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How do you determine the safety of your bunk beds.

By: David Ross

Many families contemplate using bunk beds for their children to alleviate a lack of space or through the request of a child Even though they save space and look fun, research shows that 85% of accidents in the bedroom occur from the presence of bunk beds.
The obvious danger with bunk beds is the ability to fall from the top bunk. A child cannot be monitored throughout the night or for every minute that they are playing in their room so there is always a risk of a child falling from the top bunk height and seriously hurting themselves. There are numerous other risks associated with bunk beds including getting trapped in the guard rails, falling off of theladder, the bunk bed collapsing, and smallscrapesand bruises from sharp edges sepecially the undersideof the top bed.

Although a fall alone can seriously hurt a child, furniture surrounding the bunk bed can pose a further risk. Venetian and slatted blind cords are extremely dangerous and can even cause death, due to the ease which which a child can wrap them around his neck and then strangle after falling. Bunk bed safety raises the question how safe kids are in them.
The first precaution is to make sure that your child is made aware of the potential risks. If you have younger children that won't be sleeping on the bunk bed still include them when discussing the dangers. Children younger than six years of age should not sleep in a top bunk, but they may end up in the upper bunk eventually. It may be worth purchasing a bunk bed that can be separated into two singles until the younger child is old enough.
There are strict European guidelines that bunk bed manufacturers must follow, however regulations apart, you should make some basic checks. Guard rails and bunk bed ladders should be permanently fixed. Some designs allow you to change the configuration of the ladder and side rails but once you have decided how you want them configured make sure they are secure and can't be lifted off by a child.
Wooden bunk beds most often have pine slats that are laid across the frame to support the mattresses so ensure that these slats are all screwed down. Kids love to play on their beds. Use caution when owning a metal bunk bed and check the welded joints of the mattress support on a regular basis. Regulations will insist that the bed has been tested but one faulty weld and it's your child that will be injured.

Choosing a ladder that has a gradient rather than being completely vertical may make it slightly easier for ascent and descent. Buying a night light is a good idea to help your child use the ladder safely at night.
When shopping for a good bunk bed, make sure you find one without sharp edges. To protect your child from banging on unsafe parts of the stepladder, build your bunk according to your preference with some sticky backed rubber. Double check that the screw fixings are tight and in the correct location. It can be a bit of a chore building a bunk bed so on completion step back and give the bunk a good check over.
Finally the main emphasis when buying a bunk bed is teaching your child the safe practice of using it. They need to understand the importance of safety and what can happen if they do not act in a safe manner.

Article Source: Free Content Articles Directory

Archers Sleep Centre are experts in the promotion of all kinds of beds from electric beds to silentnight beds and many more. Discover more from their website online at www.archerssleepcentre.co.uk

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