A lot of families consider bunk beds for their children to make maximize smaller spaces or because their children have requested them. Two-tiered bunk beds are fun for kids, but they are also the cause of about 85% of the injuries that happen due to beds.

There is an obvious danger associated with sleeping on bunk beds, and that is the ability to fall off the top bunk. Since children can not be monitored every minute that they are in their rooms, there is always a risk of a child from falling from the top bunk and being injured. Other risks are getting trapped in guard rails, slipping off the ladder, the bunk bed collapsing and minor knocks on sharp edges and especially the underside of the top bunk.

When furniture is placed around a bunk bed it can prove to be even more harmful than a fall on the floor. Objects such as blind cords can be extremely dangerous, they can easily become wrapped around a child's neck and deaths have occurred due to a child getting a cord caught around their neck during a fall. It doesn't happen very often but it makes you wonder how safe bunk beds are for our children.

Before all else, talk to your child about the dangers involved. If you have younger children that won't be sleeping on the bunk bed still include them when discussing the dangers. Children younger than six years of age should not sleep in a top bunk, but they may end up in the upper bunk eventually. You might want to buy a bunk bed that converts into single bed, so that you can keep them both on the floor until your children are ready for bunk beds.

There are strict European guidelines that bunk bed manufacturers must follow, however regulations apart, you should make some basic checks. To ensure safety, guard rails and bunk beds should be permanently attached. A well designed ladder allows you to change and lock the configuration, so when you change the settings, be sure that they can't be modified by a child.

Wooden bunk beds most often have pine slats that are laid across the frame to support the mattresses so ensure that these slats are all screwed down. Kids just love to play with the top bunk bed slats. With metal bunk beds, an important tip is to check the welded joints on a regular basis since the mattress is supported by this wire mesh. Regulations will insist that the bed has been tested but one faulty weld and it's your child that will be injured.

Choosing a ladder that has a gradient rather than being completely vertical may make it slightly easier for ascent and descent. Another reason it is a good idea to purchase a night light is so that the ladder is visible to your child during the night.

Certainly always look for beds designed safely and without sharp edges. To protect your child from banging on unsafe parts of the stepladder, build your bunk according to your preference with some sticky backed rubber. And do make sure that all the screw fixings are properly fixed and in place. Putting together a bunk bed is a daunting task, so it's a good idea for you to go over the bed once you're done to make sure it is sound.

An important thing to do when buying a bunk bed is to show your child the safe way to use it. They need to understand the importance of safety and what can happen if they do not act in a safe manner.