Safety of Bunk Beds
If you're looking for a bunk bed because your children's room is small, you may have some safety concerns, especially in regard to the top bunk. You can put your mind at ease by understanding the basic tenets of bunk-bed safety and looking for bunk beds that meet all legal requirements. It's also a good idea to make sure your children are mature enough to understand that they must use their bunk bed properly. Does this Spark an idea?
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Compliance With Regulations
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The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has developed guidelines to minimize the risk bunk-bed injuries. The regulations are lengthy and specific. For example, the commission says that beds higher than 30 inches must have railings to prevent falls. All beds also must be labeled with the name of the manufacturer, as well as the model name and mattress requirements. Do not buy a bunk bed that fails to reach commission regulations. Those that meet the requirements must be clearly labeled.
Bunk-Bed Assembly
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Safe bunk beds start with proper assembly. Read through the instructions before you start. When you're putting the pieces together, secure all fasteners and connections as tightly as possible. You should not have any pieces left after assembly, unless duplicates were provided, and the instructions indicated this. If you wind up with extra hardware, go back through the directions to find your mistake.
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Mattress Size
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To be in compliance with the commission's bunk-bed regulations, the proper mattress size must be clearly stated on the bed. Do not use mattresses that fail to comply. If the mattress is too small, a child's neck or head can become trapped between the bed and the guardrail or wall. A child could also slip under the guardrail and fall off the top bunk.
Guardrails
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Guardrails are the most important safety features on bunk beds, and they must meet specific safety requirements. First, the top bunk must have two guardrails, one for each length of the bed. Also, the top of the guardrail must be no less than 5 inches above the top of the mattress. If the guardrail has an opening to allow a child to enter and exit the bed, it must not exceed 15 inches. The rails also must be firmly attached to the bed. Ladders, too, must the firmly attached.
Child's Age
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Even when you use a safe and structurally sound bunk bed, do not allow a young child to sleep on the top bunk. Only children 6 and older should sleep on a top bed, the Sleep Products Safety Council advises. Younger children may have difficulty climbing in and out of the top bunk, and they can fall or become trapped in the top bunk more easily than older children.
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