10 of the best toddler bed guards

To help us pick the very best bed guards for you, we asked parents which ones they use with their toddler and would genuinely recommend, to provide you with honest feedback.

With a bed guard you can rest easy whilst your child sleeps, but, if you need assistance in helping them get to sleep, take a look at our best sleep aids and white noise machines. Additionally, for extra peace of mind, you may wish to keep the baby monitor on for a little longer while your child sleeps. And now your toddler is roaming more freely, you might find our roundup of the best stair gates helpful.

Best toddler bed guards at a glance

• Best bed guard for adjustable height: Costway 24-Height Adjustable Toddler Bed Guard Rail, £47.95
• Best wooden bed guard: BabyDan Wooden Bed Guard Rail, £69.99
• Best travel bed guard: Safety 1st Portable Bed Rail, £24.95, £16.59 at Amazon
• Best bed guard for easy cleaning: Dreambaby Phoenix Foldable Bed Rail, £29.99
• Best two-sided bed guard: Hippychick Dream Tubes Bed Guards, £52.50 £42.99 at Amazon
• Best bed guard for colour choice: Cuggl Bed Rail, £20
• Best budget buy bed guard: Ikea NATTAPA Guard Rail, £13
• Best extra-long bed guard: Safetots Extra Wide Bed Rail, £61.69
• Best bed guard for easy installation: Lindam Easy Fit Bed Guard, £31.99
• Best bed guard for comfort: Banbaloo Rail Bed Bumper, £26.99

Jump to tips for using a bed guard safely
Jump to when do you need a child bed guard?
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Jump to what to look for when choosing the best bed guard for your child

Here's our pick of 10 of the best toddler bed guards for 2024

1. Costway 24-Height Adjustable Toddler Bed Guard Rail, £47.95

– Best bed guard for adjustable height

Dimensions: H73-102cm x W25cm x L196cm | Material: Metal frame and netting | Colours available: Grey

Pros:

• Adjustable height
• Soft material
• Can lift each side independently
• Storage pocket
• Can link to create a play pen

Cons:

• Quite large
• Not ideal for travel,
• Assembly required
• Won't fit a toddler bed

This bed rail is great for mattresses of all heights thanks to its 24 adjustable height settings, meaning it can range from 73 to 102cm high. It can also be lifted/lowered independently from each side making it really convenient when parents only have one hand free to help their child into bed.

The breathable mesh ensures good ventilation for your child, whilst also being transparent enough to see through to check they are safe and sleeping soundly. At 196cm it's the longest bed guard in our round up, which makes it a great choice for added safety when using with a single, double or king-size bed – however this does mean it is too long to use with a standard toddler-size bed. If you're looking for a guard to use during play as well as rest this is a good choice as the guards can link together to transform a bed into a safe play pen.

Safety features like the double lock to stop children lowering the guard themselves and the anti-collision sponge bar along the bottom are reassuring touches and we like the addition of a handy side pocket for storing books or wipes.

Assembly is required but no other tools are needed and it shouldn't take too much time.

Available from: B&Q, Amazon and Costway

2. BabyDan Wooden Bed Guard Rail, £69.99

– Best wooden bed guard

Dimensions: H42cm x L90cm | Material: Wood | Colours available: White

Pros:

• Aesthetically pleasing
• Strong and sturdy
• No tools needed to attach
• Easy to clean

Cons:

• Not suitable for upper bunk beds
• Hard material
• Expensive

This solid and stylish wooden bed guard rail from BabyDan is made from furniture-grade wood, so has a nice quality to it and should be long-lasting. But most importantly, it attaches and detaches easily, with no tools required.

BabyDan also says it's suitable for all beds (not including cribs and upper bunk beds), so you can be reassured that it'll stay secure no matter your child's style of bed.

Parent tester Tania, mum of 2, aged 14 weeks and 3, used this with her toddler and loved that you could take the side off, saying "it worked well for us; it was easy to clean and looked good."

