Twin Bed Safety

A guardrail would make this bed more safe.

As soon as a child is big enough to be able to climb out of the crib, it is time for a "big boy" or "big girl" bed. A twin bed can be a great option, since your child will be able use it for years. However, moving your child from a crib to a twin bed means new safety concerns that must be addressed to make sure your child's new bed is as safe as it is comfortable.

Construction

Look for a twin bed frame that is sturdily constructed, so it will be safe and last for as long as you need it to. Hardwoods tend to splinter the least over time, so look for a frame made of birch, maple or beech. Make sure the finish on a wood bed frame is smooth, and that all the edges are rounded and blunt. Avoid headboards or footboards with cutouts or sharp spires.

Bed Rails

Installing a removable bed rail in your child's twin bed is a must to ensure safety, especially for children under age 5. A bed rail can prevent your child from rolling off his bed, or from rolling between the mattress and the wall and becoming trapped. To be fully protected against entrapment, make sure your child's bed rail is installed as close to the mattress as possible. Some removable bed rails are certified by the Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association (JPMA), so look for their sticker on your bed rail or its packaging.

Mattress

Twin beds are sold in extra long and regular lengths. To be sure that your bed frame and mattress sizes match perfectly, Consumer Rreports recommends buying them together. At the very least, be sure your mattress fits snugly into its frame, because any extra room in your bed frame is space for your child to roll into and become trapped.

Bunk Beds

Though a child of 2 or 3 can enjoy a twin bed, no child under the age of 6 should sleep in a top bunk, according to Consumer Reports. Also, removable bed rails are not recommended for top bunks; instead, buy a bunk bed with guardrails built-in. Check your bunk bed routinely to make sure the ladder is firmly attached and the frame remains sturdy.

There are many industry standards and federal regulations in place to ensure that only the safest bunk beds are put on the market for your children. When you look for a bunk bed, make sure the top of the corners and the ladder are not more than 3/16th of an inch above the top of the guardrail. Federal law also requires that the top of your mattress be at least 5 inches below the top of your bunk's guardrail; buying the mattress and bed frame together can help you comply with this.

Location

Place your child's twin bed away from windows, curtains, blind cords or heaters. If possible, place the headboard of your child's bed against the wall and keep both sides of the bed open to the room, protected by guardrails. This prevents any possibility of your child becoming trapped between his bed and the wall.

References

• Consumer Reports: Toddler, Twin, and Bunk Beds