Mom’s FAQs

Abide By These Guidelines While You Are Looking For Tasteful Loft Bunk Beds

Using bunk beds to squeeze two children into one small bedroom

Bunk beds can be an economical way to provide extra sleeping space while saving floor space, but they need to be utilized with a measure of caution. A recent study concluded that almost 36,000 children and adolescents are involved in bunk bed-related accidents every year. Between 1990 and 2005 about 573,000 children from infants to age 21 suffered injuries significant enough to necessitate a trip to the ER. Nearly half of the injuries happened in children under 6, but there also was a surprising jump in accidents among 18 to 21-year-olds, who had twice the number of incidents as children ages 14 to 17. Learn more about fun bunk beds.

Nearly three-quarters of the children were injured by falls, with about 30 percent suffering serious cuts, almost a quarter reporting bruises and scrapes and about 20 percent suffering broken bones. Worse yet, more than one in ten experienced concussions. The study showed 50 percent of the children suffered injuries to the neck, face or head, and that children younger than 3 years old were nearly 40 percent more likely to suffer head injuries than older children. About 60 percent of the kids involved in accidents were boys (which is not very surprising!) Learn more about soft durable bamboo sheets and queen comforter sets.

There are voluntary safety guidelines for bunk bed manufacturers that have been put out by both the the American Standards of Testing and Materials (ASTM) and the Consumer Product Safety Commission. Be sure to find out whether or not the bed you are thinking about buying fulfills these requirements.

1) Carefully check and test the frame of the bunk bed for durability. The best test is for someone to climb up on the bed and move around; the bed should easily support an adult’s weight without making any noise or feeling any movement of the frame. To be on the safe side, have the salesman climb on the top bed to demonstrate its strength.

2) Look over the whole bed from top to bottom to make certain that there aren’t any possibly dangerous parts sticking out, that there are no sharp edges, and that the entire construction is smooth. Make sure the bedposts don’t have knobs or finials that could hook clothing and other things.

3) The top bunk should always have safety rails on both sides, even if one side is up against a wall. To stop a kid from slipping between the rails or stuck between the mattress and the bottom rail, no gap should exceed 3 ½ inches, thus preventing entrapment and strangulation. The top rail should be a minimum 5 inches above the top of the mattress to prevent the child from falling over it.

4) The gap between the mattress and the bed frame should not exceed three inches at any point all around the bed. When there is a gap greater than 3 inches, the mattress does not fit. A kid who falls into the gap between the bed and the mattress while they are sleeping might be strangled, which sadly has happened.

5) Ensure that the ladder is well constructed and secured to the bed frame. A sturdy ladder ought to have the ability to support an adult’s weight with no moving around. As suggested above, have the salesman demonstrate the strength of the ladder by getting on it and moving from side to side. The ladder should not move at all.

6) There have been a number of reported occurrences in which the mattress on the top bed is moved by a child on the lower bed shoving up on the upper mattress supports. The mattress supports for the top bed should be safely fixed to the bed frame with screws or bolts. Unstable supports possibly could cause injuries if something moves around and this kind of construction ought to be avoided.

7) Every so often examine the bunk bed for any loose or missing hardware and replace them immediately. Immediately! Throughout your inspection be sure to check the horizontal

Rails holding the top mattress and the fasteners keeping the bed together.

In no way should you let a child under 6 years old to sleep (or play) on the upper bunk. As mentioned above, one half of the accidents occur to children under 6.

9) Locate the bed away from ceiling fans and light fixtures (which should be apparent!). Additionally, you should make sure there is more than enough space between the upper bunk and the ceiling.

Another type of elevated bed you might consider is the loft bed, which provides an open space where the bottom mattress would normally be. This space may be used for a dresser, desk and chair, a TV, or even storage. The safety guidelines for bunk beds also apply to loft beds and the same care ought to be taken when visiting a furniture outlet. If you purchase either type of bed over the Internet, make sure it follows the ASTM standards.