Available from: John Lewis and Amazon

3. Safety 1st Portable Bed Rail, £24.95

– Best travel bed guard

Dimensions: H42 x L106cm (assembled), H42cm x L66cm (folded) | Material: Metal frame and netting | Colours available: Dark grey and blue

Pros:

• Can be folded down compactly for travel
• Easy access to the bed
• Good value

Cons:

• Hard metal frame
• Not the most visually appealing

This bed guard has a standard mesh design with great functionality. It can fold down to allow easy access to the bed, and it can also be folded (down to 66cm) to make it more compact and portable – great for taking with you on family visits or holiday. No assembly is required – ideal if you want something simple to install.

This bed rail is compatible with mattresses with a length greater than 156cm and a thickness from 10 to 24cm and fits slatted and standard beds.

Parent tester Joanna, mum of 2, aged 5 and 3, used this bed guard with her children when they were slightly younger and loved how "it was really sturdy, simple to use and folded down smaller for travel which was a real bonus. It did what it needed to do for both our kids."

Available from: Amazon and John Lewis

4. Dreambaby Phoenix Foldable Bed Rail, £34.99

– Best bed guard for easy cleaning

Dimensions: H45.5cm x L110cm (H45.5cm x L55cm when folded)| Material: Metal frame and netting | Colours available: White and grey

Pros:

• Easy to clean
• Can be folded to a compact size

Cons:

• Requires assembly
• Hard metal frame

The Dreambaby Phoenix Foldable bed rail is super easy to clean thanks to its removable and washable cover. It also makes getting your toddler in and out of bed easy, with its convenient fold down sides – this will be handy when making the bed, too.

The bed rail is fairly easy to install but there is assembly required. It can be quite compact, however it does have to be disassembled to fit in its carry bag so it isn't the speediest travel option.

It's suitable for divans and slatted bed bases and for mattresses between 10 to 25cm thick: it can be slightly adjusted depending on the mattress thickness.

Parent tester Lorne, mum of kids aged 2 and 4, uses this with her toddler and said, "I like the breathable mesh and that the cover is washable too. It's very sturdy and fits my child's single bed well."

Available from: Amazon and Dreambaby

5. Hippychick Dream Tubes Bed Guards, £52.50

– Best two-sided bed guard

Dimensions: H90 x L195cm (Dream Tubes single sheet), H70cm x L140cm (Dream Tubes cot bed sheet) | Material: Inflatable and cotton | Colours available: White

Pros:

• Double-sided
• Soft material
• Compact fold

Cons:

• Needs to be inflated
• Has to be used with special sheet
• Not as high as other bed guards

Designed by 2 mums after 1 too many sleepless nights, inflatable Dream Tubes are a slightly different option for keeping your child from rolling out of bed. Simply blow them up then pop them in the pockets of a special sheet – either cot bed or single bed size – to make a cosy barrier to help kids stay put. We love the fact that this product includes the custom sheet, which effectively keeps the bumpers (2 per pack) in place.

These are great for if your child's bed is not against a wall as you get 2 bumpers and can protect them from falling out of bed both sides. The sheet that covers the inflatable tube is also machine washable. Compared to the harder wooden and metal/mesh frames, this is much softer if your child kicks it or rolls into it.

The bumpers are very lightweight and fold up to a small handy size, making transport a doddle. You can take them with you everywhere – no more rearranging the furniture to prevent kids from rolling out of bed.

Available from: Amazon

6. Cuggl Bed Rail, £20

– Best bed guard for colour choices

Dimensions: H46cm x L92cm | Material: Metal frame and netting | Colours available: Blue, pink and grey

Pros:

• Choice of colours
• Lightweight
• Good value
• Easy to access bed with push button
• Can be used for travelling

Cons:

• Requires assembly
• Not suitable for use with double beds
• Hard metal frame

If style is an important consideration for you, this modern bed guard is a great choice. Available in a choice of bright colours, it's an easy way to add a pop of colour or to blend in with your child's bedroom colour scheme.

As well as looking good, it's safe and easy-to-use, with a simple push button to fold down the panel and allow your child easy access to get in and out their bed. The child safety lock will stop them from lowering the bed guard themselves though.

