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The canopy was originally more of a practical thing than a decorative element: it protected from insects, bright light, and drafts. Today, screens on windows and fumigators protect from insects, blinds and curtains protect from bright light, and double-glazed windows protect from drafts... But canopies over beds do not lose their popularity due to their unique property - to give comfort and create a mood.
If you also want to add coziness to your (or your child’s) sleeping place and have decided to make a canopy over the bed with your own hands, this article will be useful to you.
What is a baby bed limiter?
A child bed restraint is a holder for a bed to prevent a child from falling, mounted separately or installed at the manufacturer's factory. This element helps to protect the child's sleep and prevent accidental falls from the bed in the middle of the night and subsequent injuries. Bed restraints are relevant both for small children sleeping separately from their parents, and for babies sleeping with their mother, because the part can also be installed on an adult bed.
Bed restraints can significantly reduce the risk of falls.
Note! Built-in barriers are necessary for children sleeping on the second floor of a bunk bed to avoid falls, regardless of the child's age, because the resulting injuries can be extremely dangerous. They can be purchased in furniture stores, purchased to order, or you can make them yourself from scrap materials, and they will not be inferior in efficiency to purchased ones.
A bed restraint is a protective barrier that prevents the person on the bed from falling.
Homemade canopy design
If the canopy is made independently, then the retainer stand can be made as follows:
- Make a wooden frame on the wall. To do this, at a height of 1 m above the cradle at the head, or on the side, mark a place for attaching the bracket.
- Drill a hole in the wall and attach a wooden beam horizontally to it.
- Secure the slats along the edges of the installed beam at right angles with self-tapping screws.
- Throw fabric over the resulting frame and create sagging in the canopy between the slats so that the material hangs evenly.
The canopy holder is the main structure of the canopy, and you can also make it yourself. The most suitable material for its manufacture is thick wire. You need to make an oval or circle out of it and attach it to the ceiling at the head of the crib. The structure can also be built in the form of a stand. To do this, use a wooden stick, metal or plastic tube, and attach the holder to the stand using a clamp.
Initially, a canopy was made on a child’s bed so that the child would have the feeling of a cocoon, so that he would feel protected, like in his mother’s tummy. A canopy is not a beautiful toy, but a psychological protection for an insecure or separated baby from his mother. And in order not to frighten the child even more by a structure unexpectedly falling on him, you need to know how to securely and correctly fasten the canopy to the crib.
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Types of limiters
Limiters are different; they can either completely or partially cover the side of the bed. Full coverage is important for young children; partial coverage will be sufficient for older children to limit falls.
Such devices can be built-in, that is, the design of the bed provides for the presence of such a barrier in advance.
Bed barriers can be either removable or built-in. Removable ones are especially convenient because you can take them with you on trips, so that you can protect your baby on the road.
There are also limiters:
- Factory;
- Made to order according to individual measurements;
- Homemade.
You can also buy a limiter separately if you need it.
By material type
Sides are divided into several types, depending on the material from which they are made.
Soft
It is the simplest model of a limiter; it includes: foam rubber, padding polyester, which is rolled into a tube and, if necessary, several rollers are connected one on top of the other to achieve the desired height. Covers can be placed on top; they are usually attached to the mattress using laces or Velcro.
You can choose the material from which the product is made based on your tastes and preferences.
Reticulate
An effective solution to prevent your baby from falling at night while sleeping. Most often, nets are installed in a frame made of wood, metal or durable plastic.
The color variations of such sides are also varied.
Important! Check the strength of the mesh before installing the barrier on the bed. The restraint must be able to withstand the weight of the baby without being damaged.
Plastic
A rather convenient and practical side, despite its lightness, is durable and reliable. It is easy to use, warms up quickly, is easy to clean from dirt, and will not damage the baby’s skin if accidentally broken. Easy to make, you can make it yourself from plastic tubes at home.
As a rule, children's beds designed for very young children are always equipped with a built-in barrier.
