Safety Concerns and Maintenance with Kids Bunk Beds
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Bunk beds are a great source of comradery and play for most children. They are also a new source of risk and introduce unique safety concerns. With a little thought and effort, however, these risks can be minimized such that a fun and safe time might be had by all.
First, it is most important to recognize that forbidding children to play on bunk beds is an impossible battle, lost before it even began. Bunk beds offer numerous opportunities for imaginative children to spend hours in novel and creative play. Instead of an absolute prohibition, why not set boundaries stating how to play most safely? You might, for instance, prohibit rougher play on the top bunk while still permitting it on the bottom. You might also suggest ways in which children *can* play on their bunks, as some kids may respond better to being told what *can* be done rather than what *can't*. And, who knows, you might incidentally invent their newest favorite game.
A well-constructed bed is also important to maintaining safety. Top bunks should be surrounded by sturdy, non-detachable guardrails extending at least six inches above the top of the mattress. Also, there should be no gap wider than three inches between each rail, or between the rail and the mattress. Even in instances where one side of the bed is against a wall, guardrails provide extra protection against children becoming trapped between the upper bunk and the wall.
The ladder should be firmly attached, easily gripped and angled. While vertical ladders occupy less space, angular ladders are safer to climb as they direct the body's weight in the direction of motion. The ladder should be firmly attached to the frame. One important boundary to set with children is to require that the ladder be used when climbing to the top bunk. As fun as climbing on chairs and other furniture might seem, children should be encouraged to use the feature designed explicitly for that purpose.
Also, ensure that the mattresses accompanying the bed are the correct size. There are two typical sizes, regular and extra long, the latter being five inches longer than the former. Using an incorrect size exposes a gap through which a child might fall or become otherwise trapped.
The frame itself should also be sturdily built, with very little tendency to wobble. When examining frames, pay particular attention to the slats beneath the top mattress. To prevent a child from pushing up from below and dislodging the top mattress, the slats should be secured firmly by more than just the weight of the mattress and any child atop it.
Regular maintenance is also critical. Any broken or missing ladder rungs and cross-ties should be replaced immediately. Since the bunk bed will probably remain the source of rough play despite your best efforts, replacing the cross-ties regularly is a good way to pro-actively prevent accidents. Also, routinely inspect the bed and its joints for firmness or visible damage. While the above risk factors are important to observe, the likelihood of failure is lessened by purchasing a high-quality, soundly-built bunk bed from a reputable source.
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