The 11 Finest Bunk Beds of 2024

Our Evaluate Course of 

Earlier than researching quite a lot of standard bunk beds, we learn security ideas from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), Nationwide Youngsters’s Hospital, and the U.S. Client Product Security Fee (CPSC), paying attention to all security options really useful. We additionally consulted a medical professional to learn the way to make use of bunk beds safely: 

• Kelly Moriarty, DNP, MSN, RN, trauma harm prevention coordinator at Novant Well being Presbyterian Medical Heart and a medical teacher at South Piedmont Neighborhood Faculty

We additionally spoke with two actual moms who use bunk beds day by day with their youngsters, to listen to about their on a regular basis experiences and discover out what they regarded for when procuring. Then we started taking a look at merchandise, assessing the evaluations and specs of every choice, and paying shut consideration to the supplies used. We famous any options that made the bunk beds extra handy or enjoyable, like slides or storage. 

Elements to Think about When Shopping for Bunk Beds

Since a bunk mattress is one thing you’ll use day by day for years, it’s a purchase order you’ll wish to put some thought into. Security and sturdiness ought to all be prime of thoughts. 

• Measurement, Peak, and Capability: Think about the size of the bed room and the age and dimension of your youngsters. Bunk beds have weight limits, so make sure the product works in your youngsters. If two older youngsters are utilizing the bunk beds, it’s your decision a full-over-full as an alternative of a twin-over-twin. For youths of various ages, strive a twin-over-full. Pay attention to how low the underside bunk is simply too; one thing low to the bottom can be simpler with youthful toddlers. Lastly, take note of what number of youngsters can use the bunk beds. 
• Supplies: Bunk beds ought to be as sturdy as attainable, and that begins with what they’re manufactured from. Stable wooden, like birch, maple, or pine, is powerful and can stand the check of time. Word that high-quality hardwood materials can be dearer and require extra upkeep over time; wooden can scratch simply and have to be stored clear to remain in good situation. If chemical compounds are a priority, search for supplies which are Greenguard Gold licensed, which means the product meets strict chemical emissions limits. Metallic is a good various to wooden. It’s inexpensive and may even be extra sturdy. Nevertheless, it may also be extra noisy, rather less snug, and fewer aesthetically pleasing.  
• Design and Standout Options: Commonplace bunk beds usually embody house for 2 mattresses and a ladder for youths to go up and down. Extra stylized bunk beds can include enjoyable options like slides, treehouse-style tops, and castle-style designs, or different components. Many choices embody handy options like storage drawers, a trundle mattress, a desk, or staircases as an alternative of ladders. Some supply longevity and flexibility by reworking into two separate beds. 
• Security Options: The AAP stresses the significance of getting guardrails on each side of the highest bunk that rise no less than 5 inches above the mattress. Dr. Moriarty recommends on the lookout for guardrails that rise 6 inches above the mattress and staircases as an alternative of ladders, particularly for youthful youngsters. As well as, “all bunk beds ought to have sturdy help beneath the mattress, often wooden slats or wire, and ought to be in good situation,” Dr. Moriarty says. With ladders, search for choices which are securely fixed to the highest and backside bunks to keep away from wobbling and pinch factors. 

How one can Use Bunk Beds Safely

Bunk beds will be nice for smaller rooms and is usually a enjoyable choice for youthful youngsters. Nevertheless, the AAP asserts that bunk beds are related to worse accidents than normal beds. In case you are utilizing bunk beds, it’s important to maintain these security ideas in thoughts. 

• Keep within the backside bunk till age 6: Each the AAP and Nationwide Youngsters’s Hospital advise towards youngsters youthful than age 6 sleeping within the prime bunk. Most prime bunk accidents occur to youngsters beneath 6 years outdated. 
• Place it in a nook: The AAP recommends placing the bunk mattress within the nook of a room so there are partitions on two sides. By no means place your bunk mattress close to a ceiling fan that’s near the highest bunk. Any object that might doubtlessly be harmful or trigger strangulation, like ropes or pull cords for blinds, shouldn’t be close to the bunk beds.  
• Excessive guardrails: “The guard rails alongside the highest bunk are most necessary in stopping a baby from rolling off,” Dr. Moriarty says. “These ought to go no less than 6 inches taller than the mattress and shouldn’t have greater than 3 ½ inches between slats to forestall strangulation.” If there’s greater than 3 ½ inches between the underside of the mattress and the guardrail, you need to add one other rail to shut the hole. 
• Add an evening gentle: The AAP recommends protecting an evening gentle near a bunk mattress. This helps youngsters who might must climb down in the midst of the evening, permitting them to see higher and doubtlessly keep away from harm. 
• Guarantee every little thing is sturdy: Ladders can come free and pose a threat for harm. Assess its sturdiness, particularly if it may be moved. Search for strong mattress help slats, particularly for the highest bunk. “All bunk beds ought to have a sturdy help beneath the mattress,” Dr. Moriarty says. This ought to be wooden or wire slats. Dr. Moriarty recommends inspecting the bunk mattress typically to make sure it’s in good situation. 
• Train youngsters the right way to behave on bunk beds: The AAP stresses the significance of instructing youngsters the right way to correctly behave on a bunk mattress. “Crucial factor is to set guidelines to be used,” Dr. Moriarty agrees. “Encourage youngsters to keep away from horseplay or leaping from the highest bunk. Be certain that they know the right way to rise up and down and really feel secure doing so.” 
• Keep on prime of remembers: Register your bunk beds and at all times preserve updated with CPSC remembers. If you happen to discover there’s a recall in your bunk mattress, take the suitable steps to restore or change it. 

What Age Is Acceptable for the High Bunk?

The AAP recommends mother and father don’t enable youngsters beneath the age of 6 to sleep on the highest bunk in case of harm. “As soon as a baby outgrows a toddler mattress, they’ll begin utilizing a regular-sized mattress, together with the underside bunk of a bunk mattress,” Dr. Moriarty says. “The overall age to make use of the highest bunk is 6 years outdated. That is additionally a judgment name. In case your little one isn’t capable of observe instructions to rigorously use a ladder or stairs to securely rise up to their mattress, then I’d wait longer earlier than permitting them to make use of the highest bunk.” 

How A lot Does a Bunk Mattress Value?

Bunk beds vary broadly in value, from $250 to over $2,000. The worth is determined by the fabric used (hardwood is mostly dearer), in addition to the scale (full-over-full can be dearer than twin-over-twin). It additionally is determined by the model and options—bunk beds with slides, treehouse tops, and different enjoyable add-ons can be dearer. 

How Excessive Ought to a Bunk Mattress Be?

There ought to be no less than 30 inches of house between the highest of the mattress on the highest bunk and the ceiling. Most bunk beds are between 5 and a half and 6 toes excessive. 

Who We Are

Jessica Sales space is a contract author who covers parenting, procuring, wellness, leisure, and wedding ceremony content material. She has been freelance writing since 2017 and earlier than that, labored as an editor at an internet publication for seven years. She has written for websites equivalent to Brides, Folks, Insider, Bustle, Romper, Refinery 29, Cosmopolitan, Delish, The Each day Beast, Reviewed, She Is aware of, Scary Mommy, The Knot, and What to Count on. She additionally has two younger daughters.