How to Make a Child’s Room Feel Safe
Making sure your child feels safe in their bedroom is an important part of any successful bedtime routine.
If your little one feels comfortable and secure, they’re less likely to object to being left in their room or to abandon their bed in the middle of the night and climb into yours (or so the theory goes!)
Of course, some essential safety features should be installed, including smoke alarms and carbon dioxide detectors. However, there are also less obvious tips and tricks that you can use to make your child feel safer in their room.
Read on for ideas on how to improve your little one’s peace of mind when they head to bed. As the saying goes: safety first, sleep second (we hope!)
1. Safe Furniture
By taking practical steps to prevent your child from physically injuring themselves in their room, you will naturally make it feel safer for them.
All kid’s furniture should be secured to the wall to prevent it from toppling over and falling on them. Consider keeping it away from windows, so they can’t use it to climb onto window ledges. For very little ones, make sure windows have guards and remove any dangling blind cords that they could get caught on.
Furniture with soft-close drawers and doors will ensure there are no squished fingers leading to tears – check out our Vox Canne range for a great example.
2. Floor Beds
Choosing a floor-level bed such as our Jackson Kids House Bed by Cuckooland can make your child feel safer and more confident.
This is because it’s easier for them to get in and out of bed independently, and the low height means they’re less likely to hurt themselves falling out of bed in the night (after the inevitable duvet battles!)
A floor level kid’s beds align with the popular Montessori education method, which teaches the empowerment of children by allowing them to explore their interests and gain hands-on experience of the world around them, helping them become more autonomous.
3. Calming Colours
Colour psychology suggests that cool colours such as blue and green are calming and peaceful and reflect the natural world – although blue, in particular, is sometimes thought of as ‘sad’.
Reds and oranges are warmer colours, but they are more stimulating and can be associated with passion and anger.
If you want to create a soothing space for your little one, you might like to experiment with painting their bedroom walls calming shades of blue, green or grey or adding accessories in these colours.
4. Favourite Toys
What could be more comforting to a child than their favourite teddy? Even if he is threadbare and covered in various bodily fluids!
Amongst the many toys they accumulate, most children will have one or two favourites. Having these with them at bedtime can be highly reassuring and help them to feel safe –they may not even be able to sleep without them!
Other toys in the room should ideally be packed away at bedtime, to prevent distractions and help your little one to understand that it’s time to sleep.
If you want to give your child extra comfort in bed, check out our SNURK Bedding Sets and choose a photographic print of their favourite animal (mythical or otherwise!)
5. Soft Lighting
Some children may find it easier to fall asleep in total darkness, but others will be comforted by a night light – particularly if they’re afraid of the dark, or the monster lurking in the cupboard!
Bedside lamps are a good choice, as your child can switch them themselves before getting up, so they can avoid tripping over anything on the floor and check there’s nothing large and scaly lurking in the room.
Consider what bulbs you choose for kids’ lights. Warm-toned yellow or orange lighting will be more comforting than bright white light and won’t interfere with their circadian rhythm – unlike blue light, which you should avoid.
The Sleep Foundation recommends keeping lighting dimmed to below 100 lux to avoid interference with melatonin production, which can lead to poorer sleep quality.
6. Cosy Dens
What could be more comforting than a cosy cabin or pillow fort that they can snuggle up in and barricade themselves from the rest of the world?
Kids love making dens from furniture and bedding, so you could let them build their own – but if you want to help them out, get a mid or high-sleeper bed with readymade space for a den underneath.
Alternatively, choose a treehouse-style bed with an enclosed cabin up top, such as our Charlotte Treehouse Bed, which will make kids feel cosy and safe as they drift off to dreamland.
7. Cosy Blankets and Rugs
Soft blankets, cushions and faux fur rugs are a great way to make your kid’s room feel cosier, especially in winter. Make sure to place non-slip pads under any rugs to ensure your little one doesn’t trip on them.
Some kids will have safety blankets that bring them comfort and help them sleep. Note that you should avoid weighted blankets for young children, as they can increase the risk of suffocation.
Our Kids Faux Fur Polar Bean Bag doubles as a comfy seat and something to cuddle. The fun teddy bear ears will make them feel like they’re getting a big, comforting hug from a polar bear (not something we’d ever recommend doing in real life!)
8. Screen-Free
We all know too much screen time is bad for us, and this includes kids.
The Sleep Foundation recommends limiting the use of electronic devices throughout the day and avoiding them entirely for at least an hour before bedtime. This will minimise the impact of blue light, which can hinder the ability to fall asleep, as well as sleep quality and duration.
You should find this easier with little ones if you keep TVs and iPads out of their room altogether. Instead, stock their space with books and make reading bedtime stories a fun and comforting part of your night-time routine.
