Bunk Bed Safety: How to Protect Children From Bunk Bed Injuries

 

 

It hurts when you accidentally hit your head on a bunk bed, right? Imagine how kids feel when it happens to them. To protect your children from injuries, you must know the ins and outs of bunk bed safety.

 

While bunk beds are excellent space-saving investments for your kids, they pose some risks. Don’t worry though, because these accidents can be prevented.

 

Bunk Bed Safety Protocols

 

Abbe Abbas, a bunk bed safety expert said, “As a rule, bunk beds should never be used by children under six years of age.”

 

Even when your children are older than six, they should still follow bunk bed safety protocols.

 

Fortunately, the Center for Injury Research & Policy and The American Academy of Pediatrics released bunk bed safety guidelines.

 

Here are bunk bed safety protocols every parent must follow:

 

(please use the list schema for the following list)

 

1. Put the bunk bed in a corner of the room such that the walls guard two sides.
2. Make sure that the bed has guard rails. Bunk bed guard rails must be at least 5 inches above the mattress.
3. If there is more than 3 ½ inches between the mattress’ bottom and guard rails’ bottom, add another guard rail to fill the gap.
4. Make sure that the slats of the top bunk are close to each other. If not, add more slats.
5. Strictly impose a no-horseplaying rule when your children are on the bed.
6. Tell your children to always use the ladder or stairs to climb onto and go down from the top bunk. Don’t let them use furniture to do so.
7. Make sure that the ladder is not wobbly. It should be able to carry your child’s weight with ease.
8. Put a night light near the ladder so your children can properly see when going in and out of bed at night.
9. Never hang scarves, belts, jump ropes, or any object that can strangle a child on the bed.
10. Never place or store sharp objects near the bed.

 

Bunk Bed Safety Standards

 

Following bunk bed safety protocols is just half of the equation. The other half is composed of bunk bed safety standards.

 

To see whether a bunk bed is safe for your children, make sure they have the following characteristics:

 

1. The bunk bed is made of high-quality materials.

 

A majority of bunk beds are made of wood or metal. While wood bunk beds are the most common, metal bunk beds are becoming popular.

 

Whatever bunk bed you choose, make sure it’s high-quality. Take note, there are lots of cheap knock-offs claiming to be made of sturdy wood or metal. Make sure you buy from reputable and reliable stores only.

 

1. The bunk bed’s finish is scratch-resistant and doesn’t chip.

 

            While bunk beds have usually non-toxic finishes, not all of them are scratch-resistant.

 

Finishes that are not scratch-resistant put your child at risk. For instance, if the bunk bed is made of wood, your child can get splinters if the finish isn’t smooth and scratch-resistant.

 

Metal beds with chipped paint can cause greater risk. Once your child ingests the chipped paint, your kid’s trip to the hospital won’t be lovely.

 

1. The bunk bed supports the mattress well.

 

Bunk beds come in different designs and functions. Some have beds on both levels. Others have slides, storage, and stairs.

 

The common feature among all of them? A bed on the top level. Thus, it’s crucial for you to choose a bunk bed that supports the mattress well.

 

When the mattress is well-supported, your child can sleep well. Plus, you don’t want your child to fall through the slats.

 

1. The bunk bed’s ladder is sturdy.

 

Your child will use the ladder many times every day. Hence, the ladder must be sturdy.

 

It should be sturdy enough to easily carry your child’s weight without wobbling. It also must be securely attached.

 

On top of that, the ladder’s slats must be close enough to each other. This is to avoid your child from falling or going through the slats.

 

1. The bunk bed’s guard rails are securely attached.

 

Another feature that a bunk bed must have is secure guard rails. Guard rails should be at least 5 inches above the mattress.

 

If the bunk bed safety rail is composed of slats, your child must not be able to fit through them. A distance of at least 3.5 inches is advised.

 

All bunk bed safety standards are proudly met by Landhill Beds. Our beds pass through extensive screening to ensure your child’s safety. Our beds are made of high-quality materials, have great support, and doesn’t chip. They’re scratch-resistant and sturdy as well.

 

Tips for Preventing Your Child From Falling Off

 

Here are tips to prevent your kid from falling off:

 

• Install a bunk bed safety net if your child moves a lot when sleeping.
• Place guard pillows on the side of the bed where your child might fall off.
• Never allow your kid to jump or play on the top bunk.
• Don’t put other things on the top bunk aside from pillows and blankets.
• Never place the bunk bed under a ceiling fan.

 

Tips for Bunk Bed Ladder Safety

 

Here are tips to prevent ladder-related accidents:

 

• Teach your kid how to carefully climb the ladder.
• Place anti-slip covers on the steps.
• Tell your child not to climb the ladder with slippery hands.
• Never allow your kid to climb the ladder with socks or other slippery footwear.
• Don’t let your child use the bed if any part of the ladder is broken.

 

Tips for Bunk Bed Slide Safety

 

Here are tips to prevent slide-related accidents:

 

• Always supervise your kids whenever they use the slide.
• Put an anti-slip mat where your child lands.
• Make sure that the slide has a smooth surface.
• Don’t place dangerous objects near the slide.
• Impose a strict sitting-only rule when using the slide.

 

As much as we despise it, accidents occur at home. The culprit behind some of them? Bunk beds.

 

Thus, it’s crucial for you and your child to understand bunk bed safety protocols. By following the tips and protocols above, your child should be safe from any bunk-bed-related harm.