The Cuggl bed rail attaches to most divan or slatted style single and toddler beds – with mattress between 8-23cm thick – using under mattress poles and straps to fix in place. It's relatively compact and lightweight, making it a convenient choice for travelling or for overnight stays with grandparents.

It's worth noting this does require some assembly before use, however illustrated step-by-step instructions are included to help.

Available from: Argos

7. Ikea NATTAPA Guard Rail, £17

– Best budget buy bed guard

Dimensions: H26cm x W4cm x L96cm | Material: Fibreboard | Colours available: White

Pros:

• Good value
• Easy to attach
• Easy to clean

Cons:

• Does not fit all beds
• Hard material
• Not as high as other bed guards

Trust Ikea to come up with one of the most simple, stylish and affordable bed guards out there. It's a small and non-intrusive way to help keep your toddler a little more secure in those early months after moving to a bed.

The Nattapa is easy to fit, and can be attached to cots with an open side, extendable beds and regular beds — so it can grow with your child. It doesn't have arms that reach under the bed, making it slightly less sturdy than those that do, but it is smaller overall so doesn't need such a strong support. Admittedly, the Nattapa is quite a hard, rigid addition to the bed, but it doesn't look too overpowering in its neutral white design. It can easily be wiped clean with a dry cloth.

Note that this bed guard will fit bed sides with a thickness of 18-22mm. If you rotate the brackets, you can fix the guard rail to beds that are 44mm thick. It must be mounted so that the end lies against the headboard, without any gap.

Available from: Ikea

8. Safetots Extra Wide Bed Rail, £39.90

– Best extra-long bed guard

Dimensions: H40cm x L140cm | Material: Metal and mesh | Colours available: White, grey and natural

Pros:

• Provides extra long coverage
• Compact fold
• Handy fold-down feature
• Great for travel

Cons:

• Requires assembly
• Has a hard metal frame

Available in natural, white and grey, the Safetots Extra Wide Bed Rail provides a little bit more coverage, if you want to make extra sure that there's no room to tumble out of bed. It's another rail with the handy fold-down feature and it also comes with a travel bag to make taking it on trips that bit easier. However, it does have to be dismantled first.

This bed guard is suitable for cot beds, single beds and double beds with a minimum mattress length of 90cm and maximum mattress thickness of 20cm.

Available from: Amazon and Safetots

9. Lindam Easy Fit Folding Bed Guard, £31.99

– Best bed guard for easy installation

Dimensions: H27cm x W9cm x L52.2cm | Material: Metal and mesh | Colours available: Grey

Pros:

• Easy to install
• Good value
• Handy fold-down feature

Cons:

• Not compatible with all beds
• Has a hard metal frame

The Lindam Easy Fit Bed Guard has a very simple design, making it easy to install, requiring no tools. It also has a standard fold-down mechanism (with secure locking) to allow you to access your child and change sheets more easily.

This bed rail is compatible with 76cm to 90cm thick mattresses and suitable for slatted, divan and ensemble bed types, but is not suitable for beds where the mattress sits within a raised frame or upper bunk beds.

Available from: Amazon and Munchkin

10. Banbaloo Rail Bed Bumper, £26.99

– Best bed guard for comfort

Dimensions: H12cm x W19cm x L134cm | Material: Memory foam | Colours available: White

Pros:

• Very soft and comfortable
• Allows your child to feel free
• Water resistant

Cons:

• Not as high as other bed guards
• Hard to store due to size
• Not suitable for travelling

For ultimate comfort, this memory foam bumper is great. If your child rolls too close to the end of the bed, they will not bump themselves on a hard metal frame, they will be gently pushed back to the middle of the bed by the soft foam bumper. It also has a non-slip cover which ensures it stays in place under the sheet.

Another great thing about this bed bumper is that it's water-resistant, so no need to worry if there are any accidents, and, if there are, it has a machine washable cover.

This option is great for allowing your child more freedom in their bed, ensuring they are safe without feeling caged in. It also means you can access your child very easily without having to move a barrier or panel out of the way.

Parent tester Natalie, mum of a 7 and 4 year old, used the foam bumper with her toddler and said, "I found them to be great and not too cumbersome. Very easy to use."

