Bunk Bed Safety

Bunk beds for kids are a great way to save space and let’s face it, what kid doesn’t love bunk beds? The down side to bunk beds is that they can be hazardous if they are not made to manufacturing safety standards and if precautions aren’t taken when using the top bunk.

Every year thousands of children under the age of sixteen are admitted to hospital with minor, and sometimes serious, injuries obtained through the use of bunk beds. The most common cause of injury is when children fall from the top bunk while playing on the bed or even rolling off in their sleep if adequate guard railing isn’t in place.

Simply having guard railing isn’t enough to guarantee your child’s safety. Children have been seriously injured and, in some cases, died as a result of suffocation or strangulation when they have become wedged between the railings. Current safety standards recommend that there are no gaps sized 95mm to 230mm anywhere on the bed, paying special attention to the guardrails. Guardrails are a necessity and should be on all sides of the upper bed and at least 160mm above the top of the mattress. Many bunk bed models only have railings on three sides, assuming that the head and side without railing would be against the wall. These are still not considered safe as smaller children have been reported of becoming wedged between the bunk and the wall.

Ladders are another part of the bunk bed that can be hazardous. They should be checked for stability and firmly fixed. Some of the custom made bunk beds have a slippery dip incorporated into the top bunk in place of a ladder and they too should comply with safety standards.

Another thing to look out for is that all the nuts and bolts are fixed tightly and that they are flush and smooth. Protrusions of more than 8 mm can catch on clothing posing a safety risk.

Regularly check the bunk for stability, including the support beams underneath the top mattress. Children on the bottom bunk may push their feet up against the top bunk and over time this could cause some of the top beams to loosen.

Aside from all this, it is important to talk to your children about the dangers of bunk beds and be honest about the risks involved in playing recklessly on the top bunk so that they are aware of the importance of playing safely. Bunk beds are not always suitable for children under nine years of age and toddlers should never be allowed to sleep on the top bunk.

Great Bunk Beds For Kids

Bunk Bed Safety

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