OT-- scary, sad story

[poohfriend77]

A 6-year-old girl in our area died after falling off the top of a bunk bed last weekend. She was at a friend's house for a sleepover and fell off some time in the night. She fractured her skull and died of traumatic brain injury. How terribly sad for both families involved! My heart goes out to them. I know this is not a common occurrence, but it's enough for me to say no bunk beds EVER!

 

[tadamom]

That is a sad story, my thoughts and prayers go out to both of those families.

 

[StitchandPooh'sMom]

That is a sad story, my thoughts and prayers go out to both of those families.

I HATE BUNK BEDS!!! I don't think there is anything good about them. JMO! My cousins had bunk beds when we were growing up and one day a whole bunch of us were over there for a party or something. We all thought it would be fun to take turns jumping from the top bunk like were on a diving board. It was my turn and I wasn't moving fast enough for my older cousins taste and she pushed me. I fell off the top bunk directly on my face. It knocked out several of my teeth, bloodied my entire mouth and nose. I was not a pretty sight. From that day on I have never even come close to a bunk bed. My kids will never have a bunk bed and if they ever go to a friends house that has one, they won't be allowed on the bunk beds. I just do not think they are safe.

I don't think that is a flaw inherent in bunk beds - I think it is a flaw in being pushed from a high surface. My kids have bunk beds, and DD4 is not allowed to sleep on the top bunk at her age. However, they are not allowed to jump from the top bunk no matter what their age, just as they can't jump from the top of the stairs, the roof, etc..

It is a very sad story, though.

 

[laura looneybin]

We know the families and other close friends of the families. She wasn't used to bunk beds, the dad didn't want them to sleep on the top, but they really wanted to so he finally let them, and a hardwood floor. It made us so sad when we heard. The bed even had one of those railing things. She just got up and walked over the side. So sad.

 

[StitchandPooh'sMom]

We know the families and other close friends of the families. She wasn't used to bunk beds, the dad didn't want them to sleep on the top, but they really wanted to so he finally let them, and a hardwood floor. It made us so sad when we heard. The bed even had one of those railing things. She just got up and walked over the side. So sad.

That's exactly why DD4 can't sleep up top - she moves around too much and gets up during the night. I'm sure she would forget and walk over the edge.

So sad!

 

[DisneyMommyMichelle]

oh no, what a sad story

 

[allyphoe]

My kids have bunk beds, and DD4 is not allowed to sleep on the top bunk at her age.

We've got bunk beds, and currently, no one does anything on the top bunk. (Actually, I hide toys I'm tired of cleaning up on the top bunk, but that's my little secret!) I took the ladder off after coming in to find DD4 climbing up the ladder with the biggest blanket she could find - which was completely wrapped around her feet and legs, and which she was pulling on with all her might so that she could move her hands up higher in preparation for going up the next step.

I remember falling out of the bottom bunk at camp as an 8yo, and I still find DD sleeping wedged as far into her safety rail as she can burrow, so I suspect she's going to be on the bottom bunk even after she turns 6.

 

[tadamom]

I don't think that is a flaw inherent in bunk beds - I think it is a flaw in being pushed from a high surface.

That is why I said JMO - just my opinion.

 

[applechips]

We know the families and other close friends of the families. She wasn't used to bunk beds, the dad didn't want them to sleep on the top, but they really wanted to so he finally let them, and a hardwood floor. It made us so sad when we heard. The bed even had one of those railing things. She just got up and walked over the side. So sad.

OMGOSH! that is so sad and so horrible!! I am so sorry for the family's loss.

Dh and I were just discussing getting some bunk beds, but not now!! wow...so tragic.

 

[WantToGoNow]

Most likely the child either moves around too much for bunks or she had help (was there more than one child up there).

My kids have been sleeping in bunks for the past 2 years and I don't feel unsafe about it. We bought them when dd was 17 mos. and ds was 4. For the past 5 months dd (now 3) has been sleeping on the top. She's taken one fall -- while going up the ladder carrying about 5 stuffed animals. Our bunkbed does have a 6" rail that goes nearly the entire length of the bed (other than the ladder area which is at her feet).

 

[barkley]

when ds was a bit over 3 he climbed up onto the top bunk in his sister's room, and because of his height he could stand on it and not have his head touch the ceiling. he was was not running, not jumping, he had just climbed up and was standing near the foot looking at the head of the bed-but he lost his balance and fell backwards off the bunk bed, head first (the railing threw his weight off so when he fell it actualy shifted his body into a head first position-onto one of those fisher price doll houses (about a yard tall, with sharp edges). was very fortunate to hit the back of his head vs the front (doctor said he could have easily lost an eye), and no serious permanant damage.

i don't think the beds are inherantly unsafe-but any child that can stand in the top bunk and walk without having to be bent over should not be permitted to be in one. even in the safest situation it's too easy to fall off-the rails are designed to keep people lying down from rolling off, not to keep people standing, walking or kneeling from falling off (ours had a railing that went around the entire bed except for a very small area accessed by the ladder which was built in).

