Nidus: A Playful and Humanitarian Hospital Bed for Children

Designing a Bed that Makes Hospitalization Less Traumatic for Children

Nidus, designed by Carolina Falcão Duarte, is a concept bed for children treated at hospitals. Its purpose is to bring humanitarian policies to pediatric wards in Brazil's public hospitals, making the hospitalization experience less traumatic for children. Inside hospitals, where the ward space is shared with other patients, children are limited to the borders of their bed, their personal space, almost like their "bedroom".

The Nidus bed incorporates a series of communication elements aimed at aiding the contact between the child and the nurse. It is designed to be customizable for the patient, using glueless PVC stickers on the bed sideguards. These stickers not only add a playful touch but also help create a sense of ownership and personalization for the child.

But Nidus doesn't just focus on the children; it also takes into consideration the needs of the nursery professionals. The bed features telescopic arms that allow for height adjustment without the risk of limb crushing accidents for patients. This feature also eliminates the need for multiple beds of different sizes, as the bed can be adjusted to accommodate patients of varying heights.

The bed structure is made of commercial-sized aluminum shapes covered in electrostatic painting. The headboards and ballast pieces used to support the mattress are manufactured with injected ABS, while the sideguards are built with stainless steel rails and ABS structures. The transparent shields are made of polycarbonate. This combination of materials not only ensures durability but also helps reduce the overall cost of the bed.

With a height range of 117cm to 153cm, a width of 90cm, and a depth range of 201cm to 226cm, the Nidus bed can be adjusted to suit the needs of different patients. It weighs 130kg and is designed to be easy to operate using a remote control.

The Nidus bed has received recognition for its innovative design. It was awarded the Bronze A' Design Award in the Medical Devices and Medical Equipment Design category in 2014. This award is bestowed upon outstanding and creatively ingenious designs that contribute to quality of life improvements, making the world a better place.

The Nidus bed is not just a piece of furniture; it is a symbol of hope and comfort for children undergoing hospitalization. By incorporating elements of playfulness and customization, it aims to make the hospital experience less traumatic and more bearable for young patients.