New parents have a lot of decisions to make when it comes to choosing the right furniture for their new nursery. They have to decide on cribs, they have to decide on toy chests, and they also have to decide on their bed rail. Most parents don't really consider a bed guard to be a major purchase, but this actually couldn't be farther from the truth. Savvy parents often will choose a foam bed guard for their baby, since it's often the best option.

Installing a foam bed rail is easier than installing a wooden bed rail. This leaves little room for error, and also means that you don't have to worry about the bed rail getting loose, and letting your toddler roll off the bed mid-nap. Moreover, foam bed rails are universally installable; traditional bed guardrails aren't, and can often cause a lot of hassle.

The biggest benefit to having a foam bedguard is that there is no "Ow!" factor. There are times when very rambunctious children will roll around in the crib, and accidentally hit their bed rails.With a wood bed rail, this can be painful, and can start a tantrum.

Should something really out of the ordinary happen, your child will end up hitting himself pretty badly against a wooden bed guard, and they might even break a bone. If you have a foam bed guard, this won't be an issue. Your child can roll around as long as he wants. Foam bed rails also look cozier, and are also more comfortable for your child to cuddle with.

Babies who are allergy-prone should have a foam bed guard instead of a traditional bed guard. Unlike wooden bed guards, which can have paint or mold that can irritate a baby's allergies, foam bed guards are generally created with hypoallergenic material. You'll never have to worry about baby getting the sniffles from his crib. This is especially important when you know that allergies run in the family. Don't put your child at risk of sneezing and coughing; get a foam bedguard instead.

Above all, if you value safety for your child, ask the customer service representative if the foam bed guardrail (or any bedguard you are interested in buying) is set to local safety standards. A substandard bed guardrail can cause all sorts of accidents, and might even cause your child to get sick. Safety standards change every couple of years.

The later the model of bed guardrail, the higher the safety standards tend to be. The higher the safety standard, the lower the chance of injuries and accidents happening because of the bed guard. This is why most parents will refuse to use a secondhand bed guardrail.