How do I make this bed safe?

[beatee]

My first is due in about a month, and I'm absolutely all over the place about sleeping arrangements. She will absolutely definitely be in our bedroom, as close to us as possible, but whether it will be in the crib, a sidecar, or in the bed proper is still up for debate. I have a lot of misgivings about having her in bed with us, which I have mentioned on this board before, and the idea of a tiny newborn next to two very restless thrashing sleepers absolutely fills me with fear and a very bad feeling. However, I also have specific concerns about the bed that we have, that I hope someone here can address.
The bed (which came with the property, we rent and can absolutely not afford to buy a new one) has a construction kind of similar to this BUT with a foot end (also rails) and very annoying little side rails from the head and foot end. Not useful bedrails, but ones that are perfectly positioned to trap little heads and bodies, and which I think would make sidecarring impossible. Gutted, because a sidecar is the thing that seemed to make most sense for us.
Basically, the whole bed seems designed to trap babies (there is also definitely room for a head to slip in between the headboard rails and get trapped.
The obvious solution would seem to be putting the mattress on the floor. However, I am very reluctant to do this because we have hardwood floors that get really dusty, and I have awful asthma/allergic reaction if I lie on the floor (we do sweep, of course, but it's really hard to keep on top of it and qill be even harder once we have a little one). Plus, the mattress is not a good one. It's uncomfy enough on the bed frame, and on the floor would be hellish. It sags like hell and I can feel the springs meshing with my ribs when I lie on my side. It came with the house, we can't afford a new one by any stretch of the imagination, and the chances of getting the landlord to replace it are pretty much non existent. I can't imagine any of us getting a moments sleep if the mattress was on the floor.
So, does anyone have any creative solutions on babyproofing this evil railing ridden bed? Or should I just give up and have her in the crib? Whilst I totally agree with the principles behind cosleeping, for a tiny baby what I really care about is safety, and unless I know that this is 100% safe (as far as possible), it aint happening.

[Baby Makes 4]

Sorry, my only thought is to maybe ask for a new bed for a baby shower gift? If you have enough family members pitch in $20-$50 each you could probably buy something much safer and confier.

I hope you find a solution, everyone needs a comfy bed.

[Shakti A.]

Our bed has vertical wooden slats, rather than horizontal metal ones, for the headboard. I see your concern. We took a large piece of corrugated cardboard and placed it between the headboard and the mattress. I think with our first, it was small, just covering the space between the grown up pillows where he slept, but all the way to the floor. With our second, we got a BIG piece and put it all the way across, but using those plastic tie wraps and holes in the cardboard to secure it to the headboard, rather than going all the way down. Hope that helps.

Oh, also, we NEVER worried about the footboard.

[mammal_mama]

What about stuffing extra bedding (or the corrugated cardboard suggested by the pp) between mattress and siderails as well -- wouldn't that effectively prevent your little one from slipping into the crevice and suffocating?

With our first, I was terrified of rolling over on her and kept her next to me in a basket for 6 weeks. By that time, I'd had enough experience of drifting off to sleep while nursing, and waking hours later to find her still in the bed and still breathing -- and realized I could trust myself and brought her into the bed full-time.

Like you, before kids I was a restless sleeper -- but I discovered motherhood brought me totally in-tune with my precious little one (and I was one who used to kick and roll over on friends in my sleep as a single person).

Our second slept in our bed -- between me and the wall -- right from the beginning. I stuffed bedding between mattress and wall when she was tiny, to make sure there was no crevice she could slip into -- but now that she's 2 that's no longer a worry.

Best wishes! I hope you'll come back and update us after Baby's here.

[happy & blessed]

I would suggest rolling up towels or blankets and stuffing them around the edges of the bed. The cardboard thing a pp mentioned sounds like a good idea too.
Before dd was born, we planned on her sleeping in a little basket type thing that went on our bed, but realized the first night that it just wasn't going to happen. She nurses to sleep right next to me, and when she wakes up, i just get her latched on and go back to sleep. I can't imagine having to get up to move her everytime.
As a pp said, I think that you will be very aware of your little babe sleeping next to you, but do what your instincts tell you. If you have serious misgivings about the babe in the bed, then you shouldn't do it.
good luck with the new little blessing!

[MichelleAnnette]

Dh and I sleep on a king size futon on the floor (~$300). I bought it almost a year ago specifically because I knew we would be having a baby soon and it seemed safest to me. I've slept on futons all my life and I HATED the mattress we had when we got married (it was his from his parents' house).

If I were in your situation, I would put a room size rug on the floor and then a king size futon on top of that. I'd probably try to get those two things for shower gifts.

[rmzbm]

Originally Posted by Baby Makes 4

Sorry, my only thought is to maybe ask for a new bed for a baby shower gift? If you have enough family members pitch in $20-$50 each you could probably buy something much safer and confier.

I hope you find a solution, everyone needs a comfy bed.

:

[jani]

Hi,
I know you said you don't want to buy anything but I truly think you might look into getting a boxspring for your bed if you think baby might be in it at all. I think it is the safest thing to put under a mattress because it allows you to put your matress flush up against a wall (a safe alternative to a side rail) and or cosleeper. I think boxsprings would be cheaper than a simple frame but that would be an option. I was very nervous with both of my kids and though I really go the hang of things with my second (they both slept in our bed the majority of the time) I think nervousness is very normal and it really can interfere with sleep. Some people really take a long time to get used to cosleeping. Make your bed as straighforward and safe as possible. It will be worth it in the long run!

Is it possible to remove any of the bed's rails?

Are you handy - could you put together a simple platform bed with plywood and cinderblocks - someone on this website must have done this!

Hope this helps,