able to jerry-rig it to a slatted base using zip ties. However, this would detract from the rail’s safety.

One of the best things about this toddler guard rail is that it swings down. As long as the mattress and box spring have enough distance from the floor, the rail will lie flat against them when it comes down.

Hiccapop Toddler Bed Rail Bumper

This toddler bed rail bumper works on just about any bed. It can be used on a toddler, twin, full, queen, king or California king. It is not recommended for use on a loft or bunk bed.

For those parents who worry that the bumpers aren’t tall enough to keep their child from rolling over them, the manufacturer brings up the passive-safety principle. Researchers have determined that as your child moves close to the bumpers, the soft touch and pressure signal that your little one is near danger and should move in the opposite direction.

This product is responsibly manufactured using CertiPUR-US FOAM that is free of PBDEs, TDCPP and TCEP flame retardants, heavy metals, lead, mercury, formaldehyde, phthalates and CFCs. It is also hypoallergenic. An independent lab carries out the safety testing.

You don’t need an extra-deep fitted sheet to accommodate this bumper. It works well with standard sized mattresses and sheets. If your mattress is thick and your sheets are already tight, you might want to consider using larger sheets. However, larger sheets may not hold the bumper in place.

The underside of the bumper contains non-skid silicone, which helps it stay in place. You don’t have to worry about it falling off the side of the bed as your toddler pushes against it.

Summer Infant Double Safety Bed Rail

These toddler bed rails are designed to be used together. If your bed isn’t against the wall, you can purchase two rails separately, but they won’t work as smoothly as this version.

These bed rails sandwich the mattress between them. They can be used on twin, full and queen mattresses. Whereas many bed rails aren’t designed for use with beds that don’t have box springs, these work with platforms. They shouldn’t be used on a toddler, bunk, water or inflatable bed.

The metal frame is sturdy. It’s covered by a polyester fabric that’s easy to wipe clean.

One bed rail folds down. This is a benefit because some rails don’t offer this option at all. However, it would be more convenient and changing the sheets would be easier if both sides had hinges.

Hiccapop Convertible Crib Bed Rail

This fixed bed rail is small, but it has a specific purpose—it is designed to use with a convertible crib. If you plan to move your toddler to a longer bed soon, you might not want to splurge on this extra bed rail. But if you hope to keep your little one in the convertible crib for a while, this rail is not too long, and it has great safety features.

The reinforced anchor system holds the rail securely in place. It won’t shift overnight even if your little one tugs on it. You’ll need a few tools to install it, but it won’t slip out of place like some bed rails that use straps will.

According to Hiccapop, the fabric is durable and won’t break or fray. It’s also soft and comfortable if your child does roll into it at night.

Munchkin Sleep Bed Rail

This is a useful rail for young children and small beds. It’s only 36 inches wide, which makes it fit convertible cribs. The compact size also lets you tote this around more easily than many other toddler bed rails.

The aluminum frame makes it quite durable. The fabric that covers the frame is easy to clean. However, the manufacturer doesn’t make any claims about the product being non-toxic.

The rail folds down, making it easier for you to change the sheets. It rests flush against the side of the mattress and doesn’t pose a tripping hazard.

Although this is ideal for use with thinner mattresses, it might not work with a plush adult mattress. It’s only 18 inches tall.

It is designed to work as a pair if you purchase two. This makes it versatile for use in many situations.

Final Thoughts

If I could only buy one toddler bed rail, I would get the Summer Infant Double Safety Bed Rail. I like the fact that it’s designed to be used as a pair. This would give you flexibility if you rearranged the room. If your bed is against the wall, the extra rail is a non-issue.

The Summer Infant wouldn’t work on a convertible crib, though. Parents that are converting their crib into a toddler bed might prefer the Hiccapop Convertible Crib Bed Rail. The product doesn’t offer a great deal of flexibility, but it serves a specific purpose that others don’t. 

If your toddler is older or sleeps soundly, you might want to go with the bumper. It’s the easiest to use, the most portable and the least visually intrusive.

All of these toddler bed rails work well. Check out the different sizes and features so that you know which one will be ideal for your bed.