Finding the best safety bed can feel like a challenge. If your loved one needs a little extra care at night, you may have begun comparing numerous safety beds, like the Posey Bed, the Pedicraft Canopy Bed, or The Safety Sleeper®.
The options can feel overwhelming, and many different manufacturers promise excellent results. In our comparison of the Pedicraft Canopy Bed and The Safety Sleeper®, we explain how both beds have numerous similarities and benefits—but also important differences for you and your child.
What Is A Pedicraft Canopy Bed?
Developed by Pedicraft, a company originally founded in 1966 to manufacture hospital cribs to meet the needs of pediatric staff while delivering greater safety to patients, the Pedicraft Canopy Bed is a fully enclosed bed designed for children.
The Pedicraft Canopy Bed has a distinctive design, with a long, narrow frame and high walls meant to discourage children from climbing out. Although its design features may make it unattractive to some families, especially in a residential setting, it can be effective in keeping children in bed throughout the night or nap time.
Who Uses The Pedicraft Canopy Bed?
The Pedicraft Canopy Bed is primarily designed for pediatric patients and children who are likely to fall on the floor and hurt themselves while unsupervised.
That intention makes it similar to the Posey Bed, which is designed to prevent individuals at fall risk from unintentionally harming themselves.
The Pedicraft Canopy Bed Design
The Pedicraft Canopy Bed has a number of safety-inspired design features, including:
- Sturdy steel frame wrapped in soft padding to provide a blend of durability and comfort.
- Mesh paneling that unzips on all four sides of the bed.
- Two different mattress width options: 34” and 42”
- Bacteria-resistant vinyl for simplified cleaning.
- A mattress made of high-density, fire-retardant foam.
- Optional hydraulic lift allowing caregivers to raise the bed 10 inches.
Although the Pedicraft Canopy Bed isn’t exactly attractive, the team does offer a variety of cute bed skirt designs at no additional charge.
One true disadvantage, however, is the bed’s height. The ample headroom inside the Pedicraft Canopy Bed may give some children just enough space to jump or walk around inside the bed. This may actually provide a distraction from sleep, depending on your child and their specific needs.
The Pedicraft Canopy Bed Expenses
The Pedicraft Canopy Bed often starts around $8,000 before insurance and discounts are applied.
For some families, this price range may make the Pedicraft Canopy Bed too expensive to have in their home.
What Is The Safety Sleeper®?
The Safety Sleeper® is a fully-enclosed safety bed hand-built by Abram’s Nation and designed with special needs children in mind.
In fact, the very first version of The Safety Sleeper® was developed by our founder, Rose, in 2007, as she searched for a safe, portable, and comfortable bed for her son, Abram.
Abram, who has Autism Spectrum Disorder, eventually inspired the name for Abram’s Nation in 2009 when Rose put the first line of The Safety Sleeper® on the market.
Today, The Safety Sleeper® is trusted by thousands of families who praise the bed for promoting sleep, keeping their children safe, being so easy to transport, and a variety of other features.
Who Uses The Safety Sleeper®?
A wide variety of special needs individuals use The Safety Sleeper®, including:
- Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder
- Individuals with Smith-Magenis Syndrome
- Individuals with Angelman Syndrome
- Individuals with Phelan-McDermid Syndrome
- Individuals with other physical, mental, or neurological needs
- Individuals prone to nighttime wandering (or “elopement”)
The Safety Sleeper® Design
The Safety Sleeper® is designed to create a soothing, comfortable, and secure environment. For children with special needs, this design can help them calm down at the end of a long, stimulating day and even help encourage sleep.
Some of the most popular design features in The Safety Sleeper® include:
- Soft padding to prevent bumping- or thrashing-related injuries inside the bed.
- A study metal frame built to withstand years of use.
- A fully-enclosed design with a low clearance that discourages jumping while encouraging sleep.
- Fire retardant, medical-grade fabric and see-through mesh walls.
- A machine-washable enclosure.
- A hard-shell travel suitcase and air mattress, which make the bed suitable for home use and road trips.
- Multiple access points for medical tubing, including feeding and oxygen.
