The Posey Bed vs The Safety Sleeper®: Which Is Right For You?

If you have a loved one with special medical or psychological needs, you know how difficult bedtime can be—and how valuable a good special needs bed can be at the end of the day. 

If you’ve spent any amount of time researching special needs beds, you’ve likely come across the Posey Bed and The Safety Sleeper®. 

Both offer greater safety and comfort to special needs individuals when compared to your standard bed, but the Posey Bed and The Safety Sleeper® are designed with slightly different purposes and people in mind. 

Let’s compare the Posey Bed and The Safety Sleeper® to see which one is right for you and your loved one!

What Is A Posey Bed?

First invented by John Posey more than 60 years ago, the Posey Bed is manufactured by the Posey Company, which was founded in 1937. Over the last 90+ years, the J.T. Posey Company has primarily focused on restraint-free fall management products. 

Today, the Posey Bed is a prescription device most commonly found in hospitals and senior living facilities for patients who are at risk of falls or who should avoid getting out of bed unassisted. 

Who Uses Posey Beds? 

The Posey Bed is commonly prescribed for patients who:

• Are at risk of falling if they get out of bed alone.
• Are at risk of severe injury if they fall out of bed, whether that be because of insufficient levels of fat, muscle, or subcutaneous tissue, or because they suffer from severe osteoporosis.
• Have a history of serious falls or severe bodily trauma from falls.
• Suffer from Huntington’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, or other diseases and disorders that result in uncontrolled movements.
• Have behavioral, mental, or motor issues stemming from dementia, medication side effects, musculoskeletal disorders, or similar conditions.

As hinted previously, one of the Posey Bed’s biggest selling points among doctors and families is its restraint-free design, which means patients are free to move around as they wish while still inside the enclosed safety of the Posey Bed—a feature also found in The Safety Sleeper®. 

The Posey Bed Design

The Posey Bed has a number of user-friendly design features, many of which are also standard in The Safety Sleeper®, including: 

• Soft padding to prevent bumping- or thrashing-related injuries inside the bed. 
• Multiple access points for oxygen tubes, feeding tubes, and similar tubing. 
• Durable, water-repellant nylon design in the canopy to ease cleanup in the event of spills or urination. 
• See-through mesh walls on each side of the bed. 
• Heavy-duty casters (on some models) that allow users to transport the bed from one room to another. 

Posey Bed Expenses

The Posey Bed is designed with healthcare settings in mind. As a result, they are often much more expensive than other special needs safety beds available in the market. 

Although they may be covered under insurance, a Posey Bed designed for a hospital or medical environment can often cost around $15,000—often $10,000 more than The Safety Sleeper®!

What Is The Safety Sleeper®?

The Safety Sleeper® is a fully-enclosed safety bed hand-built by Abram’s Nation and designed specifically for special needs children. In fact, the original version of the Safety Sleeper® was inspired by the founder’s son (Abram), who has Autism Spectrum Disorder. 

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 night wandering (or “elopement”)

The Safety Sleeper® Design

The Safety Sleeper® provides a soothing, comfortable, and secure environment for children with medical issues, sensory issues, or who elope in the middle of the night. 

Some of the most popular design features in The Safety Sleeper® include: 

• Soft padding to prevent bumping- or thrashing-related injuries inside the bed. 
• Fully-enclosed design that prevents jumping or standing inside the bed. 
• See-through mesh walls. 
• Machine-washable enclosure. 
• Hard-shell travel suitcase, which makes the bed suitable for vacations and road trips. 
• Multiple access points for medical tubing, including feeding and oxygen. 
• Stabilizing straps to prevent the bed from flipping over. 
• Video monitoring window to help you keep an eye on your loved one. 

Overall, these design features have helped families all over the country see better results when it comes to their children’s sleep, as well as their mental and physical health! 

The Safety Sleeper® Expenses

Among the most popular 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. 

Posey Bed vs The Safety Sleeper®: A Side-By-Side Comparison

Here’s a quick comparison of the features of the Posey Bed and The Safety Sleeper®: 

Deciding Whether A Posey Bed or The Safety Sleeper® Is Right For You

Ultimately, a Posey Bed and The Safety Sleeper® offer many of the same benefits, so the best choice for your loved one really depends on their own specific needs. 

The Posey Bed tends to be better for those who can gain a written prescription and plan on keeping the bed in one location for an extended period of time—especially in a professional medical facility. 

The Safety Sleeper®, on the other hand, is available to anyone who needs it (as it doesn’t require a prescription) and it offers enough flexibility to travel within a single suitcase. Its child-friendly, fully enclosed design also makes it a better choice for a child’s bedroom, and it discourages elopement while encouraging safe, restorative sleep. 

Learn More About The Safety Sleeper®

If you’re still making a decision between a Posey Bed and The Safety Sleeper®, check out The Safety Sleeper® resources for more information or read about Abram’s Nation’s history.