Friday, 6 August 2010

Are Loft Beds (Bunk Beds) Safe?

If you are trying to maximize the space in your room, consider purchasing a loft bed or bunk bed to elevate your sleeping area. With loft beds, the bed is elevated on a platform with space left underneath for living, working, or playing. Bunk beds work on the same principal, but with another bed underneath the top bunk. Both are popular with children and teens, who often have limited space in their rooms; however, many parents worry about their safety.

Each year, thousands of children are rushed to emergency rooms after falling from the top bunk of their bunk beds or loft beds, while many more receive less serious injuries that are not seen by a medical professional. Typically, the main reason of injury involving bunk beds or lofts beds is horseplay and not from improperly installed beds. Before you purchase bunk beds or loft beds for your child, consider the age of the child and plan to make rules regarding the use of the bed. Although younger children are thought to experience more injuries, the most problems occur with older children who are more apt to disregard rules and exhibit unsafe or risky behavior.

For the most part, bunk beds and loft beds are just as safe as conventional beds. For smaller children, consider designating the lower bunk as their bed instead of allowing them to regularly climb to the top bunk. Also, ensure the bed is properly maintained and meets all current safety regulations and standards. Additionally, approximately eight percent of bunk bed related falls and injuries that must seek medical attention are related directly to the ladder. In addition to ensuring the ladder is properly installed, instruct your child on the correct method of ascending and descending the ladder.

When you begin searching for an appropriate bunk bed or loft bed for your child, choose a bed that appeals to all the safety standards. A bunk bed should have guard rails that have no more than three and one-half inches of space between the rail and the mattress. This will prevent children from falling through the space and potentially injuring themselves. If necessary, you may need to install extra boards if the space between the guard rail and the mattress. Furthermore, the guard rail needs to extend no less than five inches above mattress so that your child will be unable to roll off the top bunk.

Another thing to keep in mind is that the bunk bed or loft bed your purchase has guard rails on both sides. Even though one side of the bed will be placed next to a wall, a guard rail is essential due to a child potentially falling next to the wall and becoming trapped between the wall and the bed frame. Again, the guard rail should be no greater than three and one-half inches above the bed frame. Also, you should ensure that the mattress purchased to fit the bunk bed or loft bed properly fits the frame. Many parents choose to use a preexisting mattress used on a child-sized bed that is smaller than a traditional twin bed frame. Children can potentially fall between the mattress and the frame in this situation, so you should ensure the mattress is of the proper size.

In addition to ensuring the mattress is of proper size, you should also check that the mattress foundation is properly suspended above the bottom bunk or the space below. If the bed sits on a wooden platform, consider reinforcing the mattress with wooden slats or metal straps. This will prevent the top bunk from collapsing, especially if the lower occupant is kicking or pushing the above mattress.

By purchasing a quality, well constructed bunk bed or loft bed that meets all safety guidelines, you can make certain that your child will be safe and free from injury from the bed.

Bunk Beds | Bunk Beds Are the Best Beds Used These Days by Many People

Likings and trends are changing and will keep on changing as time changes. This is happening and it is proved that many people are making their way in buying the bunk beds for their rooms rather than buying the old types of regular beds. In fact this change is being seen because the bunk beds are the types of beds which get mixed in any of the décors’ of the room very easily and they are durable and long lasting too. The bunk beds are designed and planned out in a very accurate and perfect manner which not only saves space in the room but saves the pocket of the buyer also. Yes this means that there are many types of expensive and also inexpensive models of the bunk beds which every common man can afford to buy easily. Both the expensive as well as the inexpensive products of the bunk beds are equally good and we cannot deny the fact that all are exclusively designed to give comfort and relaxation. One needs a perfect and a sound sleep after a hectic day and sleeping on the bunk bed gives the types of relaxation and comfort one needs. There are varieties of colors and designs of the bunk beds in the market. Especially when the festival of Christmas and the New Year are around, then there are many new models out in the market. If one wants a complete definition and information about the bunk beds, then one can easily gather the particulars from the leading websites of the town while surfing through the internet. This saves the time as well as we can get complete information about the products directly without moving out of the house.

When there are models of the bunk beds, like the twin over twin bunk beds, the futon bunk beds, the trundle beds, the full over full bunk beds and so many others, the full over full bunk beds are especially and distinctively planned for versatility and sturdiness. These types of beds can be used for years and years because of their strong built and exceptional designs. They are made up of hard wood and they generally do not get spoilt for many years and they can be constantly used. These types of bunk beds can be easily maintained also. They can be wiped with a piece of wet cloth and the shine can be maintained for years to come. The materials used to build these bunk beds are unique and some substances are also used so that the beds can be prevented from getting moist even during the rainy seasons hence allowing the bed to maintain its elegant look and configuration with reliability.

When I wanted a new bed for my house, then I choose to buy the Full over Full Bunk Bed in White Columbia because this was looking very attractive because of its white color and it was matching with the interiors of my house and even because it was available for $ 858.90 which means it was very reasonable.

How To Choose Good Bunk Beds And Loft Beds

So you’ve decided that you want to get your kid(s) a bunk bed or a loft bed. If there was one thing that every child wants, it would be a bunk bed or a loft bed. But you realize you know nothing about bunk beds nor loft beds much less how to pick a good one. Follow these recommendations when choosing a safe & secure, and playful bunk bed:

• First of all sit on the bottom bunk of the bunk bed to make sure it can hold your weight and also make sure your head can clear the top bunk.

• Shake the bunk bed vigorously to ensure it maintains stability.

• Ask the dealer if the bunk bed or loft bed meet the American Society of Testing Standards safety standards.

• Check the bunk bed guard rails, usually on the top bunk, to see if they run all the way around the bed and make sure they are not loose.

• Look at the bottom bunk to make sure there are support slats under the bottom bunk mattress to provide support. Also, make sure the mattress fits snugly into the bunks frame, there should be very little gap between all the sides of the mattress and the bunks frame.

• Make sure all the corners and the edges are smooth and clean.

• Ensure the ladder is sturdy and easy for your children to climb safely.

Overall, just make sure you use good common sense when selecting a bunk bed or loft bed for you children. Remember kids love to jump on beds and climb on beds so safety should be the first thing on your mind. After you are convinced that the bunk bed or loft bed is safe you can then proceed to selecting the other details such as wood type, stain color and sizes.