How to Stop Children from Falling Out of Bed

Parents of young children might find their little one asleep on the floor next to his bed, having fallen out overnight. Children, especially those who have recently transitioned from a crib, fall out of bed often without serious injury. Strategic placing of the beds within a bedroom and safety equipment can help you stop your children from falling out of bed.

Choose the right time for your child to transition to a bed to help him from falling out. By the time your child is climbing out of his crib, usually between the ages of 18 months and 2 years old, he is mobile enough to handle climbing into a bed. Children who are younger or not as agile may not have the body control to keep themselves away from the edge of the bed.

Limit the amount of open space around your child's bed to help her stop falling out at night. Push her bed up against one wall instead of placing it in the center of the room.

Attach a guard rail to your child's bed to keep him safe during the night. A portable railing is designed with fork-like legs that slide under the mattress on the "open" side of the bed. If you do not have a guard rail, place a body pillow or rolled-up beach towel next to your child on the outer side of his bed. Rolling on top of the pillow or towel might wake him up enough to shift position and avoid falling out of bed. Do not use the body pillow or towel for toddlers and very young children -- these can pose suffocation risks.

Adhere to safety instructions on bunk beds to minimize the chances of your child falling and hurting herself. KidsHealth states that only children over the age of 6 should sleep in upper bunks. While most injuries sustain by kids who fall out of bed are superficial, the potential for a serious fall increases as the distance from the floor also increases.