In a nutshell

A good choice for a portable, safe and attractive bed rail that fits most beds

What we tested

  • Ease of use
    A star rating of 5.0 out of 5.
  • Effectiveness
    A star rating of 4.5 out of 5.
  • Style
    A star rating of 5.0 out of 5.
  • Durability
    A star rating of 5.0 out of 5.
  • Worth the money
    A star rating of 4.0 out of 5.
Overall Rating
A star rating of 4.7 out of 5.

Pros

  • Portable, easy to assemble once you know how, looks good, fits most beds

Cons

  • Basic, misleading instructions, a bit more expensive than similar products

The Tippitoes Bed Rail allows for easy access to the bed and can be used on a range of beds. However, the instructions could do with some work.

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I was looking for a portable, easy-to-disassemble bed rail for my daughter Michela, 3, to take with us when we go on holiday or visit relatives. When we recently visited Michela’s grandparents, Michela (as expected) fell out of the bed. Our current metal-framed bed rail is quite sturdy when assembled so it’s not the fastest to disassemble and travel with. So I was pleased to get to try out the Tippitoes Bed Rail, which comes with a matching drawstring storage bag.

The Tippitoes Bed Rail is recommended for use between 18 months and 5 years, and fits both slatted and solid-based beds. It is 104.5 cm long, 44cm wide and 44cm high.

Available in blue and cream, the bed rail can be folded down to get your child in and out of bed. The bed rail can be sponged cleaned using a mild soap or upholstery shampoo, and the mesh panel should not be removed when cleaning.

What we love

The fact the Tippitoes Bed Rail folds forward for easy access to the bed is helpful for making the bed and for putting a young child down to sleep. The lock is childproof as it requires both hands and a bit of strength. It has been independently tested and complies with safety standard BS7972:2001.

Like other products on the market, the Tippitoes Bed Rail has a see-through mesh panel, which is another safety feature.

When fitted, the bed rail stands firm and is quite solid - I did get onto the bed and applied a bit of pressure to see if it would fall off, but of course it’s not designed for adults, so don’t try this with all your might! I just wanted some peace of mind that if Michela rolled against it, it would hold.

Bed rails are usually suitable for single beds, but we also tried the Tippitoes Bed Rail on a king-size bed and it worked pretty well. This is not recommended as the straps should go under the mattress all the way to the other side, but if you have a heavy mattress, the weight can keep it in place.

What to watch out for

Although the components are well detailed in the manual, the instructions to assemble the Tippitoes Bed Rail were mystifying to my partner and I. After a bit of head scratching, we realised that one step had been already done at the packing stage, as some components were already fitted inside the fabric and mesh cover. After we looked at the photograph on the box and referred to our other bed rail, we managed to assemble it. It didn’t require brutal strength like our other bed rail did, but if we hadn’t of had it to hand we wouldn’t have worked it out so quickly.

In a nutshell, although it’s easy to assemble when you know how, the instructions are too basic and a bit misleading.

We felt that the bars’ connection wasn’t as sturdy as with our other bed rail (one bit fell off when transporting the rail to the bed), but with the weight of the mattress on, the bed rail stood firm and didn’t budge when I poked it from the other side.

As with all bed rails, it’s recommended to leave a gap of at least 25cm between the headboard and the bed rail. This is to avoid a risk of strangulation, while the mesh allows your child to breathe if they fall asleep with their head stuck against the panel.

The Tippitoes Bed Rail is only suitable for a mattress thickness of 13cm-20cm (maximum mattress height is 25cm). It is not suitable if the bed is higher than 60cm from the floor.
The Tippitoes Bed Rail is fitted into place with straps, so make sure they are correctly adjusted - you need to fit the straps under the mattress and pull tight.

Who is the Tippitoes Bed Rail best for?

Parents who need a safe and portable bed rail that fits a wide range of beds.

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MadeForMums verdict

Although more expensive than similar metal-framed models, the Tippitoes Bed Rail is safe, portable, looks good and will fit virtually any bed.

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