Safety Beds for Autism: How Enclosed Beds Help Prevent Wandering, Injury and Sleep Problems

Expert: Alison Curfman, M.D., MBA 
Reviewer: Chelsea Nall, OTR/L, CSRS, ATP

Up to 80% of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) experience sleep problems—and nearly half attempt to elope, with nighttime being a particularly high-risk time for wandering. For families, this makes bedtime one of the most stressful and potentially dangerous parts of their day. 

Safety beds for autism, also called enclosed beds, are designed to reduce the risk of elopement or unsafe wandering and increase sleep quality and duration by creating a secure, sensory-friendly sleep environment. 

At-a-Glance Summary:  

• Up to 80% of children with ASD experience chronic sleep disturbances 
• Nearly half of children with ASD aged 4 and above attempt elopement
• Safety beds help:  
  • Protect against wandering and elopement 
  • Improve sleep duration and quality 
  • Reduce injury risk 
  • Support sensory regulation 
• They may also lower long-term healthcare costs by preventing injuries and emergency room visits, less dependence on medications for sleep or behavioral management and delaying or mitigating the need for residential placement 

What Is a Safety Bed? 

A safety bed is a medical-grade, enclosed bed designed to: 

• Provide a fully enclosed, safe sleep environment 
• Prevent unsafe exit from the bed 
• Reduce the risk of falls and injuries 
• Provide a calming, low-stimulation sleep environment

These beds are commonly used for children (and adults) with: 

• Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) 
• Epilepsy 
• Rett syndrome
• Angelman syndrome
• Cognitive impairments (intellectual disability, traumatic brain injury) 
• Cerebral palsy 
• Severe self-injury behaviors (headbanging, biting, scratching) 
• Other neurodevelopmental conditions 

Why Do Children with Autism Wander at Night? 

For many children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and other neurodevelopmental conditions, nighttime is one of the most dangerous parts of the day. Sleep disturbances, nighttime wandering (elopement), and unsafe behaviors such as climbing, jumping, head-banging or consuming non-food items may lead to injury — especially at night when caregivers can’t provide constant supervision. 

“Children with sensory processing differences perceive and experience the world differently than the rest of us,” said Alison Curfman, M.D., MBA, a pediatric emergency physician and chief medical officer for Cubby Beds. “Some kids are bothered by their shirt tags or sounds or things they see, which can be incredibly disruptive during the day, but also affect them at night.”  

According to clinical research:  

• Up to 80% of children with ASD experience chronic sleep disturbances  
• 49% attempt elopement, with nighttime being a high-risk window, increasing injury risk 
• 42% engage in self-injurious behavior, which can worsen at night 
• More than 80% of children with Rett syndrome experience nighttime sleep disruptions, seizures, and/or elopement 
• Children with epilepsy, Angelman syndrome, and other related conditions also face increased nighttime injury risk 

Benefits of Safety Beds for Children with Autism and Other Neurodevelopmental Conditions 

Safety beds, like those offered by Cubby Beds, ZPods and Beds by George, are medical safety devices designed to create a secure, sensory-friendly sleep environment. These systems can help reduce injury risk while improving sleep quality for both children and their caregivers. 

“A lot of caregivers feel like they can never rest themselves,” Dr. Curfman said. “There are families where the caregivers have slept on the floor in the child’s room for years or created any number of solutions to notify them if their child leaves the bed or room. Enclosed bed systems allow caregivers to feel safe putting their child to bed in a warm, comfortable, sensory-friendly environment.”  

Do Safety Beds Improve Sleep for Children with Autism? 

For children with ASD and other neurodevelopmental or neurological conditions, periods of deep, uninterrupted sleep can be elusive. As a result, parents and caregivers also experience sleep deficits: lower quality sleep, increased sleep disruption and some caregivers routinely sleeping fewer than 7 hours a night.  

Research shows enclosed safety beds can:  

• Increase total sleep duration 
• Reduce nighttime awakenings
• Decrease the incidence of unsafe wandering and elopement 

“By providing a comprehensive solution that improves a child’s sleep and safety and incorporates all the sensory needs they have, [enclosed bed systems] can be life-changing for families,” Dr. Curfman said. “They have kids who have never slept through the night, and then they get this product, and it changes their entire family.” 

Do Safety Beds Prevent Injury and Wandering at Night? 

Nighttime presents a critical safety window when parents and caregivers are “inherently not on the clock,” Dr. Curfman said, but risks remain high.  

Children with neurodevelopmental conditions may:  

• Wander from their bed, room or home  
• Fall out of their bed 
• Engage in unsafe sensory-seeking behaviors (climbing, jumping, eating non-food objects, headbanging) 
• Access dangerous areas (stairs, kitchens, pools, outdoors) 
• Burrow into small spaces or under heavy objects, increasing the risk of entrapment 
• Have unwitnessed medical events, such as seizures 

According to a study published in the American Journal of Public Health, children with ASD are 40 times more likely to drown than neurotypical peers. For children with epilepsy and other conditions, sleep safety beds provide added protection during nighttime seizures or other periods of uncontrolled movement.  

