We may earn commission from links featured in this post. Read more.
Baby bumpers and guard rails are an important part of safe sleeping, in our opinion, for babies and young toddlers who sleep in their own bed or even when co-sleeping. Bumpers stop them from the impact of hitting the side in a cot, stop them from falling out in a bed and for some bumpers can help them roll themselves back.
We recommend purchasing a ready made guard rail or bumper as they are cheap, designed well and last a long time. But for those DIYers out there who want to do it themselves there are plenty of guides out there.
Auroris, has made a fantastic guide on making a braided bumper using cardboard tubes, fabric and soft foam.
To make this, you will need:
- Stretch Cotton velvet Fabric (3 colors): Size 35×150 cm
- Pillow stuffing (6pcs IKEA SLÅN Pillows): about 2 kg
- Sewing machine
- Needle & Thread
- Pins & Safety Pins
- Empty Paper Towel Roll or Cardboard
- Scissors
- Ruler
This is suitable for a cot with sides like the above image to brace impact but can also be used in regular beds underneath the sheet to gentle roll them back.
Sweet Living have made this fantastic example of a quilted bed bumper. To make this you will need:
- 4m cotton fabric or fabrics
- 10m double-fold bias binding
- Matching threads
- 1m high loft (thick) wadding (approx. 3cm thick)
For another low key idea, somedayillearn have come up with instructions to make the below. This example is the cheapest and fastest way to make a baby cot bumper. It’s quite thing but it will soften the impact if they roll towards the sides.
- Thin batting
- Thin, breathable fabric in two complimentary colors
- Sewing machine
- Needles and thread, ideally in a color complimentary to the fabric
- Iron
For something a bit more out there, we’ve found this stunning design from sew4home. Who have provided a complete guide and a long list of materials:
- airfield NU Foam® Baby Bumper Pads – package of six measuring 10″ x 26″ x 1″
- Fabric for inside of six crib bumpers: 2 yards of 45” wide fabric:
- Fabric for piping around bumpers AND corner ties: 1½ yards of 45” wide fabric:
- 6 yards 3/8″ diameter cotton cording
- All-purpose thread in colors to match fabrics
- Iron and Ironing board
- See through ruler
- Fabric marking pen or chalk pencil
- Scissors or rotary cutter and mat
- Straight pins
- Iron and ironing board
- Corner template
- 5″ square piece of cardboard or template plastic for template
If you’re a dab hand at sewing then this idea might be the one for you.
Lastly, there’s this brilliant video guide:
