What age for the top bunk?

[brooke88(mum2b09)]

I'm surprised at how many people don't have an issue with young children in them.
I would like to get bunks when the girls are much older but will have to see as they don't sleep separated and are in a double bed together now.

[4underfour]

I'm interested to see your stats on these deaths occuring too often. In particular, I would like to see the stats where a child has died in Australia (I'm not interested in US data as safety standards are likely different), through the result of a bunk bed accident where the bed has had: sufficient safety rails, a ladder, no gaps in the rails for entrapment, and has been assembled correctly.

I really couldn't find any stats on this and would be interested to read it.

Sorry I don't have stats, for aus or the US. And to be honest I don't have time to search as it sounds like the stats are difficult to get.
If people want to put their young kids in bunk beds, against the recommendations of child safety experts then that's their choice. I was just saying that the risks are of hanging, and my DH has seen a couple in his career.

[mim1]

Looking at getting bunk beds for DS 5 and DD 2 but it will be something along these lines:

http://www.bunkers.com.au/vic/lo_line/lc2

These particular bunks seem very sturdy, can't even imagine how DS could fall out and even low enough that I could still kiss him goodnight and pull blankets up over him if necessary. I think in considering the recommendations you need to take each individual child and each bunk bed (height, quality, ladder and rail design) into consideration. Also important to use the correct thickness of mattress. The bunks you already have I would probably be a "no" but I'd be happy to get this style for DS (although I assume you don't really want to go bed shopping!).

Don't do it Cat. That top bunk is still quite high and the lower bunk bed will be really hard to make. We had similar bunks in our holiday house when we were little. I remember how hard it was to make both beds and how often we hit our heads if we were on the lower bed.

A toddler bed for the smaller child is a better option I think.

[Kimberleygal1]

Ds1 is 4 and I think he would be fine on a top bunk. Bunk beds have safety rails so don't see the big deal. In another year or so when ds2 transitions to a bed he will be getting ds1's car bed and we will be getting ds1 a bunk bed.

[Kimberleygal1]

Sorry I don't have stats, for aus or the US. And to be honest I don't have time to search as it sounds like the stats are difficult to get.
If people want to put their young kids in bunk beds, against the recommendations of child safety experts then that's their choice. I was just saying that the risks are of hanging, and my DH has seen a couple in his career.

I would think it would be terribly unlucky and rare for a child to hang from a bunk bed.

[Kimberleygal1]

Looking at getting bunk beds for DS 5 and DD 2 but it will be something along these lines:

http://www.bunkers.com.au/vic/lo_line/lc2

These particular bunks seem very sturdy, can't even imagine how DS could fall out and even low enough that I could still kiss him goodnight and pull blankets up over him if necessary. I think in considering the recommendations you need to take each individual child and each bunk bed (height, quality, ladder and rail design) into consideration. Also important to use the correct thickness of mattress. The bunks you already have I would probably be a "no" but I'd be happy to get this style for DS (although I assume you don't really want to go bed shopping!).

Looks sturdy and very safe to me. I don't see the issue at all

[bunkx]

I got bunks when dd1 was 3 and dd2 was 1, we have never had a problem I got a low bunks from 40 winks