Do you think bunk beds are dangerous? - Page 2

[it's just apples]

Originally Posted by onlyzombiecat

she would throw things off her bed (like books) without regard to who or what was below and spilled cups of water she took up there.

My friend's dad affixed window boxes (like you would plant flowers in ) to the side of the top bunk to stop the book throwing problem.

[Yooper]

We just got a loft for my 5 yo dd. I was concerned at first but it is not really that high and has really tall rails. I try to put it in perspective....she plays on much higher stuff at the play ground.... We do have a "no friends" rule do discourage rough housing on it. But that was dd's idea....she does not like people on her bed

[Ygle]

My natural sense is that they aren't that dangerous, depending on the child, and with the right child I'm sure they could make anything dangerous HOWEVER I remember a dozen years ago or so someone telling me how terribly dangerous cosleeping with a child is and for me I feel a lot safer with baby next to me so I researched it and while I couldn't find any actual PROOF of that being the case, I did discover that the two most frequent child injuries were from bunk beds and lawnmowers (I can't remember which was worse, the lawnmowers really surprised me!)... so despite my feelings that it really shouldn't be that dangerous, the facts, at least a dozen years ago, seemed to say it really was a major concern, more so than just about anything else apparently (for nonfatal injuries at least).

Here's a semi-recent article (from a year ago): http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/24895552/ the headline says nearly 36,000/yr treated for injuries, however the article goes on to say "Plus, the new study analyzed only injuries that were treated in emergency rooms, not those seen in clinics or by private doctors or those that were taken care of at home.

'We may actually have underestimated the number of injuries that occur,' she said"

[oneKnight]

I've never had any bunk bed falling out type accidents. Oh, my sister did hit her head on the ceiling fan once. Don't put it too close to the ceiling fan!!! She didn't change her sheets very often because it was a PITA and us kids had to change our own. I think mom's minimu age was 6 for the youngest one to be on the top bunk.

My mom always said they were more dangerous in case of a fire, because smoke rises, but I guess it didn't worry her too much.

[Kirsten]

My sister and I had them when we were 4 and 8. Oldest on top bunk of course. Never had an issue.

My older two kids have loft beds. Dd1's is really high, and a little too close to the ceiling IMO but it works. Dd2's is the one that looks like a dollhouse, and is really enclosed. You couldn't fall out of it if you tried. And you can put another mattress under it but we don't. They've had them for almost four years - since they were 8 and 5 1/2.

I was nervous with dd2 since she wasn't 6 yet, and I really think that 6/7/8 is a better age for a loft or bunk bed. But she is responsible, and her specific bed is really enclosed - so we went ahead.

[crl]

We got this for DS--he was 5 1/2 when we got it-- (well, except I didn't order the stairs because I thought DS would play on them and might get hurt that way, plus I thought a little one would be able to climb the stairs much earlier than they would be able to get up to the top bunk otherwise):

http://www.bedroomfurniture.com/Berg...XX-FX1021.html

I feel like it is relatively safe. The top bunk is below my shoulders in height so the fall isn't as far as it would be with "regular" bunks. And the sides are pretty high so I don't think DS could accidently roll out during the night. And there aren't any railings--DH was worried that DS would get an arm or leg caught in a railing and break something that way. . . .

Catherine

[SunshineJ]

DH had bunks he shared with his younger brother when he was growing up. He said he rolled off the top one in his sleep once (he was older and had the top) but it wasn't a big deal other than it annoyed him to be awakened. For us it wouldn't be remotely possible - at almost 7 yrs old ds is STILL all over the bed at night and fell out of our queen size just a few months ago (again), but for *most* children I don't see that it would be too bad. Years ago friends had them for their boys ages 4 and 2 (a bit young imo) and they did great with them.

[Sharlla]

not dangerous

[Astrogirl]

my 2 and 4 year old are in bunk beds now. They are fine, but we have to keep our eye out for the 2 yr old that she doesn't climb up there (might take away the ladder during the day).

It only makes me nervous when they want to go up there to play. DH fell off his when he was a kid and got a concussion. My FIL had a good idea to put a rubber matt on the floor beside the beds, so I put a futon mattress on the floor beside it.

I like the bunk beds that have the double bed on the bottom for that reason. They fall off the top bunk, they land on the bed below.

[onlyzombiecat]

Originally Posted by it's just apples

My friend's dad affixed window boxes (like you would plant flowers in ) to the side of the top bunk to stop the book throwing problem.

Not a bad idea. I think my sister wouldn't have minded hitting me though.

[nathansmum]

My ds is getting a loft bed for his 6th birthday and i'm not concerned about safety. I'm not sure yet that I would have dd (just turned 4) playing up there with him though.