Parenting is never an easy duty. One of the most important aspects of this job includes keeping your children safe from harm. Even sleeping at night can pose both serious and non-serious threats. Every year, thousands of children experience accidents involving bunk beds. Most are minor injuries; however it is not rare to see serious injuries from accidents such as falling off the top bunk, or suffocation on guard railings (although the latter is rare).

The next part of this article will look at some of most common sources of injuries from bunk beds, and things you can do to prevent them; thus keeping your child safe at night while they sleep.

Guardrail Spacing:

One of the most common threats to child safety in regards to bunk beds is the guardrails. They are of so much concern because if not properly installed they can pose opportunities for serious injury. For example, if the guard rail is too low, there is a chance your child can fall off the top bunk during sleep (especially if he or she constantly rolls while sleeping). Also, if the spacing between the guardrails and the bunk bed are too wide, then there are chances that a child's head can get stuck in between the two, which in some rare cases, can cause suffocation. Thankfully, all bunk beds that are manufactured now must pass a US Safety Inspection. If accepted, they will receive a certificate that says the bunk bed meets the highest of safety standards. This greatly increases guardrail safety which will reduce the number of accidents caused by bunk beds.

Upper Bunk Support:

Another common threat is the upper bunk coming down. This is usually caused when there is not enough support holding up the upper bunk's bed frame, mattress, and of course the child. But as with the note above on guardrails, when a bunk bed passes the US Safety Inspection, you can be certain that the build quality of the bunk bed meets the highest of standards. Therefore, accidents such as these are very unlikely.

The Mattress Size:

Probably the most obvious, but heavily overlooked aspect of child safety in regards to bunk beds is the mattress size. It is important to get the right sized mattress for the bunk bed because wrong-sized mattresses can cause falls, or increase the gap between safety rails and frame.

These threats and more can be prevented however. The Consumer Product Safety Commission has given out the following tips to safely selecting, using, and maintaining your bunk beds. They suggest that you make sure:

- That your bunk bed has guard rails on all four sides.

- The gap between the bed frame and the bottom of the guard rail does not exceed 3.5 inches (89 mm).

- Guardrails extend at least 5 inches (127 mm) above the mattress surface to prevent the child from falling off.

- To include cross ties under the mattress foundation, which can be securely attached.

- That the ladder is securely attached to the bunk bed. Replace any broken ladder rungs immediately.

- Select a bunk bed that has the feature of easily and safely separating itself into two single-sized beds.

- That the mattress fits tightly against all four sides of the bed frame.

- Do not permit children under the age of 6 to use or occupy the upper bunk

- That you emphasize to the children to always use the ladder to get on the upper bunk. Never use chairs or other furniture.

- To teach children that horseplay can be dangerous.

- Consider using a nightlight so that children can see the ladder if they need to use it if they wake up during the night or when it's dark.

- Constantly check that bunk bed is sturdy.

Other tips include:

- Replace or repair any broken parts immediately.

- If the gap between the guard rail and bed frame is larger than 3.5 inches (as per above), nail or screw in another rail to prevent a child's head from fitting in between the gap.

- Always check to make sure that the bunk bed contains safety labels. Ask before you make your purchase.

- Add extra slats underneath the bed frames for added support.

Those are some general tips to keeping your child safe as they sleep in their bunk beds. Now your bunk bed should be a wonderland once again where your children can play, sleep, and dream without a care in the world. Your children will b e safe, and you, as a parent, can achieve peace of mind and can sleep soundly yourself. With that, you can look forward to ensuring that your children can sleep well at night and are safe when they wake up in the morning.