Bunk Bed Safety

A Word About Safety...

As a parent, you naturally worry about your children, and if there's any place they should be safe, it should be in the comfort of their bed at home. At Cymax Stores, we believe in putting safety first. That's why our manufacturer’s products are tested to meet industry standards. You don't want kids falling out of the top bunk---definitely not a good way to wake up from dreamworld---or any number of other mishaps occurring. The good news is, bunk beds have been around for a long time, so there are plenty of regulations and safety features in place. Below are some helpful guidelines for installation and proper use.

Installation Tips for a Safer, Better Bunk Bed

You might not realize all the little things that are involved in making a bunk bed safe. You, the buyer, have to do your part to maximize the safety of the bunk bed. When installing a bunk bed, there are a few critical safety issues that are easy to overlook. Here are some installation tips to ensure that your bunk bed is as safe as possible.

Guardrails

The guardrails should be on all four sides, and there should be at least five inches between the top of the mattress and the top of the guardrail. Many companies sell thinner mattresses specially designed to be used safely with bunk beds.

Construction

Make sure the bed is sturdy, and constructed of durable materials. All screws and fasteners should be tightly installed, and all parts of the bed should be tested for strength and stability by pulling and shaking them with your hands. This includes the frame itself, the guardrails around the top bunk, and the ladder. It's not a good idea to have a wobbly bunk bed---but sometimes the problem isn't the bed itself. If the floor is uneven, you should purchase levellers to be used under the legs.

Top Bunk Size

Measure the top bunk. It should be equal to or greater than 74” in length and 38” in width. This ensures that the frame and lower bunk are of adequate size to provide structural stability.

Ladder

The ladder should be securely fastened and easily accessible. Getting to and from the top bunk should not look like a dangerous acrobatic feat, as entertaining as that may be to some of you. 

Headroom

Headroom is another important aspect to consider.  The only thing worse than jolting upright in bed from a bad dream is giving yourself a concussion in the process. The more distance there is between the bottom bunk and the top bunk, and between the top bunk and the ceiling, the less accidents will happen. If you have low ceilings, or tall kids, you might want to consider buying something like a T-shaped loft bed.

No Water Sports

For bunk beds, you should never buy a mattress that has water or flotation devices in or attached to it. This will cause instability in the bed.

The Gallows

Never put hanging objects above the bunk bed. These can result in choking accidents, or they may fall and cause other kinds of injury.

Safety Rules

There’s more to safety than just making sure the bed is constructed and assembled properly. Even the safest bunk beds all contain one common danger: misuse. That’s why you should establish a good set of safety rules for your kids to follow.

No More Kids Jumpin’ on the Bed!

The very first and most important rule is “No Horseplay”. When confronted with a beautiful new bunk bed, most kids go a little crazy with excitement and immediately begin to use the bed as a kind of jungle gym. As fun and harmless as it may seem, this behaviour should be strongly and consistently discouraged, as it can result in serious injury. You should be especially adamant with regards to the top bunk, since the majority of bunk bed accidents occur from horseplay on or around the top bunk.

Age Limits

The top bunk should only be used by children six or older.

Another good rule is that no more than one person should be on a bunk at a time. Allowing more than one person on a bunk can cause the bed frame to weaken from the strain of jostling. A related guideline is to make sure that there is never more than 300 pounds on the top bunk. You may think your child has no hope of ever exceeding this limit, but just think what would happen if a few friends were up there with them.