Keep Bunk Beds Safe

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We just received this question from a concerned reader:

My twin sons are 4 years old, and they want bunk beds in their new room. Are there any industry guidelines for bunk beds?

Yes! There are very specific industry guidelines for bunk beds.

The first, and most important, is that bunk beds are NOT recommended for children under 6 years of age. Children under 6 generally do not have the motor skills to navigate in and out of the top bunk, especially at night, nor do they possess the judgment to realize the serious hazard in flight experimentation from the top bunk.

After reviewing bunk bed injuries over a 16-year period, the American Academy of Pediatrics found 50 percent of all incidents involved children 5 and under.

So, hold off on the bunks for a couple of years. In the meantime, prepare for your future purchase by reading the industry's bunk bed guidelines, as well as the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission's requirements for bunk beds (PDF).