A bed rail is a safety device that attaches to the top of a bed to help prevent children from climbing into or falling out of the bed. Bed rails can be attached to the head or foot of the bed, and are available in a variety of materials, including metal, wood, and plastic.
According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), bed rails can help prevent serious injuries, including falls from the bed, strangulations, and suffocation. The CPSC recommends that bed rails be used with children who are at least 1 year old, and recommends that they not be used with children who are younger than 1 year old unless the child is able to stay in a seated or standing position in a safety harness.
Despite the recommendation that bed rails not be used with children who are younger than 1 year old, the CPSC reports that the use of bed rails has decreased in recent years, likely because of their effectiveness in preventing injuries. However, the CPSC reports that there have been reports of bed rails causing injuries, including a death, when the child is able to remove the rail from the bed.
According to the CPSC, the use of bed rails can help prevent injuries, including falls from the bed, strangulations, and suffocation. However, the use of bed rails can also cause injuries, including a death, when the child is able to remove the rail from the bed.
