Toddler Safety Bedrail

Intro: Toddler Safety Bedrail

 My 2 year-old grandson broke the cheaply made bedrail he had, so I devised this one, made of nothing but 1" PVC and cloth mesh, which I purchased in the plumbing section at my favorite big box store!

DISCLAIMER: This instructable does not warrant/guarantee safety. Any use of this instructable is done at the constructor's risk, and by using these plans, the user of holds harmless the author of these plans.

NOTE: you may want to invest in PVC cutters, but they are not necessary. I will say that I did one bedrail with and one without the cutters, and they REALLY help! With the cutters, this project took about 15 minutes. Cutters cost about $12, the remainder of the project: $14. (March 2010)

STEP 1: Materials

(2) 10' joints of 1" OD PVC (you end up with about 5' leftover, so if your supplier has shorter lengths, you may be able buy less
(4) 1" 90-degree elbows
(2) 1" "T" joints
(1) package drain mesh

NOTE: in the image, I have already cut the PVC joints into their component parts.

STEP 2: Cut PVC

 Since I was working with 2 10' joints, I cut the pieces in the following order, leaving a single large piece unused (or, ready to be used in the next bedrail):
1. Cut (2) 48" pieces, leaving a 24" piece, and completing the first 10' joint of PVC.
2. Cut (1) 24" piece
3. Cut (4) 7" joints (this results in a bottom rail that hugs the mattress, so child is less likely to go under the bottom rail).

STEP 3: Assemble Frame

 Assemble two identical configurations as shown in the image, comprised of an elbow, then 7" straight, then "T", then 7" straight, then elbow, then 24" straight. The image shows this exploded and connected, without the 24" pieces.
NOTE: I did not find it necessary (as yet) to glue these joints together. If you find it necessary, I recommend pre-assembling the frame for fit, then reassembling using PVC cement.

STEP 4: Assemble Webbing

Connect the two jointed pieces in Step 3 , using the 48" rails. Then, stretch the webbing over the rectangular frame as shown. NOTE: if you decide to make a taller rail assembly, your webbing may not fit.
Once the webbing is over the entire length of the frame, you can cut away excess, but be careful not to pre-measure. I came up short on first attempt, because it is difficult to gauge how much of the unstretched length is consumed when you stretch it over the frame.
Once the webbing is stretched over the frame, use a utility knife, or scissors to cut an "X" into the open joints, to make a hole. When you reassemble the parts, the hole serves to keep the webbing in place.

STEP 5: Reassemble and Slide Under Mattress

 Reassemble all of the parts, turn the 24" pieces 90-degrees, and slide them under the mattress.

Comments

[kylielist]

This is a brilliant idea! Thank you so much for posting this. It's exactly what I was looking online for....an inexpensive, sturdy, easy to make safety rail. I even had the PVC piping in my garage from an old project so this took me less then 10 minutes to make. I can even make a fabric cover for the railing to match the fabric's in my son's room. I love it! I can't believe I didn't think if this myself! Lol! Again, great idea and fabulous instructions!

[SpecEd]

Thank you. Our grandchildren have now outgrown it :o) Nice to get feedback and to know it was of use to someone.

[kelseymh]

Very nice!  The breathable cloth webbing is great. We bought the "breathable bumper" for our crib, which looks like the same sort of stuff.

[SpecEd]

 Thanks! It's tough stuff, intended to be wrapped around perforated pipe to prevent gravel/sand/sediment from filling the drain pipe once buried. It works well as a lint catcher for the washing machine too, if you are lacking a lady's nylon hose :o)