Wood
A classic version of a barrier for a children's bed. Strong, reliable, durable. Fits perfectly into the bedroom interior, looks aesthetically pleasing and expensive. There are many variations in appearance and shape, it all depends on the owner’s imagination.
The minimum height can be selected if the child is constantly in a lying position, that is, for infants.
By mounting method
There are several ways to attach the holders to the crib:
- To the base of the bed;
- To the side walls of the bedroom;
- To the side of the crib;
- Under the mattress using a metal frame;
In this case, the side is held down by the weight of the child, suitable for children over two years old;
- To the mattress using Velcro and laces;
- Universal, for mounting on both horizontal and vertical planes.
Why are they needed?
In the production of bedroom sets, different types of supporting fittings are used. The legs ensure the stability of the sleeping place and allow you to adjust the height of the frame relative to the floor level, taking into account the personal preferences of the person who sleeps on it. The presence of legs gives the furniture interesting decorative touches. Since the bed occupies a central place in the bedroom interior, the design of the furniture attracts attention. Bed legs perform several important functions:
- reliable stability - the frame is clearly fixed and takes on the load of the body weight of a sleeping person;
- protection, functionality - furniture with supports can be conveniently rearranged, excluding mechanical damage, and adjusted in height;
- decoration, design - with the help of legs you can emphasize the style of the furniture design;
- order, comfort - under furniture installed on supports, it is more convenient to perform wet cleaning and vacuum the carpet.
Beds with legs visually look lighter and do not weigh down the interior of the room. The standard support height that manufacturers focus on is 250-260 mm for orthopedic frames with lamellas. Taking into account the thickness of the mattress, the optimal sleeping height for comfortable sleep and rest is obtained.
How to make a fall protection bed with your own hands
You can easily make a do-it-yourself limiter for a children's bed of any kind at home, both from scrap materials and from inexpensive building materials, despite the fact that this attribute will serve as long and reliably as the factory one.
If the built-in limiter is a series of vertical slats, then the arms and legs of babies can get stuck between them. In this case, a soft border is also necessary.
How to make a bed restrainer from wood with your own hands
First, you need to decide on the method of attaching the limiter; the easiest way is to attach it to the side of the bed, but this may not be a very aesthetic way and will damage the structure of the crib. You can choose any convenient one from the list of mounts listed above.
For older children, who are around the age of three, you can choose low restraints to prevent them from falling while sleeping.
Decide on the future design and shape of the holder. Prepare the necessary material and tools, namely:
- Reliable wooden bars;
- Hacksaw;
- Self-tapping screws and/or bolts;
- Screwdriver;
- Ruler or tape measure;
- Paper and pencil.
To make the simplest U-shaped barrier, which will be fastened with bolts, you will need slats 55 cm long; the height is selected individually, can be from 15 to 30 cm.
For a crib measuring 70x120 cm, a side with a height of 70 cm will be optimal.
Step-by-step description of the side manufacturing process:
- Draw a schematic diagram of the proposed barrier for the crib, taking into account future dimensions;
- Cut the wooden slats according to the dimensions indicated in the diagram;
- Carefully fasten the bars together to ultimately obtain a U-shaped frame.
- Drill holes for fastening bolts on the installed barrier and the side of the bed;
- Screw the limiter to the bed using bolts.
Additional Information! Instead of blocks of wood, you can take a single piece of board and attach the required size to the bed, this will prevent the child's body or body parts from getting stuck in the resulting gap.
Older children need curbs to prevent them from falling while sleeping.
How to make a bed restrainer with your own hands from other materials
Side made of material
To do this you need:
- Take measurements of the crib;
- Construct a rough plan of the building on paper;
- Purchase foam rubber or padding polyester, fabric for the cover and fasteners in the required quantity;
- Roll up rolls of material and stitch;
- Sew covers of a suitable size;
- Sew fasteners onto the covers and mattress;
- Attach the restraint to the bed.
