Bunk beds are a great space-saving option for families with multiple children, but they can also be a safety hazard, especially for little ones who may try to climb to the top bunk. Bunk bed-related injuries are common, particularly among 3-6-year-olds who are too young to understand the dangers of climbing the ladder.
As a parent, it’s important to take steps to stop your child from climbing the ladder. In this article, we will look at a few ways to help prevent your toddler from climbing the bunk bed ladder, as well as a few tips if they do!
Age Requirements for Bunk Beds
ROSPA (The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents) recommends that children under the age of six should not sleep on the top bunk.
They also advise parents of children under the age of six to think carefully about allowing them to sleep on the bottom bunk. We have also written an in-depth guide on bunk bed safety,
Reasons Why a Toddler Might Climb
- Exploration and curiosity
- Desire to reach for a soft toy on the top bunk
- Testing boundaries
- Too easy access to the ladder
How to Prevent Your Toddler from Climbing the Ladder
It is not easy to prevent a toddler from climbing the ladder, and not all of these tips are practical, especially if they are sharing the bunk with a brother or sister, but there are a few steps that you can take to reduce the chance of them attempting it.
Here are some tips to prevent your toddler from climbing the bunk bed ladder:
If they share a room or bunk bed
- Use a bunk bed ladder cover: A ladder cover can make it impossible for your child to climb the ladder. They aren’t the cheapest option, but they are the most effective.
- Make the ladder impossible to climb: You can also make it impossible for your child to climb the ladder by removing the bottom rungs. This should be done carefully, as you don’t want to make it too hard for your eldest to climb. Please note that this isn’t possible with all ladders.
- Furniture: Remove small items that might help them up the ladder, such as chairs or boxes.
If they don’t share a room or bunk bed
- Lock the bedroom door: After your eldest is out the door for school, lock the bedroom door to stop them from climbing the ladder. Truth be told, this isn’t the most practical solution, but it can work in some cases. Most bedroom doors don’t have locks, and if yours doesn’t, you could try fitting a bolt lock on the door out of their reach.
- Safety gate: Another popular option to stop your toddler from getting too close to the bedroom in the first place is to place a safety gate at the foot of the stairs or the bedroom door.
- Keep the ladder out of reach: Make sure your toddler can’t access the bunk bed by removing the ladder and storing it safely out of reach. This isn’t possible to do with all bunk beds, but some come with hook ladders that can be easily removed.
- Supervision and warnings of the dangers of using the ladder: Easier said than done with small children who don’t realise the dangers! However, If they are at that age where they’ll listen to a warning, it’s always best to remind them of the dangers (and the pain it can inflict!) of climbing the ladder.
I can’t stop them from climbing up!
Sometimes the best prevention is to accept that your toddler will eventually climb the ladder and prepare for it by taking the necessary safety precautions.
Tips to prevent falls and accidents
- Teach them how to climb the ladder correctly: Some parents suggest teaching your toddler how to climb the ladder safely. Hopefully, it doesn’t encourage them to try it!
- Pillows: If your child falls, make sure there are pillows at the bottom of the bed to cushion any impact.
- Ladder grips: Ladder steps tend to be pretty slippery, particularly the ones on wooden bunk beds if they are wearing socks. You can use non-slip mats or cheap ladder grips to make sure the steps are safer to climb.
- Keep things off the top bunk: Make sure there are no games or teddies catching your toddler’s eye on the top bunk.
- Check to see if your bunk bed is detachable: If your child’s safety is a priority and you’ve exhausted all the other options, then it might be best to detach it for now. Many of the bunk beds sold in the UK are detachable.
Conclusion
Bunk beds can be a fun and practical option for families with multiple children, but they can also be a safety hazard. It should be noted that most bunk bed injuries come from children playing on the bunk beds.
As a parent, it’s important to take steps to prevent your toddler from climbing the ladder. The last thing you want is for your child to suffer a concussion, broken arm, or worse. It’s not easy to stop your toddler from climbing the bunk bed ladder; however, taking the necessary safety precautions can make a difference.
By using the tips mentioned above, you can minimise the risk of nasty falls and bunk bed-related injuries while ensuring that your child has a safe and comfortable bedroom and a secure place to sleep. Always watch your child and be attentive to their movements when they are near the bunk bed.
References
https://www.rospa.com/home-safety/resources/policy-statements/child-safety
