Bunk Bed Safety To bunk or not to bunk? Many parents have experienced trying to get their kids to climb down off a bunk bed when browsing in a furniture store; bunk beds were just made to be climbed! The desire to make your children happy (pleaseMom?!) brings you to the dilemma of whether or not a bunk bed is safe for them. At what age is it safe for children to sleep in a bunk bed? Is the bunk bed sturdy enough to support the kids as they grow? Can a bunk bend handle being treated like playground? No matter what concerns you have, safety is a top priority when choosing a bunk bed. Below is a list of important items to check when shopping for a bunk bed: 1. Inspect the guardrails. Guardrails should always be screwed or bolted to the bed. This will prevent the weight of leaning a child from tipping over or popping off the guardrail. Make sure the spacing between the bed frame and bottom of the guardrail is no greater than 3-1/2 inches (89 mm). This will prevent your child from falling through the guardrail and the bed. Also make sure the guardrails extend at least 5 inches (127 mm) above the mattress surface to prevent a child from rolling off. 2. Check the ladder. Make sure the ladder is secured to the bed frame and will not slip when a child climbs on it. While a detachable ladder may seem more convenient, you don’t want to worry about the ladder coming detached from the bunk bed while your children are climbing up and down, especially at night. 3. Can the beds be separated? Make sure the beds can be separated to form two single beds if you have children too young to sleep safety on the upper bunk. This is also a useful feature for when your children no longer want to sleep in bunk beds. 4. Find the right mattress. It’s important to make sure you purchase the right size youth mattress for your bunk beds. Mattressesthat are too large obviously won’t fit and mattressesthat are tool small leave dangerous gaps. After finding the right bunk bed for your family, here are few more tips to help keep your children safe:
1. Always use two side guardrails on the upper bunk. Keep guardrails securely in place at all times no matter what the age of the child. Children move about during sleep and may roll out of bed. 2. Do not permit children less than 6 years of age to sleep in the upper bunk. 3. Emphasize to children to use the ladder and not chairs or other pieces of wood furniture to climb into or out of the top bunk. 4. Teach children that rough play is unsafe around and on beds and other furniture. 5. Consider using a night-light so that children will be able to see the ladder if they get up during the night. About the Author As one of the only furniture companies to provide a lifetime warranty, Gothic Cabinet Craft (1877-446-8442) is a family operated businessthat manufacturers affordable real wood furniture for every room in your home. Started in 1969 by a Greek immigrant who was determined to make his own American dream a reality, Gothic is now the largest manufacturer of unfinished furniture on the East Coast and ships across the entire US. Our furniture is the ideal storage solution for urban homes with limited floor space. Our custom designed furniture relies on simple, clean lines to fit effortlessly into your home.