The color scheme of the bed limiter, as well as the bed itself, depends entirely on the flight of your imagination.
Plastic side
Pipes purchased from the plumbing department of a hardware store work well here. They are easy to fasten together, the fastenings are strong, and the whole structure is quite simple.
The holder can be attached to the side of the bed, to the bottom of the bed, or under the mattress, if the age and weight of the child allows.
Removable restraints are installed, as a rule, only on part of the bed, and therefore are suitable for older children - approximately three years of age and older.
Mesh side
- Measure the bed;
- Plan the approximate size and design of the limiter;
- Purchase materials: strong mesh, slats made of wood, metal.
- Cut and fasten the frame from the slats;
- Attach the mesh in the middle;
- Cover the frame with a suitable fabric or thoroughly sand the surface of the wood and varnish it, let it dry.
- Attach to the bed in any convenient way.
Parents traditionally prefer pink for a girl and blue for a boy.
Important! Check the surface of the homemade border for the presence of piercing and cutting edges and immediately eliminate it so as not to damage the integrity of the child’s skin.
Side for newborns
How to make a side for a children's bed so that the child does not fall? Restraints on newborn cribs are necessary not only to prevent children from falling, but also to soften the hard parts of the bed.
This function can be performed by soft woven bolsters and pillows placed around the perimeter of the crib and covering sharp corners.
In cribs designed for newborns, restraints are installed along the entire length, safely limiting the space of the crib.
Natural hypoallergenic materials are suitable for making barriers. It is not advisable to use hard parts to decorate the sides, because they can scratch the delicate skin of babies, or get into the respiratory tract and cause suffocation.
For the little ones, soft models of bumpers are available. They can cover the crib on four sides, or they can only be attached to two long sides.
Bed with four anchors
As the name implies, ropes, metal cables, chains or special pipes with mounting holes are attached to the sleeping place in four places. This bed is usually rectangular in shape. If you decide to make your own hanging bed, be sure to attach steel strips to the wooden frame where the ropes are attached. Each plank should be supported by several screws, this will increase the reliability of the structure. The hanging bed is attached to the ceiling using dowel nails with rings or hooks at the ends. Such fastenings do not always look aesthetically pleasing, but they can be successfully hidden under ceiling finishing, for example under drywall. In the following interior you can see an example of hanging beds on ropes (round fastenings are used).
Beds on ropes are successfully used in country, tropical, marine, and romantic styles. A bed on chains will be an impressive element of the Gothic style interior.
Hanging beds with four brackets are often equipped with sides on three sides, this virtually eliminates the possibility of a sleeping person accidentally falling when the bed rocks. There are also bunk hanging beds, such a technique would be appropriate in
In southern latitudes and on many island countries, a suspended sleeping place is a common sight. For countries with a temperate climate, it might look exotic if it were not for the baby's cradle, which has been suspended from the ceiling since ancient times. Today, designers are happy to use hanging beds in both country interiors and city apartments.
How to install a baby bumper on an adult bed
If a child sleeps with parents who are concerned about his safety while sleeping, bumpers on an adult bed for the child will be a way out of this situation.
It is advisable to choose restraints with removable fastenings, because the child will grow up and move to sleep on his own bed after some time.
Universal removable restraints are an ideal solution for arranging a sleeping area in any bed; they are easy to attach and just as easy to remove.
It is necessary to choose the appropriate size, either for the entire length of the bed, or a partially retaining side, depending on the age and sleeping behavior of the child.
Otherwise, the manufacturing recommendations are the same as for the previous options.
The presence of special racks in the design allows them to be adjusted in height.
Sides for a children's bed are a useful and necessary device that does not have to be purchased in a store, but can be made independently by involving an older child in the process, giving the opportunity to choose materials and decorative elements according to their preferences.
Most parents who purchased crib restraints for their children were satisfied with this purchase.
