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With rules and training, bunk beds and
loft beds are just as safe as conventional beds. Before buying bunk or
loft beds, ensure that they meet all current safety regulations and
standards. To maximize the space in your bedroom, consider purchasing a loft bed or bunk beds to elevate your sleeping area. A loft bed is elevated on a platform, leaving space underneath for studying, working, playing, or storage. Bunk beds work on the same principle, but have another bed beneath the top bed. Both types of beds are popular with children and teens, who often have limited space in their rooms. However, many parents worry about their safety, and not without cause. Every year, thousands of children are rushed to emergency rooms after falling from a loft bed or the top bunk, while many more receive first aid at home for minor injuries and are not seen by a medical professional. Typically, horseplay is the main culprit, rather than improper installation of the beds. Before buying loft beds or bunk beds for children, parents should consider their age and talk to them about the rules for using the beds safely. Although younger children are assumed to have more injuries, more problems occur with older children, as they are more apt to disregard rules and exhibit risky and unsafe behavior. With rules and training, bunk beds and loft beds are just as safe as conventional beds. Before buying bunk or loft beds, ensure that they meet all current safety regulations and standards. Also, you should be sure to properly maintain the beds. The lower bunk should be designated for smaller children so that they won’t have to climb the ladder to the top bunk. Approximately 8 percent of falls and injuries that require medical attention are related directly to use of the ladder. In addition to making sure that the ladder has been properly installed, you should instruct your child on the correct method of ascending and descending the ladder. When you first begin searching for a bunk bed or loft bed for your child, look at the safety features. A bunk bed should have guardrails on both sides with no more than three and one-half inches of space between the rail and the mattress. This will prevent a small child from falling through the guardrail space and possibly being injured. If the space between the guardrail and mattress is wider, you may have to install extra boards. In addition, the guardrail should be no less than five inches above the mattress to prevent your child from rolling off the top bunk. It is essential that the loft or bunk bed have guardrails on both sides. Even though one side will be placed against a wall, a guardrail will prevent a child from becoming trapped between the wall and the bed frame. The guardrails on both sides should meet the above requirements. In addition, the mattress should fit the frame of the bunk bed or loft bed properly. Don’t use a smaller mattress just because you have one on hand. A mattress from a child-size bed is smaller than a traditional twin mattress. If the mattress is smaller, a child can potentially fall between the mattress and the frame and become trapped and even injured. Another very important thing to check is proper suspension of the top mattress. After ensuring that the mattress is of the right size, look at the mattress foundation. If the bed is on a wooden platform, you might reinforce support of the mattress with wooden slats or metal straps to make sure the top bunk cannot collapse. The occupants of bottom bunk beds are known for kicking and pushing on the mattress of the top bunk in spite of all rules against horseplay. Bunk beds and loft beds are great space savers. Children love sleeping in them, too. You can purchase a quality, well-constructed bunk bed or loft bed that meets all safety requirements and feel confident that your children will be safe throughout the night.
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