Co-Sleeping Bed Safety

5 replies

DontCallMeYummy · 27/11/2007 00:46

I am a co-sleeping single mum with a wriggly crawly little 9 month old. Recently I'm getting concerned about the possibility of him waking up and crawling off the side off the bed whilst I'm still snoozing. At the moment I have a load of bolsters and pillows blocking his side (plus a thick blanket on the floor just in case ) but he's starting to see this as a fun obstacle to clamber over. We have to share a room and there's not really room for a cot, there's already a travel cot in there that acts as a playpen during the day but he doesn't like sleeping in it. At night I get him to sleep in the bed, then transfer him to the travel cot til I go to bed, only if he wakes up he won't settle himself in the travel cot and starts playing. I was going to buy a Tomy bed guard but that seems to be more aimed at older children rolling out of bed. My house is rented so I can't get rid of the bed and the room shape doesn't work for having the bed against a wall. I really want to continue co-sleeping but other than attach a harness to the mattress I'm running out of ideas - please help!

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Katiekin · 27/11/2007 00:57

Put a mattress on the floor so he has a soft landing but I wouldn't worry. Mine rarely fell out and if they did they didn't wake up so obviously weren't hurt. If you have a bed guard he will climb over and then have further to fall. If you aren't in the room you could always put him on the mattress on the floor till you go to bed.
Mine all slept with me till they were 4 and still come in in the morning - enjoy

Katiekin · 27/11/2007 00:57

kiskidee · 27/11/2007 13:00

is it possible to take the bed frame down and store it (maybe with someone if you don't have the space?) My room shape doesn't work for a bed against the wall either and i remember being worried about this stage. in the end we didn't put anything on the floor and dd did fall out a couple times but she didn't get hurt and she also very quickly learnt to get out of the bed safely. in fact i used to assist her in ever so tiny way so that she could learn sooner to climb out than if i had banned her from trying to clamber out.

also agree that you can put a mattress on the floor near the bed.

gillhowe · 27/11/2007 13:47

I've used a bed guard since DS was about 3 months, I think a lot of people do. Also putting your mattress on the floor is a good idea. The advantage of the mattress on the floor is that when they are more mobile you can just let them crawl over you when they get up in the morning rather than having to stop them plummeting head first off the bed!

Original poster

DontCallMeYummy · 28/11/2007 15:05

Thanks for all the advice! I can't dismantle the bed 'cos it's a divan-type but I do like the idea of the mattress on the floor in case he does fall off. Which right now he definitely would do, he's completely fearless. Agh...
Gillhowe what kind of bed guard did you use? I was looking at the Tomy one but thought he might view it as a fun challenge...

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