Written by Brittany Ferri, PhD, OTR/L
Safety beds for special needs children are essential for providing a secure and restful sleep environment, addressing the unique challenges faced by children with conditions like autism, ADHD, and intellectual disabilities. These beds are designed to prevent entrapment and fall, offering peace of mind for caregivers while supporting the child's physical and mental health. When shopping for a safety bed, consider features such as sturdy construction, secure enclosures, adjustable settings, and ease of access to ensure the bed meets the user's specific needs.
 | 1) Beds by George - Haven Series Safety Bed View Product |
All safety beds are designed to securely keep children in bed at night, particularly those who tend to wander, while also protecting them against entrapment. Open designs allow a child to be part of their surroundings while keeping them safe and secure in bed. They mimic the crib design, but on average, they can accommodate sleepers who weigh up to 350 pounds.
Enclosed models deliver all-encompassing security that surrounds the bed. They’re usually made with soft fabrics and other durable materials with specially designed closures that can’t be opened from the inside. Often, they are lightweight and foldable, so they’re easy to take along while traveling. Enclosed models eliminate distractions, which are beneficial for children on the autism spectrum and those with sensory issues.
For users unable to reposition themselves independently, articulating beds allow the bed to be raised or lowered in sections, aiding in everything from digestion and circulation to preventing pressure sores. Safety beds that are height adjustable make it easier for caregivers to assist with bed transfers without strain to reach the user.
If assembly is an option for more complicated stationary beds, consider taking advantage of the service even if there is an additional fee. If you invest in a safety bed, professional assembly will ensure it’s assembled correctly.
Bedtime can be challenging for any child, but for special needs kids who have difficulty settling in for sleep, providing a bed they enjoy getting into can make a big difference. These beds provide a cozy and safe feeling; some have lights, fun prints, extra padding, and other features to make it a fun place.
A height-adjustable bed can eliminate reaching and lifting, taking some physical strain off caregivers. Design features like windows, ports for medical devices, and IV pole attachments all accommodate necessary medical equipment and allow for monitoring and care without disturbing a sleeping child.
It depends on your insurance, but often, if you have a prescription for a safety bed as durable medical equipment, it will be partially covered. Please check your coverage levels and we are also happy to discuss financing options.
A special needs bed is designed to provide a safe and calm sleep space as well as keep kids from getting out of bed at night without supervision. This helps prevent injuries, falls, and wandering.
A Hannah bed is a safety bed made by KayserBetten, which has multiple entries on our list of top safety beds for special needs. The Hannah 135 Safety Bed offers multiple benefits and design features to keep special needs kids comfortable and safe in bed. There is also a long list of accessories that can customize the design to meet a user’s individual needs.
The best bed choice for an autistic child is the zPOD. These sensory-friendly safe spaces help children get to a calm and relaxed state where they can sleep in comfort.
The fully electric Hannah 135 Safety Bed is the best choice for serving special needs kids with cerebral palsy, as it supports dynamic positioning of the user to prevent any sliding while in bed.
Children with Angelman Syndrome typically have hyperactivity, a short attention span, and difficulty sleeping. The Hannah 170 has a special door locking system and the tallest safety rail available to meet medical, physical, and behavioral needs with protection and comfort.
Sensory processing and sleep quality affect academic performance and quality of life. A sensory bed helps create a calming environment to distract users with heightened emotions and high activity levels that can keep them from falling or staying asleep. A bed with soothing lights and sounds can help soothe a user and de-stress to promote restful sleep.
 | Leckey Sleepform Support System for Children by Sunrise Medical View Product |
The Leckey Sleepform Support System for Children by Sunrise Medical, our number 5 pick, is an innovative posturing system designed to improve overnight positioning for children with special needs. This inflatable, grid-sheet system provides personalized support tailored to the user's specific requirements, ensuring a symmetrical and comfortable posture throughout the night. It complements daytime posturing platforms to offer round-the-clock support, making it an essential tool for maintaining ideal positioning and preventing sleep disturbances. The portable design and adjustable features make the Leckey Sleepform Support System a versatile and convenient solution for both home and travel.
 | SleepSafe Low Bed View Product |
The Low Bed by SleepSafe is sitting at number 4 on our list of top safety beds for special needs. The low bed transfer height is 22.25 inches with the safety rail, and 20.75 inches without the safety rail. There are three safety rail height options to choose from, depending on the amount of user activity, to prevent falls from bed and night wandering.
