Toddler bed rail ensures the safety of your baby by preventing them from falling from the side of the bed and it also gives your baby a comfortable and breathable space to sleep. If you want to make a toddler bed rail then follow the simple steps given below.
Methods To Build A Toddler Bed At Home
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A toddler bed rail prevents your home from falling off and it provides a comfortable space that allows your child to sleep peacefully and have a good dream.
Total Time: 3 hours and 15 minutes
1. By Up-Cycling An Old Baby Crib
A good amount of money can be saved by upcycling your child’s old baby crib for a toddler bed rail.
Step – 1Â By upcycling an appropriate guard rail
Choosing an appropriate guardrail is very important to make a toddler bed rail. Toddler guard rails are usually shorter as compared to the sides of the crib as it gives support to your child to move in and out of your bed without any issues.
Step – 2. Remove one side of the crib
Now, remove one side of the crib by using an electric screwdriver and remove all the screws while holding the one side of the crib
Step – 3 Remove the bedding and mattress
As you will need the help of the bottom slats of the bed while installing the guardrail. Remove the mattress from the crib before moving forward with the upcoming steps.
Step – 4 Attach the L- brackets to the rail
Place one L- bracket beside the inside of each rail post and attach L- brackets to each rail post properly with the help of screws and screwdriver.
Step – 5 Position the rail
Place the guard rail and position it properly to the uncovered side of the bed.
Make sure that the end rail posts and attached brackets align up with two slats on the rear end of the toddler bed.
Step-6Â Fix the rail to the bed
Fix the rail to the bed by installing the screw through the holes of each L- bracket and make sure that each screw is tightly holding the brackets.
Step – 7 Set the bed
As the guardrail is now ready, place the mattress in its position and keep the necessary items such as pillows and blankets for the baby to have a peaceful sleep and a good dream.
2. By constructing with wooden planks
A bed toddler rail can also be constructed with wooden planks by following steps:
Step – 1 Cut the wooden planks into pieces
One of the foremost steps in constructing a toddler bed with wooden planks is by cutting the wooden planks into four pieces by 24” length by using a saw.
Step- 2 Make a headboard and footboard panels
(I) For making the headboard panel, first cut the wooden planks into two pieces in the length 24″Â and then cut two pieces in the length 12″.
(ii) Take a plywood board of the size 2×3 and use a table saw for cutting a 1/4″ wide cut in the middle of all four boards.
(iii) Take another plywood of dimension 1×4″ and cut it into 12 1/2″.
(iv) Apply some wood glue to the wooden planks and join the 2×3 plies all together with the help of two pocket hole screws of size 1/2″
(V) Repeat the whole procedure for building a footboard panel of the bed.
Step – 3 Attach both panels to wooden planks
(i) Measure the wooden planks and mark their dimension from the below of each plank of the size 4×4
(ii) Now attach the headboard panel to the planks with the help of two-pocket hole screws of size 1/2″
(iii) Repeat the same procedure for the footboard panel.
Step – 4 Create a back panel of the bed
(i) Take two wooden planks and cut them into two pieces of dimension 50 3/4”, similarly cut another two pieces of wooden planks in the length of 9″.
(ii) Drill two pocket holes at the end of each 2- 3 boards and cut a wide 1/4″ cut in the middle of the plyboard with the help of a saw.
(iii) Again cut plywood in the dimension 1/4″ and try to insert it into the cut.
(IV) Fix all four sides of a panel with the help of two pocket screws.
Step – 5 Install the back of the toddler bed
(i) Take a 2×4 wooden plank and cut each piece to 50 3/4″ in dimension.
(ii) Drill two pocket holes on the bottom of the wooden plank and fix the 2×4 plank with a 4×4 plank with the help of pocket holes.
Step-6 Make the front panels of the bed
(i) Take a long 2×3 plyboard of the dimension of 28″ and drill some pocket holes to the side where it will attach to the 4×4 wooden planks.
(ii) Now cut and fix the 2× 3 mattress support by using 2″ wooden screws for securing the front panel.
(iii)Â Use the nail gun to secure the plywood for protective support.
Now, you can place your mattress to its position and your wooden Toddler bed is ready.
3. Tucking in pool noodles
Using pool noodles can be the smartest and cheapest way. Using pool noodles is very simple and it is easy to use as you just need to follow some easy steps :
1. Firstly measure up the size of the edge of your bed and cut it according to the required length.
2. Tape or glue them together, if pool noodles are too long.
3. Mark the size of a pool noodle with the help of a marker and cut it with the help of a sharp knife.
4. You can use it for covering the corners of the bed, tables and even for covering the electrical cords.
4. Using bolster pillows
Making a bolster pillow at home is easy to prepare with the help of some materials such as:
a. A Standard Double-Sized Wool Blanket
b. A Single Baby Sheet
c. Strips Of Cloth
Procedure:
a. First of all, fold up your blanket in semi- half, which will give you the required length needed for making a bolster pillow.
b. Now, roll the blanket and give it a shape of a cylinder and cover it up with a baby sheet.
c. In the end, tie the ends of a bolster pillow with the help of a cloth strip.
d. The bolster pillow is ready to give your baby a peaceful sleep.
Tools:
- Guard Rail
- Screwdriver
- L- Brackets
- Wooden Planks
- Wood Plyboard
- Pocket Screws
- Pool Noodles
- Glue
- Cement Glue
Materials: NA
How To Build A Toddler Bed Rail Guard?
A toddler bed rail guard can guide your child to move in or out of the bed without falling from the bed.
A toddler bed rail can be prepared at home without spending much by following some easy steps:
1. Cut up the PVC pipes
Cut up the PVC pipes into the dimension of (12) 17″ and (12) 5.5″ length. Leave the PVC pipes for some time to dry in a box.
2. Fit the PVC pipes
Assemble all your PVC pipes properly and try to fit the first and second PVC pipes together. Hold both pipes together tightly.
3. Fix it with PVC cement
Take the PVC cement and apply it to both ends of the pipe including both insides as well as outside. Now, take up the pipe and insert it into the fitting and hold it tightly for 30 seconds.
4. Drill holes at each point
Drill holes at each point on both sides of the pipe and fit it in such a way that they align together. For drilling the pipes, use some 3/4 wood screws for putting into each hole.
5. Install it
Use the toddler rail guard, place the lower PVC part of the guard between the mattress and the edges of the bed.
How Does It Work?
Toddler bed rail guard works with any kind of bed, be it a double size or a queen-size bed. It allows your child to move in and out of the bed and also ensures the safety of your child while sleeping.
The bed rail gives your child a comfortable sleeping space that allows you to sleep peacefully without worrying much about the safety of your child.
Do Pool Noodles Work As Bed Rails?
Pool noodles can work as bed rails and they can be the most cost-effective alternative to bed rail guards. Covering pool noodles with a bedsheet can give you a better and a comfortable experience, as you don’t need to remove the pool noodles while going out of bed.
But you can rely on pool noodles as it doesn’t ensure the safety of your child and there are a couple of chances that your child might fall off while sleeping. Pool noodles do not provide you with the extra protection that bed rails and bed rail guards do.
Final Talk
Toddler bed rails are the best when it comes to the security and protection of your baby as it prevents your child from falling from the bed. Making bed rails at home can be a smarter and an efficient way as it is cheap, durable and safe as compared to the bed rails from the market. You can also customize it with your child’s favourite cartoon character to make it look more adorable.
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