Available from: Amazon

Tips for using a bed guard safely

Baby expert Dean Smith also gave us some top tips to ensure that once you've bought a bed guard, you install and use it safely. He says:

• Place the bed guard half-way down the bed so that it sits in the middle. This guarantees the safest place, as it prevents your toddler from rolling out whilst sleeping at either end of the bed.
• If possible, put one side of your toddler's bed against the wall. This prevents the need to buy multiple bed guards, and offers a natural guard instead.
• Make sure the bed guard is properly fitted. Follow the manufacturer's instructions and test its strength by pushing on the guard from inside the bed. If the bed guard falls or moves, it hasn't been safely fitted, and should be fixed before your toddler uses it.
• Don't cover the bed guard in fabrics or clothing. This could make the bed guard dangerous, as it could prevent your child from being able to breathe when against the guard. Always make sure that the bed guard is completely breathable, and there's nothing preventing air from getting in and out.
• Take the bed guard with you if you're going away, even if it's just for a night. Being in a different bed is likely to throw your toddler off when it comes to safely manoeuvring around their surroundings, so bringing the bed guard with you to make sure they sleep safely and soundly is vital.

When do you need a child bed guard?

Bed guards and rails are aimed at toddlers, with the recommended age usually being from 18 months to 5 years. Many manufacturers advise not using a bed rail on a sleeping surface that is more than 60cm from the floor, so they wouldn’t be suitable for the top bed of a bunk.
Although moving from a cot to a toddler bed is an exciting milestone, there is no reason to rush the transition unless your child is endangering themselves by trying to climb out of their cot. It's often better to keep them in their cot for as long as possible.

Remember, toddler bed guards are not designed to be used with younger babies, as safe sleep guidelines say, for babies under 12 months, to keep their sleep space clear of anything that could pose a suffocation risk.

Keeley Black, a baby safety expert who runs SafeCircle babysitting, advises that toddler bed guards can be used by children up to around 5 years old. However, it may be a good idea to remove them earlier if your child is climbing over them to get out of their bed, to prevent falls and injury. The guard could be used on a single bed instead, which would give the child space at the bottom of the bed to get out safely.

What are the different types of toddler bed guards?

There are various styles of child bed guards. Some are more rigid and solid, for example those made of wood, which provide a straight-forward barrier, similar to a bunk bed rail, to stop children from falling over the side.

Other toddler bed guards are made from foam or fabric such as mesh, so they are softer and less rigid if children like to sleep up against the side.

You can also find inflatable bed guards that can be particularly handy for travelling, as they can be deflated and transported away with you.

Baby safety expert Keeley says, "The bed guard should have a clear airflow around it, so try and use mesh, wooden slatted or low rise guards where possible."

What to look for when choosing the best bed guard for your child

Safety – Baby expert, Dean Smith, director of For Your Little One has a few tips for choosing a bed guard safely. He said to always measure your toddler's bed first; the guard should not prevent them from getting in and out of bed and it should sit firmly to cover the middle of the bed, not the whole length. Similarly, he advises measuring your toddler's mattress height as you need to find one that is suitable. He also suggests making sure the bed guard is breathable as your toddler may be breathing up against the side of it during the night.

Size – As our expert Dean previously mentioned, measure your child’s bed and mattress and compare this with the dimensions of the guard you intend to buy. We've listed the dimensions of each product in our top 10 so you can make sure it won't be too long or short for your child's new bed.

Bed position – Where in the bedroom will the bed be? If the bed's in the centre of the room, with both sides open, you might need 2 bed rails to secure both sides. If the bed is placed alongside a wall then you have a natural barrier on one side and only need to guard the other.

Compatibility with your child's bed – Some child bed guards are not compatible with certain types of beds, especially divans, so check before you buy.

Portability – Do you want a rail that's permanently fixed to the bed? Or one that could be moved for times when your toddler is sleeping elsewhere, such as holidays and family visits?

Ease of cleaning – The wooden rails have the advantage of being easy to wipe down, whereas the fabric rails can usually be hand washed.

Material – Bed guards come in all different materials; inflatable, foam or wooden. It's important to consider which type of bed guard would work well for your child and their bed.

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