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SusanJ
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| Posted: Feb 05 2010 at 11:44am | IP Logged
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I'm all about kid safety today.
I posted before about our big furniture changeup. To fit our kids in a downstairs bedroom we really need to have only a one bed "footprint." We had been thinking of putting our 3.5yo on a top bunk. Our first choice had the top bunk less than four feet off the ground and we thought that would be okay. But I think we're going to have to have the bottom bunk higher for wheelchair transfers. This type of bunk puts the top bunk over five feet off the ground. Is this ever safe for a child so young? She's such an intrepid, mature girl that it didn't even cross our mind to be worried at first but now we're having second thoughts.
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MarilynW
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| Posted: Feb 05 2010 at 11:55am | IP Logged
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Could you do a trundle until your child is older?
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Maddie
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| Posted: Feb 05 2010 at 11:56am | IP Logged
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Practice using the ladder together, make sure they know to come down facing the ladder, mine like to try and come down facing out and get their arms tangled as they go down.
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JodieLyn
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| Posted: Feb 05 2010 at 12:04pm | IP Logged
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It so depends on the child.. my 3 yr old would handle it no problem. All my kids are climbers and that includes coming back down. So other than railings so that they don't fall off while asleep.. I don't worry about it.
but if you had a child who was less comfortable with climbing up and down or less adept at it. I trundle bed (or even just a lightweight foam mattress pushed under the other bed might work better for a while until she's older. I also really like the foam mattresses for top bunks because I can EASILY lift the mattress down or partway down and strip and remake the mattress without having to climb up myself 
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melanie
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| Posted: Feb 08 2010 at 7:14pm | IP Logged
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I think it would depend on the child too. My oldest girl would have been fine at that age. My boys, even at 9 and 5, would probably kill themselves, 
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Angel
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| Posted: Feb 09 2010 at 7:21am | IP Logged
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I'll agree that it depends on the child. I'm not sure we will ever be able to use bunk beds with my now 4 yo twins... not because they can't climb up and down, but because I would be worried about them jumping off the top bunk, climbing up the outside of the bed without the use of the ladder, etc. etc. I guess there's such a thing as *too* adept (and fearless) as well!
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melanie
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| Posted: Feb 09 2010 at 9:07am | IP Logged
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hehe...
I used to be a pediatric nurse...two kids ago now. I had a 12 year old boy (i.e. old enough to "know better") that broke his arm trying to jump from the bunk bed onto his dresser. It was his 5th broken bone from such stunts. Not all bunk bed related though. The mom said the orthopedist had told her they were paying off his new boat.
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Melanie
homeschooling Maria (13yo), Kain (10yo), Jack (5yo), Tess (2yo), and our newest blessing, Henry Robert, born 4/23!
slightlycrunchycatholic.blogspot.com
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Christine
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| Posted: Feb 09 2010 at 4:28pm | IP Logged
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We have bunkbeds and climbers.
That said, our bunkbeds specifically state that children under age 6 should not sleep on the top bunk. We have followed this rule. My third daughter was always climbing up onto the top bunk, despite our rule. When she was four she fell as she was climbing down. When she came around, she started vomiting. We were lucky.
When my second son was two, he climbed up onto the top bunk in the dark. When his sister told him to get down, he tried to climb down, but the ladder wasn't where he thought it was. Thanks to his guardian angel and his sister's quick hands, he did not fall all the way down. She grabbed him and called us. I came into the room and found my oldest, holding her brother over the bunk bed.
I know that children can fall off of bunkbeds regardless of their age. One of my nieces broke her arm doing so when she was around 8. However, the likelihood is greater, the younger they are. I third or fourth the recommendation of using a trundle even if it is a simple mattress pushed under a bed, until your child is older.
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Gloria JMJ
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| Posted: Feb 10 2010 at 1:25am | IP Logged
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I think that you know her best and if she is mature enough to handle it. Maybe you could try it for naps. The trundle idea is great though if you have any doubts.
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SusanJ
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| Posted: Feb 10 2010 at 7:37am | IP Logged
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Thanks for the input, everyone. We did end up getting the bunk beds. We asked all the grandparents who are naturally cautious and know her well and they all thought she would do just fine. She actually doesn't nap in her bed--she was sleeping too much so we moved her to the couch several weeks ago. In the morning she never would get out of bed without us coming in even in her toddler bed and so we're not too worried about her jumping down in the morning unsupervised. She can climb up on her own just fine which we expected from our playground experience but often asks one of us to come in anyway which we are fine with. I've taken all your stories to heart and we will continue to be careful.
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Mom to Joseph-8, Margaret-6, William-4, Gregory-2, and new little one due 11/1
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4Real Forums : Mothering and Family Life
Topic: bunk bed safety
