Bunk Bed Safety
Rules and Precautions for These Popular Children's Beds
Bunk beds are among the most popular types of children's beds. Do you know the do's and dont's to keep your children safe in their beds?
Bunk beds are such a convenient and space saving option, that many parents assume they are just as safe as any other children's bed. And they can be. But a few rules and precautions need to be followed in order to ensure your child's safety in a bunk bed. Make sure you are following these do's and dont's:
General Bunk Bed Rules
Bunk beds were never built for very young children. In fact, any bed you purchase new will have a sticker on it that states that children under age six should not sleep on the top bunk. But for some reason, this rule is often ignored. While kids can fall in their sleep, they also commonly fall while playing on the top bunk. Let your child know that their bed is for sleeping in, and the floor is for playing on. It is very tempting for them to have their friends or siblings come up to the top bunk and play, but this rule should be firm. In case of accidental falls, you should look at the items you have around the bunk bed. There should be no other furniture with sharp corners nearby, and toys should be kept cleaned up around the bed. If your child were to fall from the top bunk, you wouldn't want them to fall on something sharp.
While the allure of a bed that looks almost like a climbing apparatus is strong, it is important that children always use the ladder to climb up to, and down from, the top bunk. Kids will try to climb up and down using the side rails or any end rails, but again that leads to an increased risk of falls. Be sure that your child's bunk bed is not treated like part of a playground.
Check that your bunk bed meets the current safety standards. There should be a label affixed to the frame of the bed somewhere, or if the bed is handmade or an older model, find out what the current measurements should be, and check your bed to see if it matches. It is also a good idea to occasionally double-check all screws and bolts to ensure that everything is tightened up. You can remember to do this by checking them at the same time you would check other items in your home, such as smoke detectors.
Guardrails
The top bunk of a bunk bed should have guard rails on all four sides of the bed. Quite commonly, the bed is against a wall, and the only side rail is on the outside of the bed. However as unlikely as it may sound, kids have become stuck between the bed and the wall. This can also occur on the lower bunk, and in fact, even in a regular bed.
The guardrail spacing is also a concern. There should be no more than a 9 cm gap between the lower guardrail and the bed frame. A larger gap than this leaves room for a child to get wedged between their mattress and the guardrail.
Mattresses
If you thought all bunk bed mattresses were created the same size, you'd be wrong. Make sure that the mattress you are using fits snugly against all sides of the bed. This is commonly a problem when a regular sized mattress is used on an extra long bunk bed. There is then a gap of about 127 mm between the mattress and the headboard or footboard.
Separating Bunk Beds
While bunk beds can be safe once all these precautions are followed, you may want to consider twin beds instead. Many models of bunk beds can be taken apart and separated into twin beds. Space permitting, this option may give you the most peace of mind.
