Bunk Bed Shopping - 10 Point Safety Checklist To Protect Your Children

by S.A. Smith

Every year thousands of children are admitted to hospital emergency rooms due to incidents involving bunk beds involving improper use, manufacturing, or set up. If your follow our 10 point safety checklist, bunk beds can still be a great bedding solution for your children:

Reputable manufacturer

Look for manufacturers that are established, and have a long history of manufacturing bunk beds. A good manufacturer will also stand behind their product by providing a lifetime warranty.

ASTM and CPSC guidelines

Ask the retailer if it meets the voluntary safety guidelines of the American Standards of Testing and Materials and the minimum safety standards of the Consumer Product Safety Commission. If it does, you'll know that the bed meets all current and reasonable safety standards.

Strong frame construction

Bunk Beds - Safety Checklist When Shopping

Kryssa Lighthall

Buying a bunk bed should not be a “window shopping” type purchase. You must do your research before handing over your credit card number to the store. Be sure to shop many different stores both online and brick and mortar.

Just because Bunk Beds look great doesn’t mean that they will be safe and secure and built with quality materials and craftsmanship. After all, it is our children that will be sleeping and playing on them so you need to educate yourself on what to look for.

The first decision you need to make is what type of bed you want your children to have, a bunk, loft, triple, twin, wood or metal. Second is the safety of the bunk bed. After you have reached your bedding type then consider the following safety checklist when shopping:

• Find a dealer you can trust. – Make sure they stand behind their products and can answer any questions regarding the safety of the bed.

• Find out the weight limits on the bunk bed you want to purchase. Last thing you need is to get the bunk bed home and assembled to later find out that the bunk can’t handle the required weight.

• Find out if the bottom of the bed frames has enough room for a box spring mattress to go under the child’s mattress or if the beds have wooden supports for the mattress to sit on. Having a box spring mattress provides more comfort and support.

• Make sure that the bunk beds have plenty of room on the bottom bunk for the kids to sit on comfortably. This will also help keep the kids from always playing on the top bunk where it can be more dangerous.

• Look to see if the bunk beds have a safety sticker outlining the safety guidelines for the bed.

• Make sure the bunk bed is made of strong, quality materials. You can shake the bed to see if it is durable and stable. Ask or look to see if the bunk bed is made out of solid wood or if it is made using particle board. Particle board isn’t as strong as solid wood.

• Make sure the corners and edges on the bunk bed are smooth and rounded. Sharp or blunt edges can serve up many bumps and bruises.

• The ladder should be securely attached and be wide enough for your child to climb. The ladder should also not be removable by children. Also, make sure the rungs on the ladder are properly spaced; they should not have to take a large step up to step on the next rung.

• Make sure the bunk beds have guardrails all the way around the bed and cannot be removed by children. The guardrails should have to be removed by removing a fastener device or some type of combination pressure lifting.

Following these steps when shopping for bunk beds will help ensure your children’s safety when playing or sleeping in their new bunk bed. And it will also give you a “peace of mind” when making the purchase.

About the Author :

Kryssa Lighthall is a writer for http://www.bunkbedsandplans.com. - Bunk Beds

This article is distributed by: www.iSnare.com

Examine and test the durability and strength of the bunk bed frame. It should easily hold a parents weight - climb on it and wiggle the frame a bit. A good bunk bed with remain firmly grounded without movement or noise.

Only rounded edges

Check the entire bed construction for smoothness of materials and fasteners. There should be no sharp edges or protruding points anywhere in the construction.

Measure the safety rails

Safety rails should run on both sides of the top bunk, and the lower rail should be no higher than 3 1/2 inches above the top of the mattress height - any higher and your children could slip underneath it. Also make sure the top rail is at least 5 inches above the mattress top to prevent your child from rolling over the safety rails.

Ensure proper mattress fit

Strangulation deaths have occurred in the US when children fall through openings between the mattress and the frame during the night. Make sure the mattress opening snugly fits the mattress without a lot adjustment room. If the mattress has a gap greater than 3 inches from any side of the mattress to the bed frame, headboard or footboard - it does not fit properly.

Sturdy ladder construction

Make sure the ladder in well constructed and is firmly attached and bolted to the bed frame. Test it out with your own weight - if it moves around it is not safe.

Sturdy mattress support

A lot of injuries are caused by children in the lower bunks pushing up on the underside of the top bunk and dislodging the mattress or support frame. Ensure the top bunk has sturdy mattress supports that are secured to the bed frame with bolts or screws. You don't want a floating board support system, as these will move around and can possibly fall through the opening.

Repair and maintenance

Immediately replace or repair any loose or missing fasteners on the bed. Periodically check the tightness of fasteners holding the bed together, as well as the cross support rails holding the upper mattress.

Safe use

Teach your children not to push up on the underside of the bed, or to climb on it like a jungle gym. Proper safety is important at all times, and you may wish to also use a night light near the ladder so children can see the ladder steps in the dark.

If you follow these basic tips then you should get years of safe enjoyment out of your new bunk bed. For more bunk bed resources and tips you can visit http://www.loft-beds-bunk-beds.com/bunk-beds.htm

S.A. Smith is a freelance writer, editor, and contributor to the Loft Beds Bunk Beds resource site, and can be reached at http://www.loft-beds-bunk-beds.com.

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