 

[StitchandPooh'sMom]

i don't think the beds are inherantly unsafe-but any child that can stand in the top bunk and walk without having to be bent over should not be permitted to be in one. even in the safest situation it's too easy to fall off-the rails are designed to keep people lying down from rolling off, not to keep people standing, walking or kneeling from falling off (ours had a railing that went around the entire bed except for a very small area accessed by the ladder which was built in).

You make excellent points. There's no question that there is a greater danger in being higher rather than lower, particularly if the child moves around a lot or is not lying down. I've never felt unsafe with DD8 in the top bunk, but her little sister is a long way off from sleeping up there!

It is just a terrible tragedy for both families involved.

 

[steppie]

I was planning on buying my ds8 a bunk bed so when he was friends over they could sleep there.No way is that going to happen now.My heart goes out to both families.

 

[I loveStitchnippyjon]

When my younger DD was about 8, she went to a sleep-over at a friend's house who had bunk beds. Naturally the girls were fooling around and DD fell from the top bunk right onto an opened dresser drawer, gashing her leg. The Mom never called me, just slapped a bandaid on it! She needed stitches, and she was never allowed to play at that house again!

 

[Gillian]

I'm so sorry to hear that!

DS6 almost 7 is getting bunk beds next month. He doesn't want to sleep on the top, but wants a more secure feeling place to sleep and likes the coziness of the bottom bunk. He's a sensitive kid and has been having nightmares so we said ok. For the moment I plan to take the ladder away so DD 4 can't get up there. She's a restless sleeper who often walks around at night and I'm worried for her.

 

[barkley]

I'm so sorry to hear that!

DS6 almost 7 is getting bunk beds next month. He doesn't want to sleep on the top, but wants a more secure feeling place to sleep and likes the coziness of the bottom bunk. He's a sensitive kid and has been having nightmares so we said ok. For the moment I plan to take the ladder away so DD 4 can't get up there. She's a restless sleeper who often walks around at night and I'm worried for her.

by any chance does he enjoy sleeping on a sofa? (my dd feels more secure with that back cuddled up against her). if so you might want to check out 'click couches'-we bought one for dd last month. it's kind of like a futon-but a much better and more comfortable mattress-and not so low to the ground. right now dd can sleep in it in the couch position (seat portion is same size as a twin bed)-but when she's more comfortable with it she can convert it into the bed position (more or less the size of a double bed).

 

[Gillian]

by any chance does he enjoy sleeping on a sofa? (my dd feels more secure with that back cuddled up against her). if so you might want to check out 'click couches'-we bought one for dd last month. it's kind of like a futon-but a much better and more comfortable mattress-and not so low to the ground. right now dd can sleep in it in the couch position (seat portion is same size as a twin bed)-but when she's more comfortable with it she can convert it into the bed position (more or less the size of a double bed).

I'll take a look at those! I wondered if a daybed wouldn't be good for him, but they're pretty girly.

 

[momtoBrandon&Jacob]

That is a sad story, my thoughts and prayers go out to both of those families.

I HATE BUNK BEDS!!! I don't think there is anything good about them. JMO! My cousins had bunk beds when we were growing up and one day a whole bunch of us were over there for a party or something. We all thought it would be fun to take turns jumping from the top bunk like were on a diving board. It was my turn and I wasn't moving fast enough for my older cousins taste and she pushed me. I fell off the top bunk directly on my face. It knocked out several of my teeth, bloodied my entire mouth and nose. I was not a pretty sight. From that day on I have never even come close to a bunk bed. My kids will never have a bunk bed and if they ever go to a friends house that has one, they won't be allowed on the bunk beds. I just do not think they are safe.

I don't see how this has anything to do with bunk beds. It sounds like kids being careless and nothing else.

 

[momtoBrandon&Jacob]

You make excellent points. There's no question that there is a greater danger in being higher rather than lower, particulary if the child moves around a lot or is not lying down. I've never felt unsafe with DD8 in the top bunk, but her little sister is a long way off from sleeping up there!

It is just a terrible tragedy for both families involved.

I agree. My 6 year old son sleeps in the top bunk with a railing of course, and my 5 year old who is a bit clumsy, sleeps on the bottom. I think after about a year or so, we'll take the beds apart.

 

[laura looneybin]

I think it's important to note that she wasn't used to sleeping in bunk beds. She was used to a regular bed that she could just get up out of. They weren't playing around or anything, it was just a very unfortunate accident.

However, I do remember when I was little, several times getting a bloody nose because we would lay on the bottom bunk and lift the top with our feet, balancing it just on our little kid legs. Sometimes those little kids legs aren't quite so strong. And sometimes we wouldn't get the bunk up on the supports exactly right and the next person up there would have the bunk fall on one side.

My 5yo has been sleeping on the top for almost 2 years. He's used to it. My 3yo, however, I will not trust for a long time. He's used to just throwing his legs over the side in the morning.