The 11 Finest Bunk Beds of 2024

Our Assessment Course of 

Earlier than researching a wide range of widespread bunk beds, we learn security suggestions from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), Nationwide Youngsters’s Hospital, and the U.S. Client Product Security Fee (CPSC), being attentive to all security options advisable. We additionally consulted a medical knowledgeable to learn the way to make use of bunk beds safely: 

• Kelly Moriarty, DNP, MSN, RN, trauma damage prevention coordinator at Novant Well being Presbyterian Medical Middle and a medical teacher at South Piedmont Neighborhood School

We additionally spoke with two actual moms who use bunk beds each day with their youngsters, to listen to about their on a regular basis experiences and discover out what they seemed for when purchasing. Then we started merchandise, assessing the critiques and specs of every possibility, 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. 

Components to Contemplate When Shopping for Bunk Beds

Since a bunk mattress is one thing you’ll use each 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: Contemplate the scale of the bed room and the age and measurement of your children. Bunk beds have weight limits, so make sure the product works on your youngsters. If two older youngsters are utilizing the bunk beds, it’s your decision a full-over-full as a substitute of a twin-over-twin. For youths of various ages, strive a twin-over-full. Pay attention to how low the underside bunk is just too; one thing low to the bottom might be simpler with youthful toddlers. Lastly, take note of what number of children can use the bunk beds. 
• Supplies: Bunk beds needs to be as sturdy as potential, and that begins with what they’re manufactured from. Stable wooden, like birch, maple, or pine, is robust and can stand the check of time. Be aware that high-quality hardwood materials might be costlier and require extra upkeep over time; wooden can scratch simply and should be stored clear to remain in good situation. If chemical compounds are a priority, search for supplies which are Greenguard Gold licensed, that means the product meets strict chemical emissions limits. Metallic is a good various to wooden. It’s cheaper and might even be extra sturdy. Nevertheless, it will also be extra noisy, rather less comfy, and fewer aesthetically pleasing.  
• Design and Standout Options: Normal bunk beds usually embody house for 2 mattresses and a ladder for teenagers 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 a substitute of ladders. Some provide longevity and flexibility by remodeling into two separate beds. 
• Security Options: The AAP stresses the significance of getting guardrails on either side of the highest bunk that rise a minimum of 5 inches above the mattress. Dr. Moriarty recommends searching for guardrails that rise 6 inches above the mattress and staircases as a substitute of ladders, particularly for youthful youngsters. As well as, “all bunk beds ought to have sturdy help below the mattress, normally wooden slats or wire, and needs 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. 

The way to Use Bunk Beds Safely

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

• Keep within the backside bunk till age 6: Each the AAP and Nationwide Youngsters’s Hospital advise in opposition to youngsters youthful than age 6 sleeping within the prime bunk. Most prime bunk accidents occur to youngsters below 6 years previous. 
• 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 a minimum of 6 inches taller than the mattress and shouldn’t have greater than 3 ½ inches between slats to stop strangulation.” If there may be greater than 3 ½ inches between the underside of the mattress and the guardrail, it is best to add one other rail to shut the hole. 
• Add an evening mild: The AAP recommends preserving an evening mild near a bunk mattress. This helps youngsters who could must climb down in the course of the evening, permitting them to see higher and doubtlessly keep away from damage. 
• Guarantee every thing is sturdy: Ladders can come unfastened and pose a danger for damage. 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 below the mattress,” Dr. Moriarty says. This needs to be wooden or wire slats. Dr. Moriarty recommends inspecting the bunk mattress typically to make sure it’s in good situation. 
• Educate youngsters the way to behave on bunk beds: The AAP stresses the significance of instructing children the way to correctly behave on a bunk mattress. “An important factor is to set guidelines to be used,” Dr. Moriarty agrees. “Encourage children to keep away from horseplay or leaping from the highest bunk. Make sure that they know the way to rise up and down and really feel secure doing so.” 
• Keep on prime of recollects: Register your bunk beds and all the time preserve updated with CPSC recollects. If you happen to discover there’s a recall on your bunk mattress, take the suitable steps to restore or change it. 

What Age Is Acceptable for the Prime Bunk?

The AAP recommends dad and mom don’t permit youngsters below the age of 6 to sleep on the highest bunk in case of damage. “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 final age to make use of the highest bunk is 6 years previous. That is additionally a judgment name. In case your baby will not be capable of observe instructions to rigorously use a ladder or stairs to soundly 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 worth, from $250 to over $2,000. The value relies on the fabric used (hardwood is mostly costlier), in addition to the dimensions (full-over-full might be costlier than twin-over-twin). It additionally relies on the model and options—bunk beds with slides, treehouse tops, and different enjoyable add-ons might be costlier. 

How Excessive Ought to a Bunk Mattress Be?

There needs to be a minimum of 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, purchasing, wellness, leisure, and marriage 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 corresponding to Brides, Folks, Insider, Bustle, Romper, Refinery 29, Cosmopolitan, Delish, The Day by day Beast, Reviewed, She Is aware of, Scary Mommy, The Knot, and What to Anticipate. She additionally has two younger daughters.