Saving space with bunk beds

Bunk beds are an excellent way to have extra sleeping space while conserving floor space, but they need to be employed with a certain amount of caution. A recent study found that nearly 36,000 children and adolescents are involved in bunk bed-related accidents every year. From 1990 to 2005 approximately 573,000 kids from infants to age 21 experienced injuries serious enough to require a visit to the emergency room. Nearly half of the injuries occurred in children under 6, but there also was a surprising jump in accidents among 18 to 21-year-olds, who were more than twice as apt to be hurt as adolescents ages 14 to 17. Find more information about kids fun tent bunk beds.

Nearly three-quarters of the kids were hurt by falls, with about 30 percent suffering significant cuts, nearly 25 percent reporting bruises and scrapes and about 20 percent suffering fractures. More than 10 percent experienced concussions. The study indicated half of the kids suffered injuries to the head, neck or the face, and that children younger than 3 years old were about 40 percent more likely to suffer head injuries than older kids. Approximately 60 percent of the kids injured were boys (are we shocked?!) Find more information about soft bamboo sheets and queen comforters.

There are voluntary safety guidelines for bunk bed manufacturers that have been put out by both the Consumer Product Safety Commission and the American Standards of Testing and Materials. Be sure to determine whether or not the bed you are thinking about buying fulfills these requirements.

1) Thoroughly check and test the frame of the bunk bed for stability. The best test is for someone to climb up on the bed and move around; the bed should easily support an adult’s weight without making any noise or feeling any movement of the frame. To be on the safe side, have the salesman climb on the top bunk to prove its strength.

2) Look over the entire bed from top to bottom to make certain that there aren’t any possibly dangerous parts sticking out, that there aren’t any sharp edges, and that the complete assembly is smooth. Be sure the bedposts do not have knobs or finials that might snag clothing and other things.

3) The top bed must always have safety rails on both sides, even if one side is up against a wall. To stop a youngster from getting stuck between the rails or stuck between the bottom rail and the mattress, no space should be more than 3 ½ inches, to prevent entrapment and strangulation. The top rail must be a minimum 5 inches above the top of the mattress to keep the child from falling.

4) The space between the mattress and the bed frame must not be more than three inches at any point around the bed. Whenever there is a space larger than three inches, then you will need to get a different mattress. A youngster who falls down between the bed and the mattress while sleeping could be strangled, which regrettably has happened.

5) Make certain that the ladder is well constructed and well attached to the bed frame. A sturdy ladder must be able to support an adult’s weight without moving around. As suggested above, have the salesman demonstrate the sturdiness of the ladder by getting on it and rocking from side to side. The ladder must not slip at all.

6) There have been more than a few reported occurrences in which the mattress on the top bunk is moved by a child on the lower bunk shoving up on the top mattress supports. The mattress supports for the top bunk must be firmly fastened to the bed frame with bolts or screws. An unstable support system might cause injuries if anything moves around and this type of assembly must be avoided.

7) Occasionally check the bunk bed for any loose or missing hardware and replace them immediately. Immediately! Throughout the inspection be sure to check the horizontal
rails holding the top mattress and all of the hardware holding the bed together.

Never permit a child less than 6 years old to nap (or play) on the top bed. As mentioned above, one half of the accidents happen to kids under 6.

9) Place the bed out of reach of ceiling fans and light fixtures (which should be apparent!). Additionally, you should be sure there is more than enough room between the top bed and the ceiling.

Another type of elevated bed you could consider would be the loft bed, which has an open space where the bottom bed would normally be. This space may be used for a desk, chair, dresser, play area, or storage. The safety guidelines for bunk beds also apply to loft beds and the same care must be taken whenever paying a visit to a furniture dealer. When you acquire either style of bed over the Internet, be sure it follows the ASTM standards.

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