Key Safety Bed Features: 

• Fully enclosed structure to prevent falls and wandering 
• Ventilated canopy improves airflow and visibility 
• Durable structure for active movement 
• 360-degree protection against accidental and self-directed injury 

Some safety beds include additional monitoring tools that allow caregivers to check on and communicate with their child at nighttime without disruption.  

“For this population of children, sleep safety beds are a true medical need,” Dr. Curfman said. “These beds function as medical safety devices that keep kids safe and optimize their health.”  

Do Safety Beds Support Sensory Regulation? 

Children with ASD and other conditions often experience difficulties with sensory processing that don’t stop at bedtime. Safety beds support sensory regulation by creating:  

• A predictable, enclosed environment  
• Reduced visual and auditory stimuli  
• A clearly defined sleep space 

Features like soft surfaces, dimmed lighting and sound control can also help minimize overstimulation and support consistent bedtime routines. All these features help:  

• Decrease anxiety at bedtime 
• Reduce behavioral outbursts 
• Support more consistent routines 

“As a parent or caregiver, you can predict a lot of your child’s triggers,” Dr. Curfman said. “[An enclosed bed system] provides a calming environment, and families can create routines and get ahead of behavioral outbursts that sometimes lead to emergency room visits or, eventually, residential placement.”  

Do Safety Beds Lower Long-Term Healthcare Costs? 

Nighttime safety risks can lead to serious injuries, including broken bones, bleeding, head trauma, and near drownings — often requiring emergency care. 

“Elopement can be life-threatening for these kids,” she said. “They could fall down the stairs, get into the kitchen and start a fire or go outside.”  

Safety beds can help eliminate these risks while also addressing and reducing broader long-term costs.  

Potential Cost Benefits of Safety Beds 

• Fewer emergency room visits 
• Reduced injury-related acute care 
• Lower rates of hospitalization  
• Delayed or avoided residential placement 

“One of the biggest costs for this population is residential placement,” Dr. Curfman said. “Families end up placing their child in residential care because they can’t keep them safe at home anymore.”  

Research shows that residential placement can cost approximately $129,000 per year per child, often increasing in adulthood. By comparison, a safety bed typically costs $10,000 to $15,000 and can last for several years.   

“A device that prevents a single residential placement pays for itself many times over,” Dr. Curfman noted in a recent white paper, stressing that sleep safety beds can provide an “upstream” solution that helps caregivers delay or avoid residential placement altogether.  

The Bottom Line 

Safety beds for individuals with ASD provide a proactive solution to one of the biggest challenges families face: keeping their children safe at night. 

By reducing wandering, preventing injuries and improving sleep quality, safety beds support both the user’s health and their caregivers’ peace of mind. 

Explore Your Options 

If your child or loved one struggles with sleep safety, wandering or nighttime anxiety, a safety bed may help. Click here to find a location near you to connect with NSM’s dedicated team to explore options, discuss insurance coverage and find the best fit for your family’s needs. 

Frequently Asked Questions 

Are safety beds for individuals with ASD and other neurodevelopmental conditions safe? 
Yes, medical-grade safety beds go through rigorous stress testing to ensure that the materials can withstand repeated use by heavy users.  

Do safety beds prevent wandering? 
Safety beds significantly reduce nighttime wandering by preventing children from leaving bed unsafely. Because sleep safety beds are fully enclosed, they limit sensory input, decrease anxiety and provide a safe, defined boundary for kids with autism and other neurodevelopmental conditions. This controlled sensory environment helps the nervous system calm down so children can really rest. High sides and limited entry points or zippers that can only be accessed by caregivers help keep kids safe and secure all night long.  

Should I consider a hard-sided bed or a soft-sided bed?  
Safety beds are available in both hard-sided (made of wood or metal) and soft-sided (made of fabric and mesh) formats, with the choice depending on your child’s specific needs, behaviors and medical diagnosis.  

• Soft-sided beds are best for preventing injury from impact and promoting air circulation. They’re often preferred for children with ASD, sensory needs or those who frequently kick, touch or rub against the sides.  
• Hard-sided beds, often made of solid wood, feature high sides and padded interiors. These beds are engineered to meet strict FDA guidelines to ensure children cannot become trapped. Parents may choose a hard-sided bed if their child is very strong, engages in repetitive heavy rocking or pushing movements, or requires protection against entrapment. Learn more about FDA entrapment guidelines. 

Are safety beds covered by insurance? 
Coverage depends on your insurance carrier but may be available with documentation of medical necessity from members of your child’s care team, such as doctors and therapists. 

How much do safety beds cost? 
Most safety beds range in cost from $10,000 to $15,000, depending on their features and options for customization.