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Bunk beds are a great way to fit two beds into a smaller
space, or to maximize the floor space of a shared room. There are now bunk beds
available with storage drawers, roll out mattresses and even some that double
as desks and workstations. All the additional amenities that bunk beds now
offer are certainly something to be considered, but nothing is more important
when purchasing a bunk bed than safety. Know what to look for and you will get
a great looking bunk bed that serves its purpose. There are certain things an
educated consumer should know to look out for, and it also goes without saying
that not all bunk beds are created equal. There are several manufacturers of
bunk beds who make quality furniture pieces, and armed with a little knowledge,
you can purchase the right bed for your children.
All bunk beds should have rails for the top bunk. Without
question, the number one cause of bunk bed related injuries stems from children
falling out of the top bunk. A quality bunk bed will never lack rails for a bed
so high off the floor. Additionally, parents should always make sure the rails
are tight and secure after the bunk bed has been purchased or assembled.
Ladder placement is important. Ladders will either be on the
sides or front of the bed. A good rule of thumb to follow is that bunk beds
with four feet or four posts touching the ground should have the ladder in front
meaning on the long side of the bed that usually faces out from the wall
(provided the bed is set against a wall). You should only see ladders on the
short "ends" of the bunk bed if the bed has a solid foundation on
both ends, meaning wood or metal all the way across the end that touches the
floor. The reason for this is that front side ladders are at an angle while end
ladders are straight up and down. If your child slips on a front sided ladder,
which is always angled, he or she will not fall straight down, eliminating the
possibility of landing on the bottom bunk rails or getting an appendage caught
in the bed. This can happen with a vertical
ladder, which is why they should only be placed on the ends of beds, preferably
with "walled" or "semi-walled" ends that go all the way to
the floor. This will prevent your child from getting an appendage caught on the
bed should he or she fall on a vertical ladder.
Bunk bed construction, as one might imagine, is also very
important. Wood has substantially less compression strength than metal, so
while wooden bunk beds are certainly fine, be wary of those that don't weigh
much more than their metal counterparts. Wood bunk beds are just as good as
metal bunk beds, but should weigh considerably more.
Being an educated consumer will allow you to get the bunk
bed you want while making sure that your children's safety needs are met.
To read other articles about home and office furniture visit
http://homeandofficefurniture.blogspot.com/ To purchase furniture visit
http://www.ezbuyfurniture.com/
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