FAQ’s
Q. Can I use sheet holders for the same purpose ?
A. You can try. The “sheet grippers” you referenced are exactly that, they are made for thin sheets only. Those tiny clips, with the short, narrow elastic work well for holding sheet corners under the mattress in a stationary position. But, they are not designed for retention of the uncontrolled blanket movement while a child is turning over or other movements during sleep. The tiny clip is not fabricated for holding thicker material like a blanket and may slip off. The narrow elastic is short, and therefore has limited stretch, creating a locked in feeling for your child.
Tuckright Blanket Suspenders have a JUMBO sized clip to grasp the bed covers securely. Tuckright Blanket Suspenders also utilize a 2″ wide loop of elastic. This wide loop enables the GIANT clip to initially slide with body movement and then s-t-r-e-t-c-h for appropriate looseness of the bed covers while still keeping the kids covered. The double length, 5.5″ loop of elastic, which is knitted, not woven, provides the correct amount of tautness to control the bed covers and still be comfy for the children. It has ideal expansion and retraction characteristics to reposition the bed covers, given the differing weight of blankets on each child’s bed. This allows the bed covers to seem to float in place. Tuckright Blanket Suspenders have been engineered for the child’s sleeping comfort.
This is a solution to an age old problem that is elegant in its simplicity. Extensive analysis regarding how to keep kids covered while they sleep was done with more complex products, flexible material stretching tests, and actual field tests with children. The the best results came from the simplest approach.
Q. Are Tuckright Blanket Suspenders® safe to use on a small child’s bed?
A. Yes. First, they are intended for children ages 4 and older. These children have the awareness to adjust their own bed covers. Second, the product design is for the elastic to stretch and the clips to slide on the elastic loop as the child moves throughout the night providing ample looseness of the bed covers. They function like giant mitten clips so children won’t lose their covers, just as they didn’t lose those mittens as toddlers.
Q. Are these blanket suspenders restrictive in any manner?
A. No. They allow complete freedom of movement, possibly, even better than when tucked in tightly. Also, a child can lift the bedcovers up to exit the bed. These allow more ease of movement than a child’s sleeping bag.
Q. Where should the suspenders be located on the bedcovers?
A. The top or head area suspenders should be attached onto each side of the bedcovers about waist level down from the top on the entry side, and chest level on the opposite side. This allows ample room for entering and exiting the bedcovers. The lower, or foot area suspenders can be located most anywhere on both sides, but they work best near where the child’s feet are located. (determine the locations based on child’s height)
Q. Are there alternatives for the use and placement of the suspenders?
A. Yes. One mom wrote to us saying she omitted using the suspender where the child enters the bed covers. This just seemed to work for her child and the bed location.
Q. Will the suspender clips harm the bedcover fabric?
A. No. But we did hear from a parent who had their child remove the bedcovers for washing and the child forgot to remove the clips when the bedcovers were pulled off. Perhaps this could cause an issue.
Q. Will these suspenders work on any type of bed?
A. Yes, but with slight exceptions. If a person is sleeping on top of the devan, davenport, couch or cot it may not be too effective. Further, roll-away, trundle beds may not have anything to clip to effectively. Bedroom furniture comes in many styles. They work well with beds having box springs and mattresses on a metal bed frame as well as wood framed beds with headboards. From sleeper sofas and Murphy beds to kid’s beds, and everything in between including kings, queens, doubles, also day beds and twin beds. They are great for the hard to make bunks and loft beds. Care needs to be taken when attaching to a water bed, inflatable or a bed with an upholstered frame. Most importantly, this product is not intended for use on cribs or toddler beds. Also, don’t even consider it with a sleeping bag or hammock!
Q. Is it possible to clip the suspender to bedcovers other than the blanket?
A. Certainly. Bed spreads, bed linens and bedding covers come in a variety of bedding sets and individual items. Wool and cotton blankets and bed sheets can be attached individually or together on the bed. Silk sheets may tend to slip a bit, but the higher the thread count the better the hold. Cotton, Rayon and polyester sheets have no trouble, nor do the new micro-fiber. Quilts and comforters, whether goose down, fleece or feather, are usually fluffy and when used as a throw or duvet cover can also be clipped to easily. Be extremely careful when attaching this product to electric blankets or on beds with electric mattress pads. Here’s a thought. If your child is constantly losing the pillow off the bed, why not use a couple of these to hold the pillow and the sham in place.
Q. I am a single parent Mom of a pre-school child and one just entering puberty. They both were rocked to sleep as toddlers, but now never seem tired. These are their formative years for growth but never want to go to bed. How can I get them to lie-down, hit the sack, nod or doze off and get their needed forty winks?
A. Well, let’s assume they are not taking a nap, not even a cat nap, or what some call a power nap during the day. By bedtime their bodies are actually tired, though they don’t want to give in. Some people have reasoned that moving from light sleep to sound sleep or REM (Rapid Eye Movement) is the best rest. There is education that has identified:
1) Children need a consistent bedtime every night.
2) Bright lights in the evening or night time can throw off the Circadian Rhythms.
3) Bedtime stories, even poems like Winkin Blinkin & Nod can be beneficial to help them relax and promote drowsiness.
4) Regular daily exercise can help the lazy couch potato playing video games start counting sheep and having sweet dreams rather than nightmares of fantasy galactic fights with the force.
5) Drinking something warm and reducing their activity will calm them and encourage sleepiness.
6) Sleep deprivation and even slight wakefulness during the night is often reversible using OTC items like Sleepy Time tea. This helps the child wake up refreshed and alert and not be drowse all day, then full of energy at night.
7) Adolescents and teenagers will often have all-nighter slumber parties at a friend’s house. Staying up to see the morning light may throw off their sleep pattern for several days. It is not healthy and this extended awake time may cause anxiety in some youngsters when they do not feel rested.