A new mandatory standard for bunk beds is expected to improve safety for the hundreds of thousands of children who use them. Since mid-2000, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission requires all bunk beds sold in the United States to comply with the standards:
- Every bunk bed must have an affixed label that states the bed's manufacturer, model, and mattress size information.
- Every bunk bed must have a warning label that advises against placing children under six years of age in the upper bunk.
- If the bunk bed is taller than 30 inches, it must have a continuous guardrail on the wall side of bed.
- Openings on the upper and the lower bunks must be small enough that a child's head, torso, or limb cannot pass through them.
Bunk Bed Safety Tips
- Follow instructions carefully when assembling a new bunk bed.
- Allow only children six years or older to sleep on upper bunks.
- Use only proper-sized, manufacturer-recommended mattresses.
- Make sure that there are no openings in either the upper or lower bunk that are large enough for a child's head, torso, or limb to pass through.
- Discuss safety concerns and the proper usage of bunk beds with your children.
[Source: U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission]
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