Bunk beds They are a very practical solution to save space in the children's room, especially in semi-detached houses or small apartments, where the dimensions of the children's bedroom make it difficult to place two beds. So the little ones can sleep together, and there will still be space for a desk, floor lamp and a small trunk of toys or objects. My children have slept in bunk beds for 4 years until they made the decision to have a room for each one… we have not disassembled the furniture because occasionally the girl returns to stay with her brother.
Security was probably not so much thought about at the time that the cover image reflects, but it happens that we must also take precautions to avoid falls from the bed above, Have you gotten up? I do, and I assure you that it is not the same to observe the bunk from the “standing” position of an adult, than to be up, there is a lot of height, and in fact (although there are few statistics about it) it is an accident that happens. And others also occur with the result ofblows to the head, risk of suffocation, lacerations ...
There are 4 main types of bunk (basic, train, folding, cross) and in all one of the beds is high, so the recommendations that you will find below are valid for all situations. The first thing to keep in mind is that when buying we must check that it is complied with standard EN 747-1: 2012.
In case it is a second-hand furniture, it will be necessary make sure it is in good condition: materials, anchors, base of the legs, etc. Once we have it at home, and after getting rid of the packaging, we will place it in a corner of the room, so that there are walls on two sides, and with the ladder away from the window, to avoid the danger when the child sleeping upstairs go up or down.
Bunk beds and child accidents.
It is true that there are not many data on this type of accident, but according to the European Injury Database, approximately 19000 children under 14 years of age are cared for annually for injuries that occur in bunk beds; the scope of data collection is Europe. Above all, it happens that children fall from above, although accidents may be due to holes in railings or stairs. Strangulations, entrapments (mattress - wall / mattress - furniture structure), are other possible accidents.
There are three other basic tips to prevent accidents in bunk beds: carry out the assembly according to the manufacturer's instructions, not allow girls or boys under 6 years of age to use the upper bed, and protect the plugs from light that are within reach of their little hands.
More tips to prevent bunk bed accidents.
Assembly and placement.
- You can put a thick rug on the floor of the room, to cushion a little in case of fall.
- Railing spacing in parallel: no more than 7 centimeters.
- Steps: preferably anti-slip of a minimum of 3 centimeters and 20 cm. between each.
- Protection of the upper bed: it will be maintained continuously, with the exception of the stairwell.
- No more than 16 centimeters high on the railing that surrounds the bed above.
- Calculate well so that they do not reach the ceiling lamp or sconce.
- For safety, the gaps at the top will not be smaller than 6 cm. nor larger than 7,5.
- Mattress slats separated by no more than 7,5 centimeters.
Utilization.
- In the upper bed, the headboard is always the opposite end of the stairwell.
- You can put a light on the railing so that the child who sleeps upstairs can go down at midnight, but do not even think about leaving loose or coiled electrical cables in any part of the structure. If you can't get a good installation (better on the part facing the wall), buy a battery-powered system with a clamp to hold it.
- Nothing to use garlands or bows to decorate the bunk, the little ones could get tangled and suffer suffocation due to strangulation.
- There should be no dangerous objects around the bunk that could hurt themselves if they fell: a piece of furniture with corners, a scooter, ...
Your children can also help prevent these accidents: show them that the proper way to climb is using the ladder, and not from tables or chairs; to play, better on the floor (among other things, the slats of the bed base above can break if they jump). To avoid overload at the top, let only one person sleep in that bed.
Images - simple insomnia, Wikimedia Commons