The articulating mattress adjusts the head and foot elevations to provide comfort and support. This low bed’s design eliminates gaps between the mattress, bed, and rails to prevent entrapment. It can be ordered in manual or electric versions.
With this solid wood safety bed, you can choose from six finish colors to match your decor. Each package contains a premium mattress that is fluid-resistant, antimicrobial, and fire-resistant, plus locking casters, and a foundation of your choice. It comes in twin, full, and queen sizes, and you can build your customized package when you place your order.
 | SleepSafer Professional Tall Safety Beds View Product |
The SleepSafer Professional Tall Safety Bed by SleepSafe Beds, our number 3 pick, is specifically designed for individuals who are more active during sleep or at bedtime. Its impressive height of 54¾ inches offers a secure sleeping environment, effectively preventing falls and unwanted wandering at night. The solid wood construction exceeds all bed safety standards, ensuring durability and peace of mind.
This bed features customizable options such as hi-lo adjustment for personalized height settings, adjustable head, and foot sections for optimal comfort, and three rail height options to accommodate different activity levels. The SleepSafer Tall Bed also eliminates gaps between the mattress, bed, and rails to prevent entrapment and injury, making it a reliable choice for those needing extra security.
 | Safety Sleeper Bed by Abrams Bed TWIN-SIZED View Product |
The twin-sized Safety Sleeper Bed by Abrams Bed is our number 2 choice. An enclosed special needs bed, its frame and mesh cover sit on a bed or floor and can be used at home or while traveling to ensure a calm sleep environment no matter where you are.
It’s available in five packages:
Every Safety Sleeper Bed comes with a freestanding aluminum frame, removable padded enclosure, four frame pads, two zip-in coverlet sheets, two stabilizing straps, a waterproof memory foam mattress, an air mattress for travel, and a wheeled carrying case. Options include soft frame pads, loops, and pockets for storage, and the entire enclosure is machine washable.
These special needs beds are built to last, with enhanced joints to withstand heavy use and play. The taller headspace and bigger doors make it appropriate for adults as well as children who benefit from an enclosed sleep space.
 | Beds by George - Haven Series Safety Bed View Product |
Our number 1 choice, the Haven Series Safety Bed from Beds by George is our most popular bed from this manufacturer. This safety bed for special needs features a removable washable fabric canopy that is unique in that it can be tightened to combat natural stretching. This eliminates gaps between the canopy fabric and the frame and gives the canopy a longer service life.
The fabric and mesh construction allows for ventilation, visibility, and a softer, more comfortable environment than those provided by other wooden frame beds. It comes in twin, extra long twin, or full size, and you can choose from a fixed platform with low profile, semi-adjustable, or fully adjustable frames.
This bed’s heavy-duty aluminum frame is securely bolted to the skirt and wooden corner posts. The fabric sleeves are made from padded polyester-nylon for safety with a urethane coating to repel moisture and mildew and help maintain a hygienic environment.
It’s difficult for many kids with special needs to fall asleep and stay asleep, which leads to poor sleep patterns and a tendency to get out of bed and wander. A special needs bed could make the difference between a daily struggle at bedtime and the path to deeper sleep. In addition to protecting against entrapment and falls out of bed, special needs safety beds provide an environment where sensory processing disorders can be managed and restorative sleep is easier to achieve.
Our top pick, the Haven Series Safety Bed from Beds by George, is the ultimate solution for special needs children. This bed features a unique removable, washable fabric canopy that can be tightened to eliminate gaps, ensuring a longer service life. Its fabric and mesh construction provide excellent ventilation and a comfortable environment. Available in twin, extra long twin, or full size, with options for a fixed platform, semi-adjustable, or fully adjustable frames, it offers versatility to meet various needs. The Haven Series Safety Bed combines innovative design, comfort, and robust construction, making it our most recommended choice for special needs safety beds.
Thank you for taking the time to read about the Top 5 Safety Beds for Special Needs! To learn more about similar products, visit the Safety Beds section of our website. You can also check out Caregiver University for more information to help you decide which safety bed will work best for you and your family.
Brittany is an occupational therapist who has worked in a variety of rehab facilities. She has always expressed an interest in patients’ internal motivation for therapy and the use of assistive devices, which led her to pursue a PhD in Integrative Mental Health. This research-based training has also led her to develop her writing career to educate patients of all ages on how to improve their health. Brittany has published four books, written over 300 articles, and has been quoted in media outlets such as WebMD, Healthline, and NBC News.
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