Growing families often rely on bunk beds to maximize the space in shared children’s rooms, but they have their downsides. Thousands of bunk bed-related injuries happen every year, but they can easily be avoided if you abide by these five safety rules.
Age Limit
Bunk beds aren’t suitable for children of all ages, and you should make sure your kids are old enough to sleep in one. It’s highly recommended that children under six shouldn’t sleep on the top bunk.
Guardrails
Bunk beds are incomplete without guardrails because they play an important role in preventing potential falls. It’s a general rule they should extend at least five inches above the top of the mattress.
Bunk Bed Design
Don’t go for bunk beds with too many openings or at least make sure they’re so small that your kids can’t poke their heads and limbs through them. Also, pay extra attention when picking a mattress and make sure it’s properly sized and stable enough.
No Playing
A lot of bunk bed-related injuries occur when kids are playing and jumping on the top bunk, so make sure to educate them about bunk bed safety.
Right Spot
Choosing the right spot for the bunk bed can also make it safer. Placing it in the corner, against two perpendicular walls is a great way to make it more stable. You should also make sure that the ceilings aren’t too low and that the area around the bed is empty.