| Kids of all ages love Bunk Beds and Loft Beds | | | | facing the ladder and holding on securely. |
| because they offer more floor space, a little | | | | Respect the manufacturers' weight restrictions! Some |
| adventure, and a cozy nest for sleeping. Bunk Beds, | | | | bunk beds are constructed to handle up to 400 lbs. on |
| futon bunks, and ladders are now available online so | | | | the top bunk, but not all are. Read the accompanying |
| they are easier than ever to purchase. | | | | safety materials to determine the weight limit. If none |
| As wonderful as they are, bunk beds have inherent | | | | came with your recycled bunk bed, a medium-sized |
| dangers associated with them. There is no substitute | | | | adult (approximately 200 lbs.) should climb to the top |
| for sitting down with your child on Day 1 of the new | | | | bunk to check the sturdiness and rigidity of the frame. |
| bunk bed and carefully explaining the safety rules. Ask | | | | Determine a maximum weight and do not allow a |
| kids to repeat what you have told them to ensure that | | | | heavier person to use the top bunk. |
| they have understood. Here are some basic safety | | | | Caution your children not to jump on a bunk bed (ever) |
| tips to avoid injuries using a bunk bed. Some are for | | | | - either on the upper or lower bed. Bunk beds are not |
| parents in the initial set up and some are for kids to | | | | designed for it. While the dangers of jumping on the |
| remember every day that they use the bunks. | | | | top are obvious, even jumping on the bottom can |
| Top Bunk Safety | | | | weaken the entire structure or result in banged heads. |
| On the top bunk, use only mattresses sized to fit | | | | Overall Bunk Bed Safety |
| perfectly. The top bunk is generally a twin, so use only | | | | Place the bunk bed tightly against the wall to prevent |
| a twin-size mattress: 39" x 75". | | | | children from becoming trapped between the bunk and |
| Don't use a mattress more than 8" thick. The guardrails | | | | wall. Use both long-side guardrails and caution your |
| on most bunk beds are designed to accommodate up | | | | children from trying to slip down the back of the bed to |
| to an 8" thick mattress. Thicker mattresses place the | | | | the lower bunk. |
| sleeper too close to the top of the guardrail, rendering | | | | Regularly check that the ladder, the guardrails, and |
| the rails ineffective in preventing falls. | | | | other parts are tightly screwed down and properly in |
| Always use guardrails on all sides of the top bunk, | | | | place. Fixtures loosen over time, so look over the |
| particularly on the long sides. Check to ensure that the | | | | whole structure once a month and tighten loose |
| surface of the mattress is 5" or more below the top | | | | screws. |
| of the guardrails. If you need thick or heavy | | | | Hanging items from any part of the bunk bed is |
| comforters on top of the mattress, you might want to | | | | dangerous. Kids may reach over the edge for them, |
| select a thinner mattress so the sleeper stays well | | | | swing from them, and generally risk falling off or |
| below the top of the guardrails. 6" thick mattresses are | | | | strangling. |
| often sufficient for kids, whose lighter weight does not | | | | All children benefit from a nightlight that will help them |
| require extremely thick mattresses. | | | | use the bunk or loft safely. Soft red lights allow |
| Never allow a child under 5 years old on the top bunk. | | | | dark-adapted eyes to see enough to get down |
| While kids under 5 may be agile and have good | | | | without jarring them into a permanent awake state in |
| climbing skills, they may need a few more years to | | | | the middle of the night. |
| refine their internal sense of caution and safety that | | | | Watch your children get up and down a half dozen |
| would help them regulate their own behavior on the | | | | times before leaving them alone with the bunk bed. |
| top bunk. | | | | Advise them on the safe ways to enter and leave the |
| Teach children always to use the ladder for getting up | | | | top bunk and ask them to show that they understand |
| and down from the top bunk. Many bunk and loft beds | | | | by doing it. |
| have slats on either end that may look like climbing | | | | Following these simple safety tips should help you and |
| structures that kids see at the playground. However, | | | | your family enjoy your bunk or loft bed free of injury! |
| only the ladder is specifically designed to support their | | | | Don't forget that bunk beds also come in futon designs |
| weight that is increasing with each passing year. | | | | that enable you to have a futon sofa as the bottom |
| Teach children to climb the ladder only while facing the | | | | bunk. There you can read to your child before bedtime |
| ladder. While it may look easy to them to climb down | | | | - a sure way to calm things down and engender a |
| facing outward into the room, it is safer to climb down | | | | lifelong love of reading! |