Video: Original solution - hanging bed
If you need a bed for your home, apartment or cottage, do not limit your choice to traditional stationary models. A DIY hanging bed will not only provide you with a comfortable place for a good rest, but will also take you to the world of childhood and give you pleasure and a dreamy mood. After all, it is hanging structures that are most associated with relaxation, a carefree mood, and relaxation in exotic places.
Today, such products have regained their well-deserved popularity and have taken places in children's rooms, bedrooms, on terraces, in the courtyards of country houses, etc. These are hanging analogues of sleeping places in a classic design, original round floating beds, various stylized models and no less comfortable, but affordable each with a bed of pallets.
Hanging beds seem to float on the floor. In order to fully create an atmosphere of lightness and airiness, there should be no other pieces of furniture around the bed. But you can decorate the floor with a beautiful carpet of any shape and size of pile, without worrying that it will be damaged by your feet. After all, the entire load from the weight of the bed, as well as those sleeping in it, falls on the mounting points (wall or ceiling). It is important here not to skimp on accessories, but to correctly calculate the weight. Failure to pay attention to this issue can make the bed dangerous.
The main feature of hanging beds is their ability to sway with the slightest movement. As a rule, children and adults like this effect. But if this is not the case, you can make a hanging bed with rigid fastenings.
50 design options for baby cribs with sides
Hanging beds: shapes and their features
Of course, leaving the usual sleeping bed firmly placed on the floor is not easy. A floating hanging bed in interior design is the prerogative of brave and creative individuals. If you are going to solve the issue this way, then let’s consider the subject of your idea in detail. Let's start with the forms.
Rectangular hanging bed
- This is a traditional form for a sleeping place. It is most often chosen, because even in a suspended version it easily fits into the interior and does not create difficulties in planning. The bed is secured using four ropes. Suitable for both children's and adult bedrooms. For safe sleep, the bed is equipped with bumpers on three sides. Such models do not have a full-fledged headboard, but in children's models it is better to have one.
Then we make holes for the rope in the corners of the base. We measure the diameter of the rope and, stepping back from the edge no less than 15 cm, make holes for it in the boards at all four corners using a drill with a crown.
We attach four hooks to the ceiling. They can be fixed to a wooden frame nailed to the ceiling or made into separate fastenings for hook-bolts.
We pass the pieces of rope folded in half with the cut ends into the holes and tie them with a knot. To prevent the knot from unraveling, it is necessary to coat it with wood glue.
Once all four slings are secured to the base, we begin hanging the bed. Here you will need an assistant. Throw a loop of rope onto the hook and you're done. All that remains is to put the mattress on and make the bed.
Important!
For children and elderly family members, a hanging bed must be equipped with sides and a soft headboard.
How to choose fabric for a canopy
The fabric for the canopy is, in fact, what the canopy itself is made for over the bed. You will look at it every day before going to bed, so it is very important that you are completely satisfied with the choice.
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Canopy for children's Princess tent gray
Tip: a bedroom with a canopy will look especially harmonious if the fabric chosen for the canopy is repeated on other textiles, for example, on window curtains, pillows or bedspreads.
Lightweight fabrics are well ventilated and easy to wash. These include chintz, linen and even cotton. They will flutter beautifully in the wind and lull you to sleep with their shimmer before bed.
Heavy fabrics protect from bright light and noise, and they also retain heat (imagine autumn in an unheated country house). These are tapestry, jacquard and velvet, and washing these fabrics is usually a lot of hassle. Depending on the style of the bedroom, the material is decorated with tassels, flounces and fringe.
Interesting: In Europe in the 16th and 17th centuries, canopies on four supports were made mainly for protection from the cold: heavy fabrics retained heat well, because bedrooms were not heated at that time. A little later, in the era of Louis XIV and Louis XV, fabrics for canopies were made of brocade and decorated with gold embroidery and lambrequins. At that time, canopies were also made from velvet, satin and damask. From the East Indies to Europe came the fashion for printed cotton canopies and slightly cheaper French toiles. Nowadays such canopies can be seen in the Chateau of Versailles.