Pool noodles as bed rails and/or mattress on floor

[Anonymous]

Do pool noodles as bed rails work? Just one regular pool noodle or do you need more/thicker ones?

What about putting a mattress on the floor? Do kids cry when they fall out or just go back to sleep? Do they learn not to fall out soon or fall out all the time?

DC rolls around a lot.

[Anonymous]

You could also try towels rolled up under the sheets. I think you just need to try something and see if it works. If it doesn't, try something else.

If your DC moves around a lot, put the mattress on the floor. That way it's not a big fall if they do roll out of bed.

[Anonymous]

we did the pool noodle thing with both kids. Even with the noodle they fell out once or twice, but that was it. When they fell out they let out a cry, but went right back to sleep when put them back in the bed. Our kids have platform beds, so they are fairly close to the ground to begin with.

[Anonymous]

DS, who's now 3.5, moved to a double bed on a box spring on the floor at 20 months (baby #2 needed the crib). We had pillows on the floor next to him and he did fall out twice - bottom and open side. Both times he cried and we went to him to settle and go back to bed. Neither time was he hurt and he didn't fall out again. We had a bed rail on the long side for a bit, but when we took it away, he fell out. When we were on vacation, he slept in a twin bed day bed and also fell out one time there. Again, pillows on floor so no injury, but he did cry a little. Now he largely stays in one spot, on his pillow.

[Anonymous]

Don't worry about it. I think mine fell out maybe once or twice. Not a big deal -- they quickly learn where to sleep and how to avoid.

[Anonymous]

We did the rolled towels which worked well for 6 months, and then he fell out of the bed last night (he's 3). I don't even think he woke up! I used to put pillows on the floor but since he never fell out I stopped doing that. Not sure if I'm going to do something different or not, now!

[Anonymous]

We tried pool noodles and he still fell out when we started with the toddler bed. I think it was 4-5 times and we put a guardrail on. When we took it off 6 months later, he started falling out again, maybe every other night. A year later we tried again, no problems.

It didn't hurt him to fall out, he cried and resettled quickly, but it didn't seem worth putting him through that since it wasn't improving.

[Anonymous]

My son rolled out of his toddler bed a couple times, but never actually woke up, although he did cry. No injuries and no recollection of it the next day!

[Anonymous]

why not just put up guardrails? although I have heard those are unsafe now too.

[Anonymous]

The injuries my kid got falling out of bed were due to hitting night stands. Has a scar 2 years later I still regret.

[Anonymous]

We did just the bed. No nightstand or anything on the floor and she hasn't fallen out. You could always try it and go with plan B if it doesn't work for your child.

[Anonymous]

Depends on your child... We have done both an under-sheet noodle-like foam barrier and mattress on floor. Mattress on floor was easiest; 4.5 years and it is still there. I think my son has fallen out a small handful of times, no injuries - woke up maybe once from rolling off bed. No table or hard things near the bed, of course.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You could also try towels rolled up under the sheets. I think you just need to try something and see if it works. If it doesn't, try something else.

If your DC moves around a lot, put the mattress on the floor. That way it's not a big fall if they do roll out of bed.

+1 We used towels. I completely forgot about that. Just roll up a few and line them up under the sheet. We did that for awhile, until she started falling out of the bed and staying asleep, even with the towels in (because she'd flip over to the bottom of the bed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The injuries my kid got falling out of bed were due to hitting night stands. Has a scar 2 years later I still regret.

You should have wrapped the nightstand in a pool noodle. Or maybe wrap the pool noodle around DC's head?

JK. Don't feel bad. Scars add character.