If you have kids, a bunk bed is a fantastic way to save space in your children’s room.  They allow you to place two beds where you can usually only fit one.  They can even save you money that you might have had to otherwise spend on two full beds.  And while bunk beds can be just as a safe as any other bed your children use, there are some special safety considerations that every parent should take into account when purchasing bunk beds for their children.  

Only Use a Bunk Bed with Guardrails - As any parent can attest, small children are not known to be easy sleepers.  Even when they sleep long hours, they tend to toss, turn, and kick all through the night.  On a normal bed, if in the unlikely situation that a child falls off, they may fall a couple feet is they scoot too far to the edge.  These falls are usually harmless enough for them to climb right back on the bed and fall back asleep.  On the top bunk bed, however, the distance is much greater. This can create some unfortunate situations, and perhaps even some bruises and sores.

Fortunately, if a guardrail is in place and is securely attached to the bed, there is little risk of this happening. If the child rolls too far to one side, they simply bump up against the guard rail.

Make Certain that the Guard Rails are Spaced Appropriately – Even if your bunk bed has guard rails, you need to make certain that they are safe to use.  If they are spaced too far apart, there is a risk that a body part can get stuck in there.   This can result in a very painful or perhaps even damaging situation for you child.  

For maximum security, make sure that the gap in-between rails does not exceed three and a half inches.  Any more than this, and the gap might become large enough for body parts to fit into.  Fortunately, most bunk bed manufacturers are aware of this concern and put in place all the appropriate safety measures.  Before purchasing a bunk bed, be sure to speak wit the retailer and ask if the guardrails are spaced correctly.

Ensure the Support Slats are Secure - The top beds are held in placed by slats that lay in between the two sections of the bed. For the sibling who might sleep on the bottom bunk, it can be tempting to push on these slats with their hands or feet.  You can help to prevent this, and any injuries or quarrels that might result form this kind of horseplay, by making sure that these slats are durable and very securely hold the top bunk in place. 

Always Use the Appropriate Sized Mattress - Always avoid getting an undersized mattress for your bunk bed. If the mattress doesn’t fit the top bunk quite right, it will not fit on the slats appropriately, which might cause it to sag.

Insist That Your Children Use the Ladder to Climb Onto the Top Bunk - When children get a bunk bed, they usually find all manner of creative ways to climb onto the top bunk.  They might climb over the side, or they might use the bottom bunk as a stepstool, or they might even jump all the way to the top if they are old enough and get a running start.  For some reason using the ladder rarely occurs to them. But for the sake of safety you should always insist that they use the ladder when climbing up.  Using the ladder will severely cut down on the risk of injury and make your bunk bed much safer.

Tags: Bunk Bed Safety | Bunk Bed Safety | Kids Bunk Beds | Kids Bunk Beds

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