Buying Bunk Beds

Archive for the ‘Safety’ Category

Important features and tips for making your home bunk beds safe for all that use them.

To help protect the safety of your child be sure that the bunk bed you choose has guard rails on both sides of the upper bunk, even if you are planning to place one of the sides against a wall. The guardrails should extend over 80% of the length of the top bunk.

The mattresses for your bunk bed must fit the frame well to prevent suffocation if a child should get trapped between them. There should not be a gap wider than one inch between the mattress and the frame at any point along the entire mattress. The mattress should be well supported, with a Bunkie board and strong slats screwed into the side rails of the bed.

Measure the space between the top of the mattress and the bottom of the lowest guard rail. It should be no more than one inch.

Bunk beds should be constructed using only material that is strong and durable. Conduct a thorough inspection of the bed to ensure that all of the edges are round and smooth. It is also a good idea to check for stability by strongly shaking the bed.

The side rails that support the upper bunk should be firmly secured with either bolts or lag bolts. While lag bolts should be connected directly to the end panels, regular bolts need to go completely through the end panels. Do not purchase a bunk bed that has been constructed using hook on rails.

Check the end panels to see how wide the openings are. Be sure that they are not wide enough to allow your child’s head to slip through.

When looking at the ladder check for these three things: it is securely attached to the bunk bed, has an adequate width, and the climbing angle is not too steep.

Sit on the bottom bunk and make sure you can sit up without bumping your head on the upper bunk. The bottom bunk should not feel too closed in.

Below are some tips for the safe enjoyment of your new bunk bed.

* While it is fine for children under six to use the bottom bunk of a bunk bed, they should never sleep in the top bunk.
* The top bunk should never be used for unsupervised horse play.
* The ladder, which has been properly attached, should always be used to reach the top bunk.
* There should only be one person at a time on the upper bunk.
* The safety information sticker should stay affixed to the bed even after it is purchased and installed.
* When children are sleeping on the top bunk a night light should be used to help them climb up and down the ladder when it is dark.
* Occasionally conduct a thorough inspection of your bunk bed to ensure that all lag bolts and screws are securely in place. Do not use substitute parts if you find a missing bolt or screw.
* Keep the assembly instructions in a safe place for the entire time you own the bunk bed.
* You may need them if you move or decide the place the bed in another room.

The Consumer Safety Council has published an in depth look at some of the safety issues involved with bunk beds on their web site. Some of the highlights include:

* Sleeping on the top bunk should be reserved for children six and over. Of course, you know your child best so you should take that into consideration when deciding if they should sleep on the top bunk.
* Some small children have actually fallen between the bunk bed and wall all the way to the floor. To ensure your child’s safety only buy a bunk bed that has safety guardrails on both sides of the top bunk, even when one side of the bed will be pushed against a wall.
* The space between the top of the mattress and the top guard rail should measure at least five inches.
* The mattress on the top bunk should be firmly in place, with safety wires in case of emergency.
* Children on the bottom bunk have been known to kick or push on the bottom of the top bunk, and a mattress that is not properly secured could come falling down.
* Do not purchase a bunk bed that has not been properly constructed.

Each year the improper use, manufacturing, or set up of bunk beds sends thousands of children to the hospital.

The following checklist list should help you prevent accidents and give you assurance that bunk beds can be a safe solution to your child’s bedding needs.

Reputable Manufacturer
You should choose a manufacturer with a solid reputation and several years experience manufacturing bunk beds. A good company will have no problem offering their customers a lifetime warranty on the products they produce.

ASTM and CPSC Guidelines
There are voluntary safety guidelines for bunk beds which have been issued by both the American Standards of Testing and Materials and the Consumer Product Safety Commission. Be sure to ask your salesperson whether the bed you are considering buying meets these standards. A bed that does meet these standards will comply with all reasonable safety expectations.

Strong Frame Construction
Be sure to carefully inspect and test the frame of the bunk bed for durability. The best test is for the parent to climb into the bed and move around, the bed should easily be able to handle your weight and movement. If the frame is sound you should not hear any noise or feel movement during your test.

Rounded Edges
A safe bunk bed will not have any sharp edges or pieces that stick out. Be sure to look over the entire bed from top to bottom to ensure that there are not potentially dangerous parts and that the entire construction is smooth.

Safety Rails
The top bunk of a bunk bed should always have safety rails. To test the safety of the bottom rail, measure the distance between the top of the mattress and the rail. The gap should be no more than 3 ½ inches to prevent a child from slipping under it. The gap between the top rail and the top of the mattress should be at least 5 inches to keep the child from falling over it.

Proper Mattress Fit
A child who falls down between the bed and the mattress while they are sleeping could be strangled. Unfortunately this happens all too often. The gap between the mattress and the bed frame should not exceed three inches at any point around the bed. If there is a gap larger than three inches the mattress does not fit.

Proper Ladder Construction
When looking at the ladder you need to ensure that it is well made and well attached to the frame of the bed. A well made ladder should be able to hold a parents weight without moving around.

Mattress Support
There have been several reported injuries in which the mattress on the top bunk is moved by a child on the lower bunk pushing up on the top mattress supports. The mattress supports for the top bunk should be firmly attached to the bed frame with either screws or bolts. A floating support system could cause injuries as it moves around and should be avoided.

Maintenance and Repair
Periodically inspect your bunk bed for any loose or missing fasteners and replace them immediately. During your inspection be sure to look at both the cross support rails holding the upper mattress and the fasteners holding the bed together.

Safe Use
Bunk beds should be fun, but they are not jungle gyms. Children should be given instructions on bunk bed safety, including not pushing on the upper mattress from the lower bunk. It is also wise to place a night light near the ladder to the top bunk to allow your child to get down safely in the dark.