Majestic Sit & Sleep carries a number of beautifully-crafted bunk beds that offer a safe sleep for your children.

There are three main aspects of bunk bed safety for children that you need to consider:

1. Guardrail Spacing – One of the main common threats to a child’s safety is the guardrails on the bed. The reason is that if they are not installed properly there is plenty of opportunity for injury. For instance, if they are placed too low, there is a risk that a kid can roll right over and off the top bunk and fall to the floor when sleeping. Also, if the space between the rail and the bunk are too wide, it is possible that the head of the child can become lodged between them, which can, in very extreme cases, lead to suffocation. Thus, make sure there is a rail on all four sides of the bed and that the gap that exists between the bottom of the guard rail and bed frame is not more than 3.5 inches. Moreover, the bed rail should be a minimum of 5 inches higher than the surface of the mattress to prevent children from falling.
2. Support for Upper Bunk – If there isn’t enough support for the top bunk it can fall down and lead to injuries. Therefore, it is imperative that the supports that hold up the frame, mattress and the child are strong enough to do so. It helps to include cross ties underneath the mattress foundation for more security, as well as additional slats.
3. Size of Mattress – It is essential that the mattress you obtain for the beds are the correct size. A wrong sized mattress can lead to falls and increase the space between the frame and the safety rails. As a general rule of thumb, the mattress should fit tightly against all four sides of the bed frame.

A few other useful safety tips for bunk beds that you may want to consider include:

• Make sure the ladder is secured to the bunks and replace any broken rungs immediately.
• Bunk beds should be inspected on a regular basis to make sure they are sturdy and so any broken parts can be fixed.
• Children under the age of 6 should not sleep in the upper bunk or be up there unsupervised.
• Kids should be taught the importance of always using the ladder to get to the upper bunk and not use chair or other furniture.
• Provide children with a nightlight so they can see when they climb up and down during the night.

Finally, keep in mind, to avoid any of these unfortunate occurrences, make sure you obtain a product that passes the US Safety Inspection, as this will help to increase bunk bed safety for children and guarantee quality.

Latex mattresses like the one shown here are one of the best mattresses for children and teens because they are hypoallergenic, soft and durable.

Some suggest that latex mattresses are the best for anyone under the age of 18. This is because the material is durable, and these are hypoallergenic. That means any children or teens with allergies are going to benefit from this material – unless of course they are allergic to latex. Otherwise, this material is a great idea. This can be pricey, but it is worth the price if your children develop any type of allergy as they grow. They help the most with dust mites, but there is a benefit with any type of allergy.

If you want to think about construction, smaller children under the age of 12 are not going to be too picky about coils and the like, as they do not really have enough weight on their frame yet. Some of the more sturdy coil systems may actually be too hard on their bodies. They should have something a bit softer. The pocketed coil beds may do well, as well as any other types with a lower coil count (see Majestic Sit & Sleep’s selection of Innersprings Mattresses). Once they reach 12 and up, however, they may need something sturdier.

When choosing the best mattresses for children and teens you also have to worry about the growth of your child. Some children have spurts that make their current bed size too small in a matter of months. That means getting them something they can grow into if you are worried about having to buy mattresses over and over again. Twin beds can be wonderful, but some people buy a full size when children outgrow the toddler size so they do not have to worry about having to buy a larger mattress in a few years.

If you have space considerations, think about bunk beds for your children that share a room, or even as an option so they always have room for a friend to stay over. Another great space-saving idea is futons because they can double as a sofa when your children have company.

For the most part, you don’t have to worry too much about the type of mattress you buy for your child unless they have a specific medical condition or allergies. Most children can sleep on just about anything and feel good in the morning. If they are not sleeping well, or are involved in sports, you may want to put extra consideration into the type and size of mattress you buy so they are getting the most out of a night of sleep.