Kids of all ages adore bunk beds as they provide additional floor space, a little adventure, and a comfortable space for sleeping. Bunk Beds, futon bunks, and ladders are now available online so they are easier than ever to procure.
As magnificent as they are, bunk beds have natural hazards related with them. There is no replacement to sit down with your child on Day 1 of the new bunk bed and carefully explaining the safety rules. Ask kids to replicate what you have told them to confirm that they have understood. Here are a few important safety tips to avoid injuries using a bunk bed. A few are for parents in the early set up and a few are for kids to remember every day that they use the bunks.
At all times make use of guardrails on all sides of the top bunk, mostly on the long sides. Ensure that the surface of the mattress is 5″ or more below the top of the guardrails. If you require thick or heavy comforters on top of the mattress, you may need to choose a thinner mattress so the sleeper stays well below the top of the guardrails. 6″ thick mattresses are often enough for kids, whose lighter weight does not need extremely thick mattresses. The top bunk is usually a twin, so use only a twin-size mattress: 39″ x 75″. Don’t use a mattress more than 8″ thick. Thicker mattresses place the sleeper too near to the top of the guardrail, rendering the rails useless in avoiding falls.
Never allow a child under 5 years old on the top bunk. While kids under 5 may be agile and have good climbing skills, they may need a few more years to refine their internal sense of caution and safety that would help them regulate their own behavior on the top bunk.
Inform children to use only the ladder for getting up and down from the top bunk. A lot of bunk beds have slats on either end that can look like climbing structures that kids see at the playground. Nevertheless, only the ladder is exclusively planned to support their weight that is increasing with each passing year. As well, see that they climb down facing the ladder and holding on firmly.
Respect the manufacturers’ weight restrictions! Some bunk beds are constructed to handle up to 400 lbs. on the top bunk, but not all are. Read the accompanying safety materials to determine the weight limit. If none came with your recycled bunk bed, a medium-sized adult (approximately 200 lbs.) should climb to the top bunk to check the sturdiness and rigidity of the frame. Determine a maximum weight and do not allow a heavier person to use the top bunk.
Warn your kids not to jump on a bunk bed (ever) – either on the upper or lower bed. Bunk beds like Twin Over Full Bunk Bed in Cherry – Ginger are not intended for it. As the risks of jumping on the top are clear, still jumping on the bottom can weaken the whole structure or result in banged heads.
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