- Stabilizing straps to prevent the bed from flipping over.
- A video monitoring window to help you keep an eye on your loved one.
- Multiple mattress size options (including twin, twin XL, full, and queen).
- Multiple color options.
- Simple assembly, easy-to-read instructions, and a helpful instructional video.
Overall, these design features have helped families all over the country see better results when it comes to their children’s sleep, often helping the rest of the family get better sleep in the process!
As a final design note, The Safety Sleeper® features a fun, kid-friendly design that fits perfectly inside a child’s room—unlike the plain, hospital-focused design of the Pedicraft Canopy Bed.
The Safety Sleeper® Expenses
Among other safety beds, The Safety Sleeper® is a relatively affordable option. With prices starting around $4,000, the cost of The Safety Sleeper® can be further offset by medical insurance and financing that can significantly reduce the cost into affordable monthly payments.
The Pedicraft Canopy Bed vs. The Safety Sleeper®: A Side-By-Side Comparison
Here is a quick comparison between the Pedicraft Canopy Bed and The Safety Sleeper®:
|
Feature |
The Safety Sleeper® |
Pedicraft Canopy Bed |
|
FDA-Registered Device |
X |
X |
|
Requires Doctor’s Prescription |
||
|
Can Be Covered By Insurance |
X |
X |
|
Regularly Costs Less Than $5,000 |
X |
|
|
Available In Multiple Sizes |
X |
|
|
Typically Designed for Kids and Teenagers |
X |
X* The Pedicraft Canopy Bed is typically designed for children and may not be adequate for all pre-teens and teenagers |
|
Can Be Packed Up for Travel |
X |
|
|
Fully Enclosed |
X |
X |
|
Is Tall Enough to Jump Up and Down Inside |
X |
|
|
Provides a Video Monitoring Window |
X |
|
|
Provides Multiple Access Points for Feeding Tubes, Oxygen Tubing, Sensors, Etc. |
X |
X |
|
Uses Zippers for Easy Access |
X |
X |
|
Provides Multiple Sides of Entry |
X* |
X |
|
Offers Water-Resistant Coverlets and Materials |
X |
Deciding Whether the Pedicraft Canopy Bed or The Safety Sleeper® Is Right For You
The Pedicraft Canopy Bed and The Safety Sleeper® are both good enclosed bed options, but they are ideal matches for different demographics. With that in mind, it’s important to thoroughly research your options to ensure you pick the right bed for your loved one and the family.
The Pedicraft Canopy Bed
The Pedicraft Canopy Bed was developed to meet the needs of children with medical issues, which makes it a strong, sturdy choice for families using medical intervention for their children. Because it’s designed with children in mind, it also uses a mattress that’s roughly a single or a twin, which makes it ideal for smaller children and pre-teens.
Although the Pedicraft Canopy Bed starts around $8,000 before discounts and insurance are applied, it does have some nice bonus features, especially a hydraulic crank that allows for easier treatment and versatile head and knee elevation for your loved one.
The Safety Sleeper®
Like the Pedicraft Canopy Bed, The Safety Sleeper® was designed with children in mind—but its bright color options and larger size make it feel like a better fit for a traditional bedroom. The Safety Sleeper® also offers twin-, twin XL-, full-, and queen-sized mattresses, which means your child with special needs can use the mattress for many years—regardless of growth spurts. That size also makes The Safety Sleeper® a good fit for adults with special needs!
The Safety Sleeper® is also a better option for budget-conscious families. The 200 Model of The Safety Sleeper®, for example, starts around $4,000 before insurance—which makes it one of the more affordable options when it comes to special needs beds.
Finally, The Safety Sleeper® was ultimately designed to promote sleep in a safe environment. Healthy, restorative sleep provides a variety of benefits in young children, and it’s especially important in children with special needs!
Final Thoughts
Ultimately, both the Pedicraft Canopy Bed and The Safety Sleeper® are both designed with individuals with special needs in mind. Choosing between the Pedicraft Canopy Bed and The Safety Sleeper® comes down to price, features, and how long you expect to use it!
