If only we could have bunk beds like these
I think we all have memories of bunk beds from our childhood, either of our obsessive desire for them, or of the rickety version at summer camp, or the sagging version found at a cousin’s house. And in Brooklyn nothing seems like a better idea than two beds for the space of one. But, bunk beds come with some risks and some rules (at least according to the American Academy of Pediatrics). Because of the risk of falls, both from the top bunk and from the ladder, they say children should be at least six before being allowed to sleep on the top bunk. The AAP suggests, if you plan to commit to bunk beds, you should be sure to install guard rails all around the top bunk, even on the wall sides, so that no one (and no one’s limbs) get wedged in the middle of the night. If the bed has slowly moved away from the wall you also can prevent any falls. Be sure to install a nightlight so your kids can easily climb the ladder in the middle of the night, and don’t let any kids play or rough-house on the top bunk. Sound extreme? We’ve all heard stories of kids who fall from bunk beds and break ribs or get concussions. And you may say, we all know people who have fallen off their bikes too, but that isn’t going to keep you from letting your kid ride a bike. But riding a bike is both a valuable skill and a right of passage, one that’s health benefits out weigh the risks. Can you say the same for a bunk bed? If you really want to save space, why not just go for a trundle bed? The kids can take turns with who sleeps on the trundle, and when they want room to play, away it goes under the bed. I’ll admit that trundles don’t have the magic of bunk beds, they don’t lend themselves to imaginative play, to forts and castles and distant hidden caves. Then again, no one ends up with night